LOS ANGELES, CA – March 13, 2025 – Reality isn’t broken—yet—but Life Rite is about to change that forever. Award-winning Hollywood studio HEROmation has unveiled The Phoenix Gene, its thrilling indie VR debut that propels players on a narrative-driven journey across alternate timelines. Launching this Spring on Meta Quest, the game immerses players in a heart-pounding mission through parallel worlds, unraveling the sinister secrets behind a corporation obsessed with immortality—at any cost.
In The Phoenix Gene, players control Firestorm, a rebirthing phoenix guiding Jackie, a young janitor caught in the crossfire of Life Rite’s deadly ambitions. After a catastrophic lab accident involving the immortality serum, Jackie’s mundane existence spirals into an epic journey through the Slipstream multiverse. Her newfound powers thrust her into a moral and physical battle, where saving humanity means navigating alternate realities and confronting monstrous mutations born from genetic experimentation gone wrong.
This narrative-driven on-rails shooter blends intense action with strategic gameplay inspired by classics like Pistol Whip, Starfox, and Ikaruga. Players physically steer the phoenix through surreal, richly crafted worlds, dodging hazards and unleashing fiery attacks. With an intuitive control scheme—gripping the phoenix between hands like a paper airplane—you'll dodge drones, blast scavengers, and weave through realities, toggling between worlds strategically to absorb enemy fire and reveal hidden collectibles.
No annoying HUD clutters the view in VR; Firestorm himself visually reflects player health, intensifying immersion. Smart bombs, flamethrowers, and health boosts are upgradable through skillfully collected gold flames. Hone your combat abilities as the narrative unfolds around you, leading to a climactic showdown across eight breathtaking multiverse realms.
“We crafted The Phoenix Gene as an adventure that would grab players emotionally and physically,” said Michael Cawood, Director and Co-Founder of HEROmation. “It's about navigating chaos, morality, and humanity’s never-ending quest for immortality. And you get to shoot fireballs at mutant leviathans—what’s not to love?”
For players eager to immerse deeper into the lore, HEROmation offers an exclusive VR Book Experience, providing advance access to The Phoenix Gene: Origins of Darkness, the first novel in an upcoming six-book series, available within the game before its general release.
Developed over three years by a dedicated team led by industry veterans—including former Rare developers and talents behind iconic franchises like Starfox Adventures, Call of Duty, and Skylanders—The Phoenix Gene combines narrative depth, strategic gameplay, and compelling physical action. Renowned composer Grant Kirkhope (Mario + Rabbids, GoldenEye 007) reunites with HEROmation to deliver an evocative soundtrack amplifying every thrilling twist of Jackie and Firestorm’s fight across time and space.
The Phoenix Gene is available to wishlist now on the Meta Quest store. Want to help shape reality itself? Join the Discord for behind-the-scenes content, exclusive community events, and early updates. Follow HEROmation on X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook to dive deeper into the Slipstream multiverse.
For inquiries, contact:
Impact Reality
pr@impactreality.com
About HEROmation
Founded by award-winning filmmaker Michael Cawood and acclaimed writer-producer Julie Pifher Cawood, HEROmation is an indie studio based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in crafting immersive, narrative-driven stories and captivating worlds across VR games, film, television, and books. Driven by a passion for character-driven storytelling, their creative careers span franchises like Starfox, Call of Duty, Skylanders, and groundbreaking film and television projects, including the Oscar-qualified animated short, The Wrong Rock, TLC’s My Giant Life, and A&E’s Born Behind Bars. In 2022, inspired by their love for richly layered storytelling and innovative gameplay, they embarked on a mission to blend gripping narratives with engaging virtual reality mechanics. Their first original VR title, The Phoenix Gene, is self-funded and handcrafted alongside a team of veteran developers, including industry talents from iconic studios like Rare, bringing immersive worlds and cinematic quality storytelling to VR audiences worldwide.