Drums Rock
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| Drums Rock | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Developer | Garage51 |
| Publisher | Garage51 |
| Platform | Meta Horizon OS, SteamVR, PlayStation VR2, Pico OS |
| Device | Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, PlayStation VR2, Pico 4, Pico 4 Ultra, Pico Neo 3 Pro, SteamVR-compatible headsets |
| Operating System | Windows (Steam version); PlayStation 5 |
| Type | Game |
| Genre | Rhythm, Arcade, Action |
| Input Device | Tracked Motion Controllers |
| Play Area | Seated, Standing, Room-scale |
| Game Mode | Single-player |
| Release Date | February 17, 2022 (Quest, App Lab); June 2, 2022 (Steam early access); October 12, 2022 (Pico); February 22, 2023 (PS VR2); June 14, 2023 (Steam full release); April 4, 2024 (Meta Quest Store) |
| Price | US$19.99 (Steam and Meta Horizon Store base game, checked October 6, 2026); music packs sold separately |
| App Store | Steam, Meta Horizon Store, PlayStation Store, Pico Store |
| Website | https://garage51.es/drumsrock/ |
Drums Rock is a virtual reality rhythm game developed and published by Garage51, a studio in Barcelona, Spain. The player sits or stands at a virtual drum kit and uses tracked controllers as drumsticks; each note arrives as a demon that is destroyed by hitting the matching drum or cymbal in time with rock and metal music.[1][2]
The game first appeared on App Lab for Meta Quest headsets on 17 February 2022.[3] It later came to Steam in early access, to the Pico store, and to PlayStation VR2 as a launch-day title on 22 February 2023.[2][4][5] The Steam version left early access on 14 June 2023, and the Quest version moved from App Lab to the Meta Quest Store on 4 April 2024.[6][7] Since 2023 Garage51 has sold licensed songs as paid downloadable content, with artists including Green Day, Linkin Park, Pantera, Disturbed and Slipknot.[2][8]
Gameplay
The drum kit has four drums and two cymbals.[9] When the game was announced in 2021, UploadVR described the core mechanic: each piece of the kit is assigned a color, and colored demons fly toward the player, who defeats them by striking the drum of the same color at the right moment, much as in Guitar Hero or Rock Band.[10] Garage51 describes it as an arcade drum game in which "each note is represented by an enemy", set in what the studio calls "a fantastic and punk world".[1] The campaign includes boss battles across several worlds.[2][11]
The game has two main modes. In the Campaign, players progress through levels and earn stars; in Challenge mode, players replay songs and compete on global leaderboards.[12][3] The Steam listing advertises more than five hours of campaign, four difficulty levels, unlockable drumsticks, drums and songs, and play from a chair.[2] Sticks can be bounced and caught as tricks, and the kit's height can be adjusted.[12] Garage51 says the game has "no sheet music, no floating drums" and gives haptic, visual and audible feedback on every drum beat.[11]
The soundtrack mixes original rock songs with cover versions and licensed tracks. The App Lab release included "Drink" by Alestorm as its first licensed song.[3] In its review, GameSpew noted that the licensed songs in the base game are cover versions rather than original recordings.[12] On PC, players can add custom songs and share them through Steam Workshop.[2][6]
PlayStation VR2 features
For the PS VR2 version, Garage51 built a scoring mechanic around the headset's eye tracking. Two switches under the streak marker, one for each eye, activate when the player closes their eyes or does not look at incoming notes, multiplying the score by two, or up to eight times with modifiers.[5] The Sense controllers give different vibrations for each drum and cymbal, with adjustable strength, and the headset vibrates with a separate pattern for each song to imitate concert bass.[5] Garage51's CEO Dani Sintas Sanchez stated that the PS VR2 version runs at 120 frames per second in 4K resolution.[5]
Mixed reality
When the Quest version moved to the Meta Quest Store in April 2024, Meta reported that the game now "incorporates mixed reality", allowing players to fight the demons "from the comfort of your own couch".[7] The XR news site MIXED listed Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro as supported headsets at that launch.[13]
Development
Garage51 was founded in Barcelona in 2018 by three college friends: Dani Sintas (CEO), Chin Ho (CTO) and Marc Company (licensing and marketing). Its earlier game was the 2019 mobile title Demon Blade.[14] Drums Rock is built with the Unity engine.[1]
UploadVR first reported on the game in July 2021, when it was planned for Oculus Quest in late 2021. The developers described it as "a rhythm game inspired by classic rock music, combining it with elements of horde mode gameplay".[10] The game instead launched on App Lab in February 2022 with a campaign of about four hours; a 2022 roadmap listed new modifiers, licensed songs, difficulties, bosses and customization items, and an eventual release on the main Oculus Store.[3] Updates in January and April 2023 added crossover content with Until You Fall and Blasphemous.[6]
