MixRift launches Battle Orb for family-friendly multiplayer physics-based VR fights

MixRift, a casual mixed reality (MR) game developer, announced the official early access launch of Battle Orb, a competitive strategy game which invites players to challenge each other and transform their physical surroundings into dynamic battlefields.

Available now for Meta Quest platforms, Battle Orb represents the next evolution in family-friendly mutliplayer MR gaming. In this case, players can play together in a group with each one of them wearing a Meta Quest VR headset.

A first PvP game for MixRift, Battle Orb allows players to step into immersive arenas where physical and digital worlds collide. Skill meets chaos in this fast-paced multiplayer strategy game, which challenges players to aim, shoot, and dominate with speed and precision across customized battlefields, combining tactical thinking with physics-based gameplay.

“We’re just building the best experience we can build, and we’re launching the game right now,” Voicu said. “It’s basically an arena battle game where you have armies of four characters, four heroes, and you can play one versus one, one versus one versus one for three players or four players against each other.”

It’s kind of like a pool game or a slingshot Angry Birds mechanic.

“And basically it becomes like this crazy, chaos-driven experience where it’s actually quite easy to start playing once you understand that you pull something back and you release and things happen,” Voicu said.

MixRift recently raised $1.6 million in funding, and it previously launched Crit Attack, a VR game for younger players. While it was fast action, Voicu figured out it wasn’t quite violent enough for some players. MixRift made this game in six months, and it’s hoping to launch games rapidly to see what becomes a hit with fans, he said.

Every hit counts as players collide, strategize and outplay opponents from around the world, from the comfort of their own homes. Players can compete in 2-player or 4-player battles, earn trophies, unlock and upgrade powerful units, and master unique arenas to climb the leaderboard.

“With Battle Orb, we’re not just launching a game, we’re basically turning your living room into a fantasy battleground.” said Bobby Voicu, CEO of MixRift. “We wanted to create something where anyone can jump in and start having fun in seconds, but that you could also master and keep replaying. I think this is what the future of gaming looks like, and it’s a blast.”

Key Features

● HD Graphics: Cutting-edge MR design technology creates a truly immersive gaming experience● Creative Character Options: Choose from tens of monsters, creatures, and cartoons to play with – each one zanier than the last● Real-Time PvP Action: Face-off in 2-player or 4-player matches full of high-stakes action● Physics Meets Strategy: Master the perfect angle, power, and timing to outmaneuver opponents, and perfect your shots to climb through the ranks● Unique Units & Powers: Earn wins and open loot chests to unlock and upgrade special characters and abilities● Environmental Integration: Scale your battlefield to fit any space, turning living rooms into competitive arenas● Competitive Progression: Climb global leaderboards through a rewarding rank system and prove you’re the righteous winner.

The game’s intuitive controls ensure players of all skill levels can jump in immediately, while the strategic elements provide long-term engagement for competitive gamers. Battle Orb’s intuitive and quick matchmaking system means players are matched with others in similar ranks within seconds.

“It’s really easy to start and then you can get into into deeper gaming, into more strategic gaming, for the players that want a little bit more,” Voicu said. “It’s closer to a midcore game, rather than a completely casual game.”

Each match takes around 15 minutes to 20 minutes.

“The game has more like a fantasy setting, and we use characters suited to that type of setting. We have vampires, we have golems, we have, we have cute characters, like an archer or something like that,” he said.

Battle Orb has been designed with comfort and safety in mind, earning a “Comfortable” rating and PEGI 3 classification, making it appropriate for players of all ages while still delivering compelling gameplay for serious competitors.

“We’ve created Battle Orb to be a really special mixed-reality competitive experience,” said Voicu. “The way it transforms your physical environment into a strategic battlefield creates moments of gaming magic that simply aren’t possible in traditional formats.”

Availability

Battle Orb is available now on the Meta Quest Store for Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 2 platforms. The game requires an internet connection for its online features.

Voicu founded MixRift in 2024. The studio is based in the United Kingdom, while Voicu is based in Lisbon. There are six more prototypes that MixRift is working on with its team of 10 people. It’s akin to hypercasual games in mobile.

“I feel that in order for us to be hyper casual, we would need to get the development time to about six weeks, and we’re still not there yet,” Voicu said.