Meta Quest: Hollywood studio announces superhero VR shooter and book series
HEROmation unveils its VR debut "The Phoenix Gene" — a narrative-driven rail shooter that sends players through parallel realities to save humanity.
HEROmation revealed its first VR game "The Phoenix Gene" during the Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase on April 4. This narrative-driven rail shooter, coming to Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest 2, will have players traveling through alternate timelines to uncover the dark secrets of a corporation obsessed with immortality.
In The Phoenix Gene, players control Firestorm, a reborn phoenix who guides Jackie — a young janitor pulled into a fight for humanity's survival after a catastrophic lab accident involving an immortality serum. After gaining unexpected powers, Jackie must battle through the "Slipstream Multiverse" while facing monstrous mutations born from failed genetic experiments.
The gameplay combines intense action with strategic elements inspired by classics like Pistol Whip, Starfox and Ikaruga. Players physically control the phoenix through surreal worlds, dodging dangers and unleashing fiery attacks.
A new take on rail shooters
The Phoenix Gene features a physics-based control system, where players guide the phoenix through parallel worlds using both hands. During the Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase, HEROmation co-founders Michael Cawood and Julie Pifher Cawood showcased a new gameplay trailer and demonstrated the game's mechanics live.
"It’s like Star Fox in VR—only this time, you can shoot in all directions," Michael Cawood explained during the presentation. "We wanted something that felt intuitive, strategic, and satisfying, where you’re always thinking with your hands."
Rather than using a traditional HUD, the game reflects the phoenix's health and energy status through its appearance. Players can choose between sitting or standing positions and have the freedom to shoot in all directions — including backwards and upwards — adding tactical depth to each encounter.
Expanding the Universe
For those interested in diving deeper into the lore, an exclusive VR book experience is in development. "The Phoenix Gene: Origins of Darkness" will be the first novel in a planned six-part book series, available in-game before the wider release.
The Phoenix Gene represents three years of development by a team including former Rare developers and talent behind major franchises like Starfox Adventures, Call of Duty, and Skylanders. Veteran composer Grant Kirkhope, known for Mario & Rabbids and GoldenEye 007, created the soundtrack. The studio HEROmation, founded by filmmaker Michael Cawood and author Julie Pifher Cawood, previously worked on notable projects including the Oscar-nominated animated film The Wrong Rock, My Giant Life, and Born Behind Bars.
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