To the surprise of many, a new entry in the Thief series was announced during Sony’s annual State of Play. Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow will be released later this year for PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest, and PC VR and features a fresh protagonist.
Published by Vertigo Games in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal and developed by Maze Theory, the game aims to use virtual reality to deliver a truly immersive stealth experience.
The announcement was accompanied by a short trailer. Of particular note is the return of Stephen Russell, the legendary voice actor originally responsible for bringing Garrett to life.
Vertigo’s press release describes how the core gameplay fans have come to expect will translate to VR:
Use your body to sneak past guards and your hands to pickpocket, pry open hidden compartments, and bypass locks through tactile interactions. Wield an array of arrows and tools to distract, disable, or eliminate threats with immersive VR archery as you climb rooftops, sneak through back alleys, and uncover secrets in a dark, steampunk-inspired world.
Every heist offers multiple paths and playstyles, whether you sneak past guards unseen or take them down from the shadows.
Steven Gallagher, Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal, talked specifically about Thief’s lasting legacy and its potential within VR:
Thief has always been about mastering the shadows, using a mix of tools and wit to navigate its dark and dangerous world. Whether you’re sneaking through or taking a more direct approach with arrows and blackjack, it’s a place full of intrigue.
Seeing it reimagined in VR is incredibly exciting, bringing a whole new depth to Thief’s atmospheric world, and we can’t wait for both longtime fans and new players to experience it in virtual reality.
Despite not being what many fans were hoping for, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow has the potential to draw attention to this overlooked franchise. As more information about the game is revealed, I’ll update this post.
UPDATE (06/10/25)
A new developer showcase video has been shared, providing some new information about the game, namely that it takes place between the events of Thief: Deadly Shadows and Thief (2014).