Vortex 9 is making the jump to virtual reality. Go Dreams announced their colorful third-person shooter is coming to Meta Quest in February 2026, bringing full crossplay functionality that lets VR players battle alongside the game’s existing 10 million player base on mobile and desktop. The VR edition includes the ability to switch between first-person and third-person camera modes, giving players flexibility in how they experience the chaotic combat.
The mobile game launched in August 2022 and quickly built a massive following through its quirky aesthetic and accessible multiplayer gameplay. Now that success translates to VR with the same characters, weapons, pets, and game modes that mobile players already enjoy. VR users won’t be segregated into separate matchmaking pools – they’ll jump into the same battles as everyone else, creating a unified community across all platforms.
What Makes Vortex 9 Different
Vortex 9 doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s the entire point. You pick from eight bizarre characters including Mr. Goodboy (a towering spy), Jess Purrfect (a cat-person warrior), Hellen D. Mon (a demon girl with massive firepower), Beelzebox (someone with a literal box for a head), and Mercydroid (a chatty robot). Each character sports a blocky, stylized appearance that prioritizes personality over realism.
The weapons match the wacky energy. You can attack enemies with battle lollipops, swing massive bats, or unleash hell with machine guns like the Space Minigun and legendary Shredder. Weapons feature distinct stats for damage, accuracy, and fire rate, with upgrade paths that let you level up your favorites using earned gold coins. The variety ensures players can find loadouts matching their preferred playstyle whether they favor close-range brawling or long-range shooting.
Combat pets add another dimension to battles. Before jumping into matches, you customize an adorable companion that fights alongside you with abilities determined by your initial choices. These pets aren’t just cosmetic – they actively participate in combat and can turn the tide of close encounters. The system adds a layer of strategy as you decide which pet build complements your chosen character and weapons.
Game Modes and Maps
Vortex 9 launches with three core multiplayer modes. Team Battle pits squads against each other in objective-focused combat. Solo Deathmatch turns everyone against everyone in free-for-all chaos. Capture Point requires teams to control and defend specific zones across the map. Go Dreams promises additional modes are in development, expanding gameplay variety over time.
The maps span diverse environments within the game’s strange universe. Locations range from futuristic cityscapes to wild forests, each designed with verticality and multiple approach routes that reward map knowledge. The stylized graphics emphasize bold colors and clear visual communication over photorealism, making enemy positions easy to spot during hectic firefights.
Match pacing stays fast and intense. Respawn timers keep downtime minimal, letting you jump back into action quickly after deaths. The combination of mobile-friendly controls and quick matches originally targeted casual gaming sessions, but the VR version adds immersive depth that could attract more dedicated players seeking competitive experiences.
The VR Implementation
The Meta Quest port includes functionality that bridges flatscreen and VR play styles. Players can toggle between first-person shooter and third-person shooter camera perspectives mid-match. FPS mode provides the immersive viewpoint VR excels at, placing you directly in your character’s shoes. TPS mode pulls the camera back for a wider view of your surroundings and character, similar to the mobile version.
This dual-camera system addresses a common VR challenge – not all players enjoy the intensity of first-person VR combat. Motion sickness, spatial disorientation, or simple preference might lead some to favor third-person views. Offering both options ensures accessibility while maintaining crossplay parity since camera perspective doesn’t fundamentally alter gameplay mechanics.
Crossplay represents the ambitious centerpiece of the VR launch. VR players use the same weapons, fight the same enemies, and compete on the same maps as mobile and desktop users. Go Dreams achieved this by designing Vortex 9 with platform-agnostic gameplay from the start. The stylized visuals and accessible mechanics translate smoothly across hardware without requiring separate balancing or content adjustments.
Full Customization Options
Character customization extends beyond just picking a fighter. You can modify your hero’s appearance from head to toe, adjusting colors, accessories, and cosmetic elements. This personalization helps players express individuality in a game where eight character options might otherwise lead to repetitive visual encounters.
Weapon customization progresses through earned currency. Gold coins accumulated through matches fund weapon upgrades that improve stats and unlock new visual variants. The progression system avoids pay-to-win pitfalls by keeping premium purchases focused on cosmetics rather than gameplay advantages. Everyone has access to the same weapon pools regardless of how much they spend beyond the initial purchase.
Pet customization offers the deepest creative freedom. You design your companion’s appearance and abilities from scratch before entering battles. The system encourages experimentation as you discover which pet configurations synergize best with different characters and playstyles. Successful builds become personal signatures that opponents learn to recognize and respect.
