Stay: Forever Home Hands On – Pushing the Boundaries of Pet Simulation in VR

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Admit openly that my experience with VR and AR has been rather minimal, but during this year’s GDC in San Francisco, the incredible technology and games being developed left me captivated. In fact, one of my main impressions from GDC is that I can’t wait to delve back into virtual reality, having only dabbled with it a few years ago.

A standout game for me is Stay: Forever Home, an upcoming XR game that’s set to revolutionize VR and AR technology by offering a completely immersive pet simulator experience. The creators, Windup Minds, are a talented group of remote developers who have previously worked on notable projects such as Meta’s Bogo and First Steps.

In this home-like environment called Stay: Forever Home, you share your life with a special pet named Ember, a magical dog endowed with AI capabilities. Ember is not only by your side but also reacts to your actions and interactions with the world in an unscripted manner, mirroring the behavior of a real-life dog. From playful misadventures to demanding affection by wanting to be petted, it offers an authentic sense of immersion that no other pet simulator has managed to achieve.

In simpler terms, during my demo, which lasted about 25-30 minutes, I could clearly understand why the developers claim that their game responds affectionately. At first, I felt a bit uncomfortable due to wearing the VR headset and having the developers watch me (I’m not particularly fond of VR), but it didn’t take me long to realize that the developers had created something unique and intriguing.

Initially, I encountered Ember who materialized through a floating gateway from her own realm. At first, she was somewhat timid around me, much like a typical pet might be when meeting someone new. To earn her trust, I was advised to offer her some berries, and as we continued interacting, she grew more comfortable with my presence. Eventually, she trusted me enough to leap from her world into mine. The game then guided me through learning the controls and discovering the various ways to interact with Ember, such as petting, grooming, and even getting her to retrieve a ball. These experiences felt very familiar, reminiscent of spending time at home with my dogs, where I could indulge in long sessions of petting or playfully fiddling with her floppy ears, much like I do with my Labrador, Max.

Stepping out from the blended reality landscape, I found myself standing before a mystical door, beckoning me into an immersive virtual world. This is where I get to take Ember on her much-needed walks and more. Here, we can engage in challenges, trade treats and other goodies, and much more. The developers assure me that these activities will receive regular updates, but for those who prefer a leisurely pace, a simple stroll through this vibrant world should suffice. And let’s not forget the unpredictable antics of Ember – her spontaneous actions, like dashing off to roll in mud during my last play session, always keep me guessing.

The developers shared with me that this is only the start of the VR experience they’re building, and they have future updates planned. However, they cautioned that it’s too early to reveal specific details yet. It’d be great if these updates included seasonal changes, such as Ember reacting to autumn leaves or the first snowfall, which could make the world even more immersive.

In the demonstration, I was additionally shown the initial voice command “come” or “come here”, such that after calling out, Ember would follow the instruction and return to you. Additional voice commands like “sit” were mentioned as being included in the game at launch, further enhancing the immersive experience of a game that sets itself apart from other pet simulators available on the market.

In essence, “Forever Home” is pioneering in the realm of pet simulations. This isn’t just due to the innovative technology it employs, but also because of the compassionate approach taken by its creators, resulting in a unique and possibly unparalleled user experience.

On April 3, 2025, “Forever Home” will become available for play on the Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 2. You can save it in your wishlist right here.

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2025-03-22 21:48