Vex Mage Brings Spell-Slinging Combat to Quest 3 and SteamVR

VR shooters usually put guns in your hands. Pistols, rifles, or futuristic blasters — the formula is familiar. Vex Mage takes a different angle by replacing firearms with spellbooks and magical duels. It’s designed around the fantasy of being a battle mage, slinging fireballs and shields in the middle of chaotic skirmishes.

Launching this September on Quest 3 and SteamVR, the game positions itself as an arena shooter with a magical twist. Instead of simulating weapons, it leans into gestural casting, where the way you move your hands directly shapes the outcome of a fight.

Gameplay and Combat

Vex Mage drops players into small-scale arenas built for head-to-head combat. The hook is that every action comes from spells, not traditional weapons. You can cast offensive projectiles, defensive barriers, or movement-based tricks, all mapped to motion-based controls.

That approach taps into one of VR’s strengths: the feeling of physically embodying actions. Instead of pressing a trigger for gunfire, you’re performing hand motions to conjure an attack, which adds both immersion and a higher skill ceiling. The effectiveness of combat depends as much on accuracy and timing as it does on knowing when to counter.

Visual Style and Atmosphere

The game doesn’t chase hyper-realism. Instead, it leans toward a stylized fantasy look, with glowing effects and environments that highlight the magical theme. This design choice supports clarity during fast-paced matches, since spell effects need to be readable in the middle of chaotic duels.

Arena-based VR games often struggle to balance spectacle with functionality. Vex Mage seems to prioritize responsiveness and legibility over complex environments, which makes sense for a title where quick reactions are central.

Platforms and Release

Vex Mage is launching on both Quest 3 and SteamVR, which immediately gives it reach across standalone and PC VR. Cross-platform support is important for multiplayer shooters, since small player bases can quickly fragment. The developers are clearly aiming to avoid that by unifying matchmaking across ecosystems.

The September release window puts it in direct competition with other VR multiplayer projects, but its spellcasting identity helps it stand apart from the wave of conventional shooters.

Context in the VR Landscape

Arena shooters in VR have been around for a while, from titles like Echo Combat to more traditional PvP games with firearms. What sets Vex Mage apart is its refusal to lean on gunplay as the default. By centering combat on spells, it shifts expectations and may appeal to players who want something more tactile than pulling a trigger.

Whether that novelty translates into long-term engagement will depend on how deep the spell system runs and how balanced the multiplayer experience feels. But at the very least, Vex Mage is a reminder that VR combat doesn’t need to be locked into the language of guns and bullets.