TECHNOLUST
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| TECHNOLUST | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Developer | IRIS VR Inc. |
| Publisher | IRIS VR Inc. |
| Platform | Oculus Rift (Platform) |
| Device | Oculus Rift |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Type | Game |
| Genre | Adventure, Indie |
| Input Device | Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad |
| Game Mode | Single Player |
| Language | English |
| Release Date | April 18, 2016 (store date) |
| Price | US$4.99 (US Steam storefront, October 13, 2026) |
| App Store | Steam |
| Website | https://irisvirtualreality.com/technolust/ |
| Infobox Updated | 2026-10-13 |
TECHNOLUST is a cyberpunk virtual reality adventure created by Blair Renaud for Oculus Rift.[1] IRIS VR describes it as an interactive visual novel built around exploration and interaction.[2] The current Steam offering identifies itself as a restoration of the original 2016 Rift edition.[3]
Features
Interaction and locomotion
For the restored original, the publisher specifies mouse and keyboard or an Xbox-compatible gamepad and explicitly excludes motion-controller support.[3] This differs from the later Extended Format update described in the release history below.
In November 2015, Renaud described the main game as a VR adaptation of a point-and-click adventure, using object discovery and interaction to advance the narrative. He avoided a separate inventory screen because he felt it interrupted the experience.[4] A written prerelease review in April 2016 described movement and interaction as the main inputs, with no inventory management, and identified playable arcade games within the environment.[5]
Renaud developed Cloudstep with Mark Schramm of VR Bits. His 2015 account describes discrete steps oriented relative to the headset, rather than a fixed world grid. Collision checks shorten a step near an obstacle. Smooth movement remains an alternative; the stepped mode was intended to reduce the continuous visual motion associated with movement. This was a developer design account, not a measured comfort result.[4] An April 2016 review documented default snap turning in the original release.[6]
Characters and spatial audio
During development, Renaud described using photogrammetry and 3D scanning to create characters, with rigging and polygon reduction to make the scans usable in a game. In June 2014 he also discussed obscuring parts of characters' faces and using real video for speech while facial animation remained under development.[1]
The December 2014 A Way Out backer demo incorporated Realspace 3D positional audio and a scanned character produced by Toronto studio Quantum Capture. The original written hands-on report identified it as a technology demo ahead of the full game.[7] A review of the released 2016 game documented stationary scanned characters, masks covering speaking characters' faces, and video representations of other characters.[6]
Renaud's November 2015 interview distinguished TECHNOLUST's character work from full facial-performance capture, which he said was not used for this game. He also described adapting Unity assets and adjusting lighting to give the environments a consistent appearance.[4] These accounts document production choices; they do not establish that the game eliminated the uncanny valley.
Development and release history
The Kickstarter campaign ran from April 10 to May 10, 2014. It raised CA$64,477 from 1,489 backers against a CA$30,000 goal.[8]
Renaud said he began working in VR after obtaining a DK1. He described evaluating rooms from inside the headset while designing their lighting and contents. His June 2014 interview also recorded attempts to adjust falling effects after user feedback and to avoid taking camera control away from the player; the planned DK2 beta and September release target were still provisional.[1] In July 2015, he identified changing Oculus and Unity SDKs as a development constraint and described adding a third-person arcade prototype alongside the main first-person experience.[9]
| Period or dated record | Edition or development stage |
|---|---|
| By August 3, 2014 | An early DK2 demo with positional tracking was available to backers. This was a development-kit version, preceding the commercial release.[10] |
| December 2014 | A Way Out featured positional audio and scanned characters during development.[7] |
| April 2016 | The original commercial Rift edition was released; its developer published launch troubleshooting that month.[11] |
| February 2017 | Technolust Extended Format was reported available on Oculus Home, adding Oculus Touch support and an expanded story.[12] |
| June 2017 | The creator's Steam announcement stated that Touch support and Extended Format had been released. It also described testing that version with HTC Vive through the Revive injector.[11] |
| November 16, 2025 | Renaud announced work to restore the original Steam offering and a separate remaster. He said the Steam page had been disabled in 2016 because the game had performed less well there than in its native Oculus Home version.[13] |
The 2025 announcement describes the legacy build as native to Oculus Home and playable with an Xbox controller or mouse and keyboard. It proposes a remaster incorporating Extended Format, full motion controls, updated graphics and sound, and desktop and Steam Deck support.[13] The current listing additionally advertises full SteamVR support for the remaster.[3] These are remaster plans, distinct from the restored original's documented inputs and runtime.