The "Official Launch" update of 14 June 2023 took the Steam version out of early access. It added custom song support on PC, seven new songs including a cover of an Evanescence track, and a new final boss, Lord Zeppelin. UploadVR reported that the new content was already on PS VR2 apart from custom songs, which technical limits kept off that platform, and that it was coming to Quest.[6]
For the Meta Quest Store release, co-founder and producer Marc Company Vila told Meta that a team member who plays the drums had given input throughout development, and that haptic feedback had been tailored to the controllers of each version of the game. He said that Green Day had won a poll on the studio's Twitter account asking which band players wanted in the game, and would appear "in a mix in a few weeks", and that three or four more DLCs were planned for 2024.[7]
Release
| Platform | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Quest (App Lab) | 17 February 2022 | First release[3] |
| Steam (early access) | 2 June 2022 | SteamVR, Windows[2] |
| Pico Store | 12 October 2022 | Pico 4, Pico 4 Ultra, PICO Neo3 Link, Neo3 Eye and Neo3 Pro, PICO Space Pro[4] |
| PlayStation VR2 | 22 February 2023 | Launch-day title[5][15] |
| Steam (full release) | 14 June 2023 | Left early access; custom songs and Steam Workshop[6] |
| Meta Quest Store | 4 April 2024 | Moved from App Lab; mixed reality added[7] |
Garage51's game page also lists the iQiyi and YVR stores among its distribution channels.[1] As of 6 October 2026 the base game is listed at US$19.99 on both Steam and the Meta Horizon Store.[2][16]
Downloadable content
Licensed music is sold as individual song downloads and as packs. The Steam store lists 65 downloadable songs as of October 2026. The table gives the first Steam release date for each batch; dates on other platforms can differ.
| Steam release | Artists and songs |
|---|---|
| 30 August 2023 | Undertale: "MEGALOVANIA", "Hopes And Dreams"[17] |
| 11 October 2023 | The Offspring, Spacehog, Lit, Collective Soul[18] |
| 6 December 2023 | Simple Plan (four songs)[19] |
| 22 February 2024 | HammerFall, Twilight Force, Battle Beast, Fifth Angel, NorthTale, Blind Guardian[20] |
| 9 May 2024 | Green Day ("American Idiot", "Holiday", "The American Dream Is Killing Me"), The Proclaimers, Disturbed[21] |
| 18 July 2024 | Pantera, Disturbed[22] |
| 17 October 2024 | Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Delain, Northward, Feuerschwanz, Angus McSix, Alter Bridge, Powerwolf, Jinjer[23] |
| 5 December 2024 | Cyberpunk 2077 songs by Samurai: "Chippin' In", "Never Fade Away", "The Ballad of Buck Ravers", "A Like Supreme"[24] |
| 20 February 2025 | Linkin Park ("In the End", "Numb", "Faint", "Somewhere I Belong", "One Step Closer")[25] |
| 19 June 2025 | Anime songs: KANA-BOON, TK from Ling tosite sigure, Who-ya Extended, Yoko Takahashi[26] |
| 2 October 2025 | Wind Rose, Powerwolf, Visions Of Atlantis, Angus McSix[27] |
| 11 December 2025 | Payday 2 and Payday 3 songs[28] |
| 16 April 2026 | Powerwolf, Serenity, Feuerschwanz, Alestorm, Bloodbound, Warkings[29] |
| 17 September 2026 | Slipknot ("Duality", "Psychosocial", "Before I Forget", "Wait and Bleed")[30][8] |
UploadVR reported that the Cyberpunk 2077 pack was revealed during the UploadVR Showcase and released on the Meta Horizon Store, Steam and PS VR2.[24] The PlayStation Store lists the Slipknot Music Pack with a release date of 17 September 2026.[8]
Reception
| Outlet | Platform reviewed | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic (aggregate) | PlayStation 5 / PS VR2 | 73/100 (5 critic reviews)[31] |
| GameSpew | PS VR2 | 8/10[12] |
| PSX Brasil | PS VR2 | 80/100[31] |
| Meristation | PS VR2 | 75/100 (as listed by Metacritic)[31] |
| PlayStation Universe | PS VR2 | 7/10[9] |
| Push Square | PS VR2 | 60/100 (as listed by Metacritic)[31] |
GameSpew's Kim Snaith wrote that "nailing a combo leaves us feeling like a rock legend", and praised the accessibility options, but said the cover versions "don't sound quite right".[12] Neil Bolt of PlayStation Universe called it "generally a delightful rhythm game with a classic feel to it" that "does suffer somewhat for a limited tracklist with little star power"; he also noted possible hit-detection problems on faster songs at higher difficulties.[9] Metacritic's summary of the Push Square review also cites detection issues, and its summary of the Meristation review names the playlist, short and made up entirely of covers, as the game's only drawback.[31]
On PS VR2 the game appeared in Sony's download charts. It was eighth in the US and Canada and ninth in Europe among PS VR2 games downloaded from the PlayStation Store in February 2023, the headset's launch month.[32] In Sony's list of the most downloaded PS VR2 games of 2023, it ranked tenth in Japan.[33]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Drums Rock". Garage51. https://garage51.es/drumsrock_details.html. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Drums Rock on Steam". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1906020/Drums_Rock/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Harry Baker (2022-02-16). "Drums Rock Smashes Onto App Lab For Quest On February 17". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/drums-rock-app-lab-release/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Drums Rock". PICO Store. PICO. https://store-global.picoxr.com/gb/detail/1/7120508854932078597. