Thief VR: Reimagining a Classic Gaming IP for the XR Era

How do you translate one of the most foundational stealth franchises in gaming history into a medium where hiding in the shadows is no longer a button press, but a physical act of survival?

In this talk, Russ Harding (Chief Creative Officer, Maze Theory) will take a deep dive into the development of Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. Moving far beyond a standard port, Russ discusses the "VR-First" philosophy required to step into the boots of the cunning street thief, Magpie. 

Join us to discover how every mechanic—from tactile movement to environmental interaction—has been rebuilt to make you feel like a thief. Learn how the team leveraged novel interactions to heighten tension, such as physically blowing out candles via the headset’s microphone and the haptic-heavy nuance of pickpocketing. Finally, hear how they balanced the classic sandbox freedom of the original trilogy with the visceral intensity of being eye-to-eye with the City Watch.

Reserve your spot here and join the session live on Zoom on Friday 19th June or watch the replay:

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