Developed and published by Maze Theory, Peaky Blinders is coming to VR with Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom on 9 March 2023. Daniel got his hands on the game at EGX 2022, and I won’t lie, I was pretty jealous as I ran out of time before getting a chance. But, with the demo releasing on the incredible PICO 4, my chance has come!
What to Expect
Set in 1920s Birmingham, the world will feel familiar to fans of the hit show. This, however, is where I admit I have yet to watch it. It’s been on a list to catch up on for a long time. I know – shameful for someone who writes gaming, tech, and entertainment reviews, but what can you do? However, I know enough about to know what I wanted to see from the demo. Thankfully, it delivered.
The game promises an immersive world with iconic locations straight from the television show, such as Shelby’s Betting Shop, The Garrison pub and Charlie’s Yard. As if that wasn’t enough, the game features believable characters voiced by the cast, like Tommy and Arthur Shelby, and new characters made specifically for the game. The voice acting is excellent, as you would expect.
Intense action scenes are shown through a compelling crime drama. As part of my research, I watched some clips for comparison, and I can safely say that the story and action live up to the show’s high standard.
The Demo
The demo is short, but it’s enough to whet the appetite as to what’s coming. Available now on PICO 4, the demo sees you meet Tommy Shelby (voiced by Cillian Murphy) and learn a little about the story that will unfold.
Graphically, the game looks incredible, taking full advantage of the PICO 4’s power to really deliver. The characters also look and feel accurate to the show, which helps you feel like you’ve stepped into the show.
Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom has intuitive controls to pick up items in the game world, like an endless supply of cigarettes, glasses, documents, guns and more. In the pub, you can sit down with Tommy himself to learn about your role as a goon for the Peaky Blinders. At the end of this scene, you can kill the man being held hostage, implying that the game will introduce decision-based mechanics, although it is unclear how that will play out in the overall game.
Final Thoughts on Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom
Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is set up to be a fantastic game and experience for fans of the show and those who just like the idea of being a 1920’s gangster. Graphically it looks fantastic, and even in the short time I was in the game, I couldn’t help but stop just to look around. Even things like holding a cigarette or drink felt realistic. Don’t mess with the Shelby brothers, but make sure to check out the demo and the full game by order of the Peaky Blinders!
For information about the PICO 4, head to their website or follow them on Twitter.
To learn more about Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, head to the game’s website.
