MAGE is a powerful physics sandbox for Quest 3, and we tried it out
MAGE renders hundreds of dynamic objects at 120 FPS. We tested the physics sandbox that was developed for Quest 3 and 3S.
Developers Charlie Shenton and Matthew Alexander Gregory have created something unique with MAGE: a powerful physics sandbox in which you interact with dozens or hundreds of objects simultaneously using supernatural powers. These objects react realistically to the physical forces acting on them, casting dynamic shadows across the room. All at 120 frames per second on a standalone VR headset. It's an impressive feat.
MAGE is based on the Micron Engine, a game engine developed by Shenton and Gregory specifically for VR and standalone devices that uses a proprietary physics solver.
Because the developers wanted to push the limits, MAGE only supports Quest 3 and 3S. The physics sandbox, released this week in Early Access, is designed to showcase the capabilities of the Micron Engine.
I got to know the engine a few weeks ago with the mixed reality app Orbs, but MAGE can do much more, as I discovered during my short test with Quest 3.
Physics like you've never seen on Quest before
MAGE lets you choose from twelve spells and powers for each hand. From telekinesis to throwing fireballs to summoning objects, everything a mage could want is included. Even time and gravity can be manipulated.
But it's not these powers that make MAGE unique, it's the way objects react to them. At the touch of a button, you can bring dozens of boxes or balls, a wrecking ball, a Jenga tower the size of a two-story building, humanoid dummies, and much more into the simulation and use your powers on them.
In my test, the engine rendered stable at 120 frames per second. Watching the physical forces at work is a pleasure, and the high frame rate makes the action look and feel even more lifelike.
There is room for improvement in the controls, which can be a bit intimidating at first due to the sheer number of things you can do. The same goes for movement. Instead of smooth locomotion, you can only jump through the world by swinging your left or right arm, a locomotion method the developers call "Air Climb". I struggled a bit on my first few attempts, but Shenton assures me that it feels great once you get the hang of it.
No licensing planned for Micro Engine at this time
MAGE is a unique and fascinating piece of software, but at this early stage it's more of an (admittedly impressive) tech demo than a game, and I doubt it could keep me hooked for more than an hour. But it certainly captured my imagination. As I experimented with it, I kept wondering what was possible with the underlying engine and how it could be used to create unique VR games with destructible environments and ingenious physical puzzles. The possibilities seem endless.
MAGE has just been released into Early Access, and Shenton and Gregory have big plans for the VR app and the Micron engine, which is said to get more powerful over time.
"For us, Micron is easier and more productive than any other engine, and we could not have built MAGE without it. We extend and build tooling for it as we need it. We expect its features will grow to meet the needs of MAGE and future games we choose to develop," Shenton says.
Will other developers be able to license the engine to create games based on it? According to Shenton, there are no current plans to do so. Bringing the engine to other VR platforms is also not planned at this time. The Micron engine and MAGE will remain exclusive to Quest 3 and 3S for the time being.
You can purchase MAGE for $20 from the Horizon Store. To reach out to the developers, you can join MAGE's Discord server.
What do you think of Mage? Join the conversation on Facebook, Bluesky or X or share your opinion in the comments below.
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