“Valo Motion sees Astro Blade as an opportunity to connect with new audiences. Fighting game aficionados, sci-fi fans, and space enthusiasts will all find some fun in ValoArena,” said Raine Kajastila, CEO and founder of Valo Motion. “Astro Blade is the perfect expression of one of Valo Motion’s core goals: to use mixed-reality technology to get people on their feet, moving, and having fun.”

Featuring incredible realtime video of each player on-screen using ValoArena's sophisticated built-in camera system, Astro Blade is an action-packed fighting game set in a space hangar. Up to six Astro Blade players can enter ValoArena without headsets, wires, or controllers, making for a level of immersion that requires very little instruction. Players don't have to think about how to move; they just move.

Astro Blade is the first ValoArena player-vs.-player title allowing players to battle each other in-game with no actual physical contact.

“We worked hard to create an experience that is friendly and fun for younger players and showcases the interaction between them,” said Lauri Lehtonen, Lead Designer of Astro Blade. “There are no guns in Astro Blade, so parents should feel 100% comfortable kicking their feet up while the birthday party is in ValoArena playing Astro Blade.”

Drawing inspiration from epic space movies and classic fighting games, Astro Blade arms players with a selection of weapons and moves that historically have only been accessible through complicated button mashing.

In ValoArena, the player is the controller; instead of button sequences, players create their own special moves by acting them out and deploying weapons via hand gestures. When a player pretends to swing a spear, their on-screen avatar wields a glowing, double-sided sword made of light. Valo Motion's powerful game engine and software make it all work seamlessly.

Astro Blade debuts on ValoArena this month and is the fourth title in the growing catalog of games developed specifically for the world's first mixed-reality playground.