Cyberblade Battles

Inspiration

VR’s biggest successes proved that free-to-play, motion-based locomotion, and fully diegetic, menu-free multiplayer worlds are what make the medium feel magical and keep players coming back. Those hits showed Gen Alpha falling in love with VR through pure physical embodiment and social chaos.

Yet almost every VR shooter still copies flat-screen formulas: paid upfront, joystick/teleport movement and match-based sessions that break immersion. We wondered: why has no one built the shooter that feels as native to VR as those great successes do?

To fill this gap, we built Cyberblade Battles: a combat-first game designed from the ground up for VR’s strengths.

What it does

Cyberblade Battles is a free-to-play VR shooter designed around our unique arm-swing locomotion system that leaves hands free for weapons and items (unlike gorilla locomotion). The fully diegetic world merges social lobbies with PvP arenas and mini-games, creating seamless hangouts in a futuristic city that drops you straight into the action without loading screens or menus; the moment the app launches, you're embodied and ready to play.

Launched as PvP-focused, players embraced the mechanics but craved cooperative fun and replayability. Our significant update transforms the core gameplay from PvP to co-op PvE. Parties (solo or group) warp from the city into procedurally generated missions, descending random floors with varied challenges, bosses, and bonus rooms. This system enables endless remixability: plug in level designs, themes, seasons, or modes like endless runs. This fosters viral social chaos, where friends create emergent moments of triumph and laughter in real-time co-op raids. Players can also earn EXP to level up and climb the ranks, plus cybercoins and loot for customizing and upgrading their Cyberblade Runner.

How we built it

Development began as an exploration into locomotion systems that would minimize motion sickness while granting users complete freedom of movement in the game world, without disrupting the natural link between body and avatar movement.

This led to a unique motion-based mechanic combining arm-swinging, which studies show generates one of the least motion sickness among VR locomotion methods, for forward movement, smashing both hands down to jump, and button/joystick-triggered thrusters or dashes for precise maneuvers. This approach also freed up hands and buttons for core combat systems, using intuitive mapping (one button per direct action).

Bootstrapped by juggling client VR projects at our studio Osyrys, our lean three-person team built the game in public, launching an open alpha since the first playable version to receive user feedback. In November 2025, addressing alpha feedback on replayability, we began work on a co-op PvE update.

Challenges we ran into

Early alpha retention suffered due to PvP's limited replayability and heavy reliance on community matchmaking: 2,450 installs, yet a steep D30 drop-off. Direct user feedback praised the emergent fun and mechanics, but without structured objectives, progression, or co-op modes, the novelty wore off quickly. The pivot addresses this by introducing PvE co-op mode. Achieving resilient sessions with peer-to-peer connections and seamless party warps proved quite a challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Developed a unique player rig that feels truly immersive and is deeply enjoyed by players. When we interact with users as anonymous players, they find the game really cool and are usually surprised why it hasn't taken off or doesn't have more players, highlighting untapped potential for viral growth.

What we learned

Multiplayer thrives on community.
Get user feedback as early as possible.
Fun, chaotic and player driven moments is key to drive viral growth.

What's next for Cyberblade Battles

Open Beta with the co-op PvE update! Coming soon:

Infinite replayability: More sections (each with its own procedural randomization), enemies, bosses, modes, and user configured levels.
Expanded progression: New items, upgrades, weapons, stat upgrades, and cosmetics.
Creator tools: Spectator camera and livestreaming.
Social features: Discord integration, friend lists, clans, achievements, and in-game events.

We want to make Cyberblade Battles VR's truly immersive roguelite, where you and your friends dive into endless co-op runs filled with non-stop fun, battling through procedurally generated levels that remix challenges, enemies, and bosses every time.

With ongoing expansions adding new themes, modes, and player-created levels, we're crafting a VR-native IP that evolves into a go-to world for shared adventures and lasting replayability.

Full Launch February 2026.