POOLS, an unsettling horror experience that made a splash on PC in 2024, was officially announced for PS5 earlier this year, and now has a confirmed release date.
What's more, a playable demo is available to play right now.
The game is set to launch on PS5 on 25th November, and when it does, it'll be fully playable in PSVR2 as well as on your telly.
The playable demo is TV only for now, but an incoming update will allow you to check it out in virtual reality too.
For the uninitiated, POOLS is an eerie first-person game in which you explore uncanny environments comprising swimming pools and water slides.
There are no overt threats in the game; this is a purely atmospheric experience that aims to unnerve you with its echoey rooms and surreal spaces.
The PS5 version of the game will have optional PSVR2 support, as mentioned, and contains the full game along with the Chapter 0 expansion.
Will you be diving into POOLS when it arrives in November? Hold your breath in the comments section below.
Comments 15
I watched a video from Super Eye patch Wolf a few years ago about horror media based in liminal spaces, was pretty fascinating. Clearly this game takes us based on that sub genre.
Knowing that there are actually no enemies in the game - and thus no actual reason to be scared, anticipating an attack or even a jumpscare - takes the teeth out of the experience. But as a non-horror fan, it also means I'm way more likely to give it a shot.
Is it region exclusive or something? I don’t see it available to download anywhere for me. I’ve typed in ‘POOLS’ in the app
This one's been in the wishlist since it was announced. Sometimes I want to "just be" in another place in VR. Most of the time, that's a calm nature scene. Time to find out if "general unease" is also attainable.
This is nightmare fuel for me.
I've been having nightmares about swimming pools for 30+ years now.
This could be a form of therapy, or it could go the other way...
I wonder if the developer was inspired by similar dreams and they are quite common?
@GMaster7 Exactly my thoughts. I tried the demo and it was ok, but I got bored knowing nothing was going to happen.
I've played this in vr on pc and it makes the sense of dread way worse lol.
But it was still really cool though.
Is this like those Room games on PC? Can't remember what they are called the Lost Rooms perhaps? They are pretty creepy. Also the ones set in the ocean that scares the crap out of me.
@Mr_Singh I had to choose "show all" and scroll pretty far down to find the demo. There's also a separate demo category in the store where I found it right away.
Most scary game ever. The human bodies I have seen in a pool... The horror!
You think anyone would ever create a game about the opposite? Instead of no people where there should be people, what if someone developed a game where there’s too many people? ‘DisneyWorld: The Nightmare Begins’ or something.
So i take it from the article you can play this without PSVR?
Yeah, great, but I’m getting a bit bored of everything in VR being horror now. Yes it’s the best place for horror games by far, but it’s also the best place for pretty much any other type of game too. A bit of variety please.
@Ken_Kaniff yes actually old-fashioned television is the only way you can currently play it on PS5.
I didn’t read the article properly, downloaded the demo, and was bitterly disappointed to discover that it wouldn’t work with PSVR.
Hopefully push square will let us know when the virtual reality patch for the demo goes live, because I have uninstalled it and won’t be randomly checking. I will soon forget all about it otherwise.
I'm very much looking forward to this. It's gotten a bit ridiculous now as to the amount of junk games on the PS Store in this category of gaming.
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