We were going to start this off by saying “It’s been a fair while since there was a decent Doctor Who videogame,” but when we think about it, there hasn’t been a single one, has there? The old BBC Micro/home computer games were ropey enough at the time and are certainly showing their age now, the Doctor’s most recent console outings (back in the PS3 / Wii days) weren’t exactly anything to write home about, and subsequent attempts to put the Doctor in the palm of our hands were confined to mobile devices which don’t really count. Following the recent reveal of the “animated VR experience” Doctor Who: The Runaway, it’s been announced that a fully-fledged interactive virtual reality Who game is in the works, in the shape of Doctor Who: The Edge of Time.
Developed by fledgling studio Maze Theory, led by former employees of Activision and PlayStation, The Edge of Time promises to transport players to a world filled with aliens, monsters and mystery. The game features the current incarnation of the Doctor, voiced by Jodie Whittaker herself, being hurled through time to the end of the universe where a virus threatens to destroy reality. Players will need to travel across time and space to retrieve some powerful crystals that will eventually repair time and, ultimately, save the universe. Along the way, there will be encounters with some familiar friends and foes from Who’s 55-year history, alongside brand new never-before-seen monsters, created specifically for the game. And, yes, you get to play around with the Sonic Screwdriver!
Marcus Moresby, Creative Director of Maze Theory, had this to say:
“Maze Theory is committed to re-defining storytelling through awesome, innovative and immersive experiences in virtual reality. Doctor Who is an incredibly exciting and timeless franchise with a passionate and committed global fan base. We are looking to give them an entirely new experience; an opportunity to team-up with the Doctor and feel like they are in the show. This of course includes piloting the TARDIS, a dream come true for fans!”
It certainly sounds like we’re in good hands with this one. The Edge of Time is set for release on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC VIVE, and the upcoming VIVE Cosmos this September. No further information has been released at this point, but we’ll be sure to bring you news, updates, and all that other good stuff as soon as it becomes available. And before we go, here’s the trailer for The Runaway in case you missed it!
