Bulletstorm VR
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| Bulletstorm VR | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| VR/AR | VR |
| Developer | Incuvo |
| Publisher | People Can Fly |
| Platform | SteamVR, Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Pico |
| Device | Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest Pro, PlayStation VR2, Valve Index |
| Operating System | Windows, Meta Horizon OS, PICO OS |
| Type | Game |
| Genre | Action, Shooter |
| Input Device | Tracked motion controllers |
| Play Area | Seated, Standing |
| Game Mode | Single-player |
| Release Date | 18 January 2024 |
| Price | US$39.99 at launch; US$29.99 as of October 2026 |
| App Store | Steam, Meta Horizon Store, PlayStation Store, Pico Store |
| Website | https://bulletstorm.com/ |
Bulletstorm VR is a single-player first-person shooter for virtual reality headsets, developed by the Polish VR studio Incuvo and published by People Can Fly. It is a VR reimagining of Bulletstorm, the 2011 sci-fi shooter developed by People Can Fly.[1] The game was released on 18 January 2024 for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, PlayStation VR2 and PC VR through Steam, and on the PICO platform on 19 September 2024.[1][2]
The player controls Grayson Hunt, a former member of the Dead Echo squad, on the planet Stygia. The VR version keeps the original game's Skillshot scoring system and energy leash, and adds dual-wielding of guns and two new levels in which the player controls Trishka Novak.[1][3] Critics gave the launch version mixed to negative reviews.[4][5] People Can Fly later acknowledged that the game had not launched at the quality it expected and released a series of patches, ending with the free version 1.4 update in September 2024, which added a Horde Mode.[6][2]
Gameplay
The campaign follows Grayson Hunt, a former Dead Echo squad leader, as he and his crew try to survive on the abandoned resort planet of Stygia and take revenge on the corrupt General Sarrano, the former commander who betrayed Grayson.[7][8] As in the original, players earn points through Skillshots, which reward creative kills that combine melee and ranged attacks; the publisher's examples include kicking an enemy into a cactus and impaling one on rebar.[8] Points from carnage combos unlock new weapons, charged shots and ammunition capacity.[1]
The game is played with tracked motion controllers. Each hand can hold its own gun, a feature People Can Fly describes as exclusive to the VR version.[1] According to Meta's Quest blog, weapons are stored in three body slots (right hip, left shoulder and right shoulder), with a fourth slot on the left hip for ammunition. The game offers three reload methods, from a simple button press to semi-immersive and fully immersive physical reloading. The energy leash can be aimed with the hand or the head, kicks can send objects or enemies into traps, and a Dash move teleports the player into enemies as an alternative to sliding.[9]
The two VR-exclusive levels star Trishka Novak, who hunts her father's killer and dual-wields new Energy Blade weapons that can decapitate and dismember enemies.[3][7] The official FAQ states that these extra missions add about 30 minutes of play and that the game is single-player only, with no co-op or multiplayer mode.[10] Horde Mode, added in version 1.4, puts the player in three arenas against increasingly difficult waves of enemies, with online leaderboards.[2]
Comfort and platform features
Movement can use thumbstick-based artificial locomotion or teleportation, with smooth or snap turning. The game supports seated and standing play.[11][9] The FAQ lists a tunneling (vignetting) effect, a fade-through-black "blink" effect when teleporting, a choice between flat and stereoscopic 3D cutscenes, and an option to switch to a standing dash for comfort.[10] On PlayStation VR2, the FAQ lists adaptive trigger effects, headset haptics and, since Update 1.3, eye-tracked foveated rendering; the PlayStation Store lists PS VR2 Sense controllers as required, with sitting and standing play modes.[10][12]
The game has English voice audio, with subtitles in English, Polish, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.[10] Steam lists the same languages.[13] Korean and Simplified Chinese subtitles were added in update 1.4.[2]
Development
Bulletstorm VR was developed by Incuvo, a VR studio based in Katowice, Poland, and founded in 2012, whose earlier work includes Layers of Fear VR, Blair Witch VR and Green Hell VR.[1] UploadVR described it as Incuvo's second conversion of a flatscreen game to VR, after Green Hell VR.[14] People Can Fly, which developed the 2011 original, published the game.[1] The original appeared on Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3, and People Can Fly and Gearbox released a remastered Full Clip Edition in 2017.[15] In the VR version, Grayson Hunt is voiced by Steve Blum.[15]
