By Joseph Luster

It may be harrowing to experience for many, especially in such an intimate way, but it remains surprising that there aren’t more World War II-based virtual reality games out there. Sniper Elite has a VR version, and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond offered an immersive, if light, experience when it launched in 2020. Many VR wargamers swear by IL-2 Sturmovik’s VR experience, but there’s room for plenty more where that came from. Enter: The Mighty Eighth VR, a new effort from MicroProse Software that’s currently in the works for an as-yet-undetermined release date.

The hook of The Mighty Eighth is the ability to hop into the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress and coast over enemy-held Europe as you make your way to Germany. MicroProse is going for something really atmospheric here, providing situations that will have you attempting to put out literal fires while Messerschmitt Bf-109s and Fw-190s zip around you and riddle your wings and fuselage with bullets.

Thankfully, you won’t be alone in your high-flying mission. You can take to the skies with nine other friends—or tack on some AI players if any gaps need filling—to make up a full crew aboard the bomber. Tasks include determining the right locations to drop bombs, monitoring radio and communications with headquarters, and defending your B-17 against enemy attacks. Remember, dropping out of formation is not an option, so keep your head on a swivel!

Considering how much of your survival depends on working in tandem with others, The Mighty Eighth VR is going to live and die based on how well its multiplayer functions. At the time of this writing there’s no date in sight, but hopefully those with suitable virtual reality hardware will at least be able to try out a demo at some point before taking the full plunge in the future.

Publisher: Microprose Software
Genre: Air combat
System: PC
Available: TBD

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