Capcom Shifts Focus from Ace Attorney 7 to VR Port of the Fifth Game

Ace Attorney is making a return, but not quite in the way fans have been hoping for. With the series stuck in a cycle of remakes and re-releases since Ace Attorney 6 dropped in 2016, Capcom has revealed that Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, the fifth installment, will be getting a VR remake next year.

This marks the fourth time this title has been released since its original debut on the 3DS in 2013. The upcoming version is a complete overhaul designed for virtual reality, offering players a more immersive experience in the courtroom. The original game was significant as the first 3D entry in the franchise, moving away from the 2D pixel art style that defined the series since its Game Boy Advance origins, and introducing 3D character models and interactivity while still keeping the visual novel elements intact.

In this VR adaptation, scenes have been entirely reimagined to fit a first-person viewpoint. Players will step into the shoes of Phoenix Wright and others, allowing them to physically gesture to object against the prosecution’s claims. So far, gameplay footage has focused on courtroom scenes where players present evidence and interrogate witnesses, but it’s expected that the investigative segments will also be redesigned for the VR experience.

The big question remains: why this choice? Currently, there are no Ace Attorney titles available in VR, and while this game is easier to adapt due to its original 3D design, the decision to bring an Ace Attorney game to VR feels a bit odd. Fans are eager for a new installment, and many are left wondering why yet another remake is on the way while they await the elusive Ace Attorney 7, as well as the reasoning behind the VR port.

Players will have to wait until 2027 to experience the game, assuming they have a Meta Quest headset. While this may not be the new entry fans have been longing for, the opportunity to step into the role of Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice in first-person—without the years of law school—might just help ease the wait for a fresh installment. Maybe.