At the announcement, People Can Fly creative director Bartosz Kmita said the VR version "retains everything players loved about the original Bulletstorm". Incuvo CEO Andrzej Wychowaniec called it "a dream project" for the studio and said the game's electric leash "is just a joy to use with motion controls in VR".[8]
Release
The game was announced on 1 June 2023 during the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, with a release planned for later that year.[8][16] On 23 August 2023, during gamescom 2023's Opening Night Live, People Can Fly showed a new trailer and set a release date of 14 December 2023 at US$39.99, with a 10% pre-order discount.[17] In November 2023 the release was delayed to 18 January 2024; the developers said they wanted the extra time "to continue improving the experience".[14] The Trishka Novak levels were revealed on 7 December 2023.[3]
| Platform | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Quest (Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro) | 18 January 2024 | US$39.99 at launch[9][1] |
| PlayStation VR2 (PlayStation 5) | 18 January 2024 | [1][12] |
| SteamVR (Windows) | 18 January 2024 | Steam lists Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro via Cable or Air Link, and Valve Index[13] |
| PICO | 19 September 2024 | Launched with update 1.4[2] |
The game is a digital-only release.[10] On 25 October 2024, People Can Fly announced a permanent price drop on Steam to US$29.99.[18] On the game's first anniversary, 18 January 2025, a "Try Before You Buy" trial launched on Meta Quest, letting Quest 2, Pro, 3 and 3S owners play for 20 minutes.[19] As of October 2026, the game is listed at US$29.99 on both Steam and the Meta Horizon Store.[13][20]
Updates
In June 2024, People Can Fly released a trailer acknowledging that the game "did not launch in January at the expected quality level that players or People Can Fly wanted". The trailer showed changes from three post-release patches and announced a free major update with Horde Mode, a PICO release and a left-handed mode.[6]
| Update | Date (Steam) | Main changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.1 | 14 February 2024 | Crash fixes, enhanced visual effects for the leash, explosions and Peacemaker Carbine, AI and boss-fight fixes[21] |
| Update 2 | 3 April 2024 | More crash fixes, PC graphics presets and texture, shadow, fog and anti-aliasing options, progression blocker fixes[22] |
| Update 3 | 3 June 2024 | Uncensored version made available in the options, improved cutscene quality, low-health heartbeat sound[23] |
| 1.4 | 19 September 2024 | Horde Mode (three arenas), five new Skillshots, immersive charged shots, leaderboards, improved levels, visuals, physics, animation and AI, left-handed support, adjustable holsters[2][24] |
| 1.4.1 (hotfix) | 27 September 2024 | Fixes for two crashes; grab function moved off the Valve Index squeeze input[24] |
Senior Product Producer Honorata Najda-Szajewska said the team had spent the previous five months on improvements and polish for the update.[2]
Reception
On review aggregator Metacritic, the game holds an all-platform Metascore of 58 ("Mixed or Average") based on six critic reviews.[5] OpenCritic lists a Top Critic Average of 56 and a Critics Recommend figure of 18% from 11 reviews.[4]
| Publication | Score | Platform reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Road to VR | 3.5/10 | Quest 3 and PC VR via Link[15] |
| UploadVR | 2/5 | Quest 2[11] |
| Shacknews | 7/10 | PlayStation VR2[25] |
| CGMagazine | 7/10 | [4] |
| GamingTrend | 65/100 | [4] |
| God is a Geek | 4/10 | [4] |
Road to VR reviewed the launch version on Quest 3 and over Link on PC. It found the Quest 3 version uglier than expected and wrote that the visuals, even on PC, move between crisp and "low poly and downright muddy". It said sliding and kicking, each mapped to a single button input, felt unintuitive in VR, and that the action felt "significantly more tedious than it ought to be". It put the campaign at about five hours, with the two Trishka Novak missions as the only extra content, praised the voice acting, and called the game mostly comfortable, with many locomotion and comfort options.[15] UploadVR's reviewer, playing on Quest 2, criticized the cover-based encounter design and writing that had aged poorly since 2011, noted an opening disclaimer in which the developers acknowledge that the game has not aged well, and estimated a playtime of about seven hours.[11] Shacknews was more positive, writing that the weapons and gear "feel fantastic" in VR while criticizing climbing segments and some glitches.[25]