Recognition
TECHNOLUST received the Artistic Achievement Award at the 2016 Vision VR/AR Summit. The original award announcement, syndicated on February 11, 2016, names Technolust and IRIS VR Inc. as the winner.[14]
System Requirements
The US Steam listing publishes these PC requirements:[3]
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 7 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | i5-4590 | i7 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 970 / AMD 290 | GTX 980 / AMD 390 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Not separately listed |
| Storage | 7 GB available space | 7 GB available space |
The Windows 7 entry is legacy metadata: Steam client support is restricted to Windows 10 and later from January 1, 2024.[3]
Setup Instructions
The current original-edition listing is marked VR Only and requires an Oculus Home account.[3] Its restored-build description should be distinguished from the remaster's proposed desktop mode.
The developer's April 2016 launch note documented a crash when starting through Steam and advised launching Technolust.exe from the installation folder or a desktop shortcut. It also described a menu option for switching from snap to smooth turning. The June 2017 update repeated the launch workaround and warned that older saved games could be corrupted by the update, recommending a new game.[11] These are historical troubleshooting records, not tested instructions for every current installation.
Images and Videos
The developer's product page contains a trailer embed and an Original Soundtrack section.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kent Bye (2014-06-10). "#19: Blair Renaud on Technolust, VR level design, intention behind dystopian cyberpunk & making photoscanned NPCs comfortable". Voices of VR. https://voicesofvr.com/19-blair-renaud-on-technolust-vr-level-design-intention-behind-dystopian-cyberpunk-making-photoscanned-npcs-comfortable. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "TECHNOLUST". IRIS VR. https://irisvirtualreality.com/technolust/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Technolust". Steam. IRIS VR Inc.. https://store.steampowered.com/app/379670/Technolust/?cc=us&l=english. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kent Bye (2015-11-04). "#237: Technolust’s Cloudstep VR Locomotion & Overcoming the Uncanny Valley by Coding Social Behaviors". Voices of VR. https://voicesofvr.com/?p=1949. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ David Jagneaux (2016-04-01). "‘Technolust’ Review: Immersive VR Storytelling Meets a Cyberpunk Future". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/technolust-review-immersive-vr-storytelling/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Scott Hayden (2016-04-20). "Review: ‘Technolust’ is a Gritty Cyberpunk Adventure That Leaves You Begging For More". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/review-technolust-gritty-cyberpunk-adventure-leaves-begging/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Paul James (2014-12-22). "Technolust ‘A Way Out’ Demo Showcases ‘Realspace 3D’ Audio and Photogrammetry Techniques (60FPS Gameplay)". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/technolust-a-way-out-demo-showcases-realspace-3d-audio-and-photogrammetry-techniques-60fps-gameplay/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ IRIS V.R.. "TECHNOLUST: True Cyberpunk". Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/irisproductions/technolust-true-cyberpunk. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ Ian Hamilton (2015-07-27). "Technolust update coming soon; New mini-game shown". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/technolust-update-coming-soon-new-mini-game-showed/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ Paul James (2014-08-03). "We Play IRIS VR’s Technolust on the Oculus Rift DK2 (Video)". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/play-iris-vrs-technolust-oculus-rift-dk2-video/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 IRIS VR. "News - Steam Community Announcements". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/?appgroupname=Technolust&appids=379670&feed=steam_community_announcements. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ David Jagneaux (2017-02-17). "Technolust Gets Oculus Touch Support Making the Cyberpunk Dystopia More Immersive Than Ever". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/technolust-touch-update-release/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Anticleric (2025-11-16). "TECHNOLUST LEGACY EDITION". Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/anticleric/posts/technolust-143683339. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Vision VR/AR Award Winners Announced, Recognizing Innovation in VR and AR". Yahoo Finance. Marketwired. 2016-02-11. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vision-vr-ar-award-winners-140000666.html. Retrieved 2026-10-13.