The 10 Million Player Milestone
Vortex 9’s success on mobile platforms came from smart accessibility choices. The game runs on modest hardware, downloads quickly, and teaches core mechanics within minutes. Free-to-play distribution removed price barriers, letting curious players jump in without financial commitment. The colorful aesthetic and quirky characters appealed to audiences beyond hardcore shooter fans.
That 10 million player base represents a massive potential matchmaking pool for VR users. Unlike many VR multiplayer games that struggle with empty lobbies and long wait times, Vortex 9 VR players will find matches instantly by tapping into the existing community. This solves one of VR multiplayer gaming’s biggest challenges – building sustainable player populations.
The crossplay advantage works both ways. Mobile and desktop players gain access to a growing VR community that enriches the ecosystem. VR users bring different play patterns and strategies shaped by immersive perspectives that might not occur to flatscreen players. The fusion creates a more diverse, interesting competitive environment for everyone involved.
Go Dreams Studio Background
Go Dreams operates as an independent studio focused on accessible multiplayer experiences. Information about the team remains limited, but their work on Vortex 9 demonstrates competence in live service game development, regular content updates, and cross-platform technical challenges. The decision to port to VR shows ambition beyond mobile-only development.
The studio’s community engagement emphasizes transparency and player feedback. Regular updates address balance concerns, add requested features, and expand content based on what the player base wants. This iterative approach helped Vortex 9 grow from initial launch to a game supporting millions of active users.
The VR announcement positions Go Dreams alongside developers like Resolution Games and nDreams who successfully bridge mobile/desktop and VR audiences. If the February 2026 launch executes smoothly, it could establish a blueprint for other mobile multiplayer games considering VR expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Vortex 9 VR release?
Vortex 9 is scheduled to launch on Meta Quest in February 2026. The exact date hasn’t been announced, but the VR edition is available for wishlisting now on the Meta Store.
How much will Vortex 9 VR cost?
Pricing hasn’t been officially confirmed. The mobile version is free-to-play with optional cosmetic purchases, but VR versions might use different monetization models. Check the Meta Store listing for updated pricing information as launch approaches.
What VR headsets will support Vortex 9?
The game is confirmed for Meta Quest devices including Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S, and Quest Pro. No announcements have been made regarding PCVR support through Steam or other VR platforms.
Does Vortex 9 have full crossplay?
Yes, VR players will compete in the same matches as mobile and desktop players. The crossplay functionality covers all weapons, pets, characters, and game modes without segregating VR users into separate matchmaking pools.
Can you switch between first-person and third-person in VR?
Yes, the VR edition allows players to toggle between FPS and TPS camera modes during matches. This gives players flexibility to choose whichever perspective they prefer or suits specific situations better.
How many characters are in Vortex 9?
The game features eight playable characters: John, Jane, Marvin McSpy, Mr. Goodboy, Jess Purrfect, Hellen D. Mon, Mercydroid, and Beelzebox. Each character has unique appearances and customization options.
Is Vortex 9 pay-to-win?
No, the monetization focuses on cosmetic items rather than gameplay advantages. All players access the same weapons, characters, and pets regardless of spending. Premium purchases provide visual customization without creating unfair competitive advantages.
Can you play Vortex 9 solo or do you need teams?
The game includes Solo Deathmatch mode for free-for-all combat alongside team-based modes like Team Battle and Capture Point. You can play alone or group with friends depending on your preference.
February Can’t Come Soon Enough
Vortex 9 represents an interesting experiment in VR multiplayer gaming. Rather than building a VR-exclusive experience that struggles to maintain player populations, Go Dreams is extending their existing successful game into a new platform. The 10 million player base guarantees VR users will always find matches, solving the empty lobby problem plaguing many VR multiplayer titles.
The dual-camera system acknowledging that not everyone wants pure first-person VR shows smart design thinking. Some players thrive in immersive FPS perspectives while others prefer third-person views that reduce motion sickness or provide better spatial awareness. Offering both within the same game respects player preferences without fragmenting the community.
Whether Vortex 9 succeeds in VR depends on execution quality. The stylized graphics should translate well to VR hardware, and the fast-paced gameplay suits the medium. Control schemes need careful design to feel natural in VR while maintaining competitive parity with mobile and desktop players. If Go Dreams nails these elements, Vortex 9 could become a go-to VR multiplayer shooter.
The February 2026 release gives the team several months to polish the VR port based on any internal testing or potential closed betas. Wishlist the game on Meta Store now if chaotic third-person shooting with quirky characters sounds appealing. With millions of potential opponents already playing on other platforms, you won’t struggle to find matches whenever you’re ready to grab your battle lollipop and jump into the madness.