In the spring, PlayStation VR users can expect to see a new game release. Developed by Trebuchet Studio, the same studio behind Prison Boss VR, comes Wind and Leaves, a meditative, world-building game. Much of the inspiration comes from the French-Canadian film, The Man Who Planted Trees, which followed an old man as he lived in solitude and spent his days planting trees.
In Wind and Leaves, there is little action but still much to do. Players will slowly build up the desert planet they are living on. As they move around atop wooden stilts, they will explore a mostly barren land and can collect tools, dig holes, plant seeds, and watch plants grow in order to convert the land into a lush forest. As they rejuvenate the land, players will restore energy to the broken-down landmarks scattered across the world. However, as can be seen from the trailer, the gameplay is more focused on exploring rather than garden management. Players will be able to speed up time to see the seeds they planted grow into trees and transform the world. In a PlayStation Blog post, Pernot Lopes, the creative director at Trebuchet Studio, explained the choice of having the players on stilts as so.
Early in development, we started thinking of ways to make this engaging in VR. We wanted to make a peaceful experience, but not a passive one. There comes our unique locomotion system, the Stilts, allowing you to feel each step you take with your PS Move controllers. You can raise or lower them to adapt your pace, or to reach fruits higher in your trees. Stilts can also retract to let you climb at the top of any tree to survey your surroundings.
Wind and Leaves will be available on PlayStation VR sometime in the Spring of 2021.