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Dani Sintas Sanchez (2023-02-17). "Drums Rock launches February 22: PS VR2 features detailed". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2023/02/17/drums-rock-launches-february-22-ps-vr2-features-detailed/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Harry Baker (2023-06-14). "Drums Rock Full Launch Brings Custom Songs, New Boss & More". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/drums-rock-vr-full-release-custom-songs/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "You're Gonna Go Far Kid: 'Drums Rock' Officially Launches on Meta Quest Today". Meta Quest Blog. Meta Platforms. 2024-04-04. https://www.meta.com/blog/drums-rock-launch-meta-quest-3/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Drums Rock: Slipknot Music Pack". PlayStation Store. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://store.playstation.com/en-ca/product/UP7590-PPSA13961_00-0805767351335488. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Neil Bolt (2023-03-10). "Drums Rock Review (PSVR2) - Fight Your Demons In This Rocking Drumming Game". PlayStation Universe. https://www.psu.com/reviews/drums-rock-psvr-2-ps5-review/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Harry Baker (2021-07-30). "Drums Rock Brings Hellish Demon Drumming To Oculus Quest In Late 2021". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/drums-rock-oculus-quest/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Drums Rock - VR Drums Game". Garage51. https://garage51.es/drumsrock/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Kim Snaith (2023-02-22). "Drums Rock PSVR 2 Review". GameSpew. https://www.gamespew.com/2023/02/drums-rock-psvr-2-review/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ Kevin Link (2024-04-14). "Meta Quest: Destroy demons with your drumming skills in Drums Rock". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/meta-quest-destroy-demons-with-your-drumming-skills-in-drums-rock/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Garage 51 - Game Studio Company - From Barcelona". Garage51. https://garage51.es/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ Shawne Benson (2023-02-21). "10 new PS VR2 titles revealed, launch window lineup now over 40 games". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2023/02/21/10-new-ps-vr2-titles-revealed-launch-window-lineup-now-over-40-games/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock". Meta Horizon Store. Meta Platforms. https://www.meta.com/experiences/drums-rock/6378164228868127/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Undertale - 'MEGALOVANIA'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2532520/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: The Offspring - 'You're Gonna Go Far, Kid'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2625150/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Simple Plan - 'Welcome to My Life'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2682130/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: HammerFall - 'Hearts On Fire'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2829930/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Green Day - 'American Idiot'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2951610/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Pantera - 'Walk'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3053550/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Alestorm - 'Keelhauled'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3240370/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Ian Hamilton (2024-12-05). "Drums Rock Adds Cyberpunk 2077 DLC". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/drums-rock-adds-cyberpunk-2077-dlc/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Linkin Park - 'In the End'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3465580/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: KANA-BOON - 'Silhouette'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3589590/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Wind Rose - 'Drunken Dwarves'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3833680/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Payday 3 - 'No Rest for the Wicked'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4109240/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Powerwolf - 'Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4335070/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ "Drums Rock: Slipknot - 'Wait and Bleed'". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4754680/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 "Drums Rock critic reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/drums-rock/critic-reviews/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ O'Dell Harmon Jr. (2023-03-10). "PlayStation Store: February 2023's top downloads". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2023/03/10/playstation-store-february-2023s-top-downloads/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2024-01-24). "Sony Reveals the 10 Most Downloaded PSVR 2 Games in 2023". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/sony-reveals-the-10-most-downloaded-psvr-2-games-in-2023/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.