A brand new video game based on The Boys is being released later this month, but there's a catch

The Boys: Trigger Warningthe first video game based on the hit, ultra-violent superhero franchise The boyswill be released on March 26 for Meta Quest 3. The game looks set to deliver its signature blend of dark satire, extreme violence, and corrupt, power-drunk superheroes that The boys is known for virtual reality. While gamers may have been hoping for a traditional console release, this iteration takes a different approach.

The boys was originally created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson as a series, but exploded in popularity after Amazon Studios and Eric Kirpke adapted the series for streaming in 2019. The multi-Emmy-winning show's fifth and final season debuts on Prime Video on April 8. While the upcoming The Boys: Trigger Warning is the series' first official video game release, Homelander, The boys' murderous Superman character, was in Mortal Kombat 1 as a DLC character.

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The Boys: Trigger Warning immerses players in a brutal power fantasy

The Boys: Trigger Warning is developed by award-winning Brazilian VR game studio ARVORE and published by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality. ARVORE announced the game's March 26 release date in its latest gameplay video, which also gave players a look at what to expect from the game. It's worth noting that the game will initially be available on Meta Quest 3, but will also be released on PSVR2 in the future.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)

The Boys: Trigger Warning seems to focus on stealth and brutal VR combat. Players will infiltrate Vought facilities, sneak past enemies and use injectors filled with Temp V to access abilities usually only reserved for the series' Supes. Players will use these abilities to rip the heads off enemies, shoot lasers from their eyes, and slice through soldiers with crystal claws. Like the show and comic before it, the game is intended for an older audience. Most gamers probably expected the first video game adaptation of The boys to be on traditional consoles or PC, so the VR title may be surprising to some.

The Boys: Trigger Warning will feature a new main character, although ARVORE didn't share many details about him other than he has two young daughters and accidentally becomes a Supe. Series regulars Laz Alonso, who plays Mother's Milk, Colby Minifie, who plays Ashley Barret, and Jensen Ackles, who portrays Soldier Boy, will reprise their roles from the TV series for the VR game. The story of the game doesn't just retell the events of the show either.

Along with new characters to follow, players will face new Supe antagonists in The Armstrongs, while also coming face to face with familiar series foes like the Homelander. Players will team up with the titular team, The Boys, to save and protect the protagonist's family and uncover the dark secrets of Project Janice. Fans may be disappointed to learn that Anthony Starr will not be reprising his role as Homelander for the game. In fact, Starr has spoken publicly about how, while bittersweet, he's glad his time as a Homelander is coming to an end.

While there hasn't been much news regarding VR games in recent months, it's interesting that two of the last big VR releases have revolved around superhero power fantasy. For example, Marvel's Deadpool VR features frantic VR battles and is also an exclusive Meta Quest. Both series also focus on dark humor, hyper violence and shocking moments, which may be why developers have chosen to use VR to tell their stories. VR could enhance these moments by fully immersing the player in these characters.

At the same time, it may be an ambitious move to adapt a story-driven and heavily satirical series to VR. The humor and the comments are really what defines it The boysso the game's success may depend more on the writing and character performances rather than the gameplay. If The Boys: Trigger Warning can successfully capture both the brutal action, violence and satirical tone of the franchise, it could be one of the more interesting licensed VR titles in recent years. With The boys preparing to air its final season in April, The Boys: Trigger Warning can also give comic fans another way to dive into the chaotic, twisted world The boys before the end of the program.