LOS ANGELES, CA – May 27, 2025 – The time for prophecy is over. The Phoenix is rising. HEROmation’s debut title The Phoenix Gene launches June 5, 2025, on Meta Quest for $24.99. Blending dynamic third-person shooting with layered multiverse lore, the game invites players into a cinematic journey through parallel realities—where every shot fired, every realm toggled, and every second survived might save the future… or fracture it forever.
Built from the ground up by a team of nine industry veterans and indie creators, The Phoenix Gene is a handcrafted, narrative-driven VR shooter where players take control of Firestorm, a rebirthing Phoenix sent to rewrite humanity’s fate. Tasked with protecting Jackie—a young janitor caught in the deadly fallout of Life Rite’s immortality experiments—players must guide their phoenix through a series of crumbling timelines, battling mutants, drones, and impossible horrors in pursuit of truth, justice, and a chance to fix what was broken.
A Multiverse on the Brink
The world of The Phoenix Gene is already dying. Torn by dimensional tears and corrupted by biotech ambition, its multiverse slips deeper into chaos each time Life Rite injects their cursed serum into a new host. As Firestorm, players don’t just witness the consequences—they fly through them. Controlled physically by gripping with your hands like a living paper airplane, Firestorm weaves through collapsing bridges and burning cities, defending Jackie with searing fireballs, devastating flamethrowers, and smart bombs that clear the sky in a single burst.
This is not a passive ride. The game’s unique on-rails system gives you the power to move with your body, dodge hazards, shift your perspective, and return fire in any direction—even behind you. Whether standing or seated, you’re always in control—swooping, aiming, and reacting in real-time as the world unravels around you. Firestorm’s body reflects your health—there’s no HUD here, no meters to read, just visual intuition and instinct. When the Phoenix dims, you’re in danger.
“It’s like Starfox in VR,” says director Michael Cawood, “but you can shoot in all directions, toggle between realities, and feel the action on a gut level. Every mechanic was built to serve both the gameplay and the story—it’s all connected.”
And connection is key. The Phoenix’s most powerful ability is realm toggling—a mechanic inspired by Ikaruga—that lets players shift between two dimensions in real time. Each realm has its own threats and secrets. Match the Phoenix’s color to enemy bullets to absorb them and charge up power. Shift realities to reveal new paths, enemies, and opportunities. Realm toggling isn’t just a defensive move—it’s a strategic tool, a puzzle piece, and a weapon.
Gameplay Highlights
- Third-Person Phoenix Control: Fly Firestorm between your hands using intuitive grip mechanics. Control, aim, and react physically in all directions.
- Realm Toggling: Shift realities at will to absorb bullets, access hidden elements, and navigate dual-layered combat zones.
- No Traditional HUD: The Phoenix’s body reflects health and charge levels—keeping immersion front and center.
- Environmental Combat: Dodge obstacles, collect gold flames, blast drones, and battle mutated bosses including a giant leviathan that circles your playspace.
- Upgradeable Abilities: Earn smart bombs, flamethrower boosts, health regeneration, and range extensions via collectibles.
- Comfort Settings: Built for all playstyles with snap turn, smooth turn, vignette, and dual-scale support for sitting or standing play.
- Cinematic World Design: Eight diverse levels across alternate timelines, blending post-apocalyptic horror with biotech sci-fi and narrative symbolism.
- VR Book Experience: Includes the first chapter of The Phoenix Gene: Origins of Darkness, an original six-part novel series continuing the game’s story.
The Phoenix Gene is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Michael Cawood and Julie Pifher Cawood—industry veterans with credits across Skylanders Giants, Starfox Adventures, Kameo, Bumblebee, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Pete's Dragon, Happy Feet, TLC’s My Giant Life, and the Oscar-qualified animated short The Wrong Rock. The game also features programming by Rare veteran Phil Woods (Perfect Dark, Crackdown 3) and a sweeping, cinematic soundtrack by BAFTA-nominated composer Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, Mario + Rabbids).
The Phoenix Gene launches June 5, 2025, for $24.99 on the Meta Quest Store. To stay informed on the latest news and updates, follow HEROmation on X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. Join the community on Discord and experience a VR story where every flight changes fate.
Slideshow Overview: The Phoenix Gene Overview Deck