User ratings later improved. At the first anniversary, People Can Fly senior brand manager Kane Forrester said user review scores had increased "dramatically over the past 12 months" after the updates.[19] As of October 2026, the Meta Horizon Store shows a user rating of 4.1 out of 5, and Steam lists the game's user reviews as "Mixed".[20][13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Bulletstorm VR is Available Now - Kicking Ass on PC, PlayStation VR2, and Meta Quest Platforms". People Can Fly. 2024-01-18. https://peoplecanfly.com/bulletstormvr-launch-now-january-18-2-2/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Bulletstorm VR Launches The Biggest Update Yet!". People Can Fly. 2024-09-19. https://peoplecanfly.com/bsvr-horde-mode-update/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Bulletstorm VR Unveils Two New Exclusive Levels Featuring Elite Assassin Trishka Novak Coming to VR Platforms". People Can Fly. 2023-12-07. https://peoplecanfly.com/bulletstormvr-launch-now-january-18-2/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Bulletstorm VR Reviews". OpenCritic. https://opencritic.com/game/16074/bulletstorm-vr. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bulletstorm VR". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/bulletstorm-vr/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Bulletstorm VR Announces New Upcoming Horde Mode Alongside A Major Update And Pico Launch Later This Year". People Can Fly. 2024-06-26. https://peoplecanfly.com/horde-mode-pico-announcement/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Bulletstorm VR is OUT NOW on Steam". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-01-18. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/5510784213098689334. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Bulletstorm VR Is Coming Later This Year!". People Can Fly. 2023-06-01. https://peoplecanfly.com/bulletstorm-vr/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Shooty Shooty Bang Bang: 'Bulletstorm' Now Available on Meta Quest". Meta Quest Blog. Meta Platforms. 2024-01-18. https://www.meta.com/blog/bulletstorm-vr-available-now/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "FAQ". Bulletstorm VR. People Can Fly. https://bulletstorm.com/faq. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Charlie Wacholz (2024-01-23). "Bulletstorm VR Review: An Uninspired, Dysfunctional Port". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/bulletstorm-vr-review/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Bulletstorm VR". PlayStation. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/bulletstorm-vr/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Bulletstorm VR on Steam". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2451320/Bulletstorm_VR/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harry Baker (2023-11-20). "Bulletstorm VR Delayed To Early 2024". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/bulletstorm-delayed-to-2024/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Scott Hayden (2024-01-18). "'Bulletstorm VR' Review - An Uglier & More Tedious Version of the Game You Love". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/bulletstorm-vr-review-quest-3-psvr-2-pc/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ Ozzie Mejia (2023-06-01). "Bulletstorm for VR announced at Meta Quest Showcase 2023". Shacknews. https://www.shacknews.com/article/135727/bulletstorm-vr-reveal-meta-quest. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Bulletstorm VR Is Coming to PSVR2, Meta Quest 2 and Steam VR on December 14th". People Can Fly. 2023-08-23. https://peoplecanfly.com/bulletstormvr-coming-dec14/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "P-P-P-PERMA PRICE DROP to $29.99". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-10-25. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/6212245217911859259. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Bulletstorm VR Celebrates 1 Year Since Its Release". People Can Fly. 2025-01-18. https://peoplecanfly.com/bsvr-1-year/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Bulletstorm VR". Meta Horizon Store. Meta Platforms. https://www.meta.com/experiences/6565887093433499/. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Update 1.0.1 - Bulletstorm VR". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-02-14. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/5750603429272496053. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Update 2". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-04-03. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/5756237364304005478. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Update 3". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-06-03. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/5742731639344719496. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Update 1.4 Available Now With Horde Mode and 50% Off For a Limited Time". Steam. People Can Fly. 2024-09-19. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2451320/view/6341720536503271660. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 TJ Denzer (2024-01-31). "Bulletstorm VR review: Gritty, gory, guns & glory". Shacknews. https://www.shacknews.com/article/138510/bulletstorm-vr-review-score. Retrieved 2026-10-07.