Primal Balance is a single-player, physics-driven VR martial arts RPG built around full-body tracking. You begin as a student of one element and travel a living world to learn the others, from masters, from rivals and from the land itself.

How you fight

Movement is the magic

Every technique comes from a real motion. Your hands throw, shape and hold the elements; your feet stomp, sweep and kick; your hips turn spins into sweeping radial attacks. Head aim decides where most attacks go, so you look, set your stance, and strike.

Combat is physics-driven. Stones have weight, walls can be kicked across the ground, water must be drawn from a real source, and elements react to each other: fire boils water into steam, wind freezes steam into ice, water turns craters to mud, and wind whips flames into a travelling whirl.

The disciplines

Four elements, four philosophies

• Earth holds its ground: summoned stones, boulder fists, kickable walls and spike waves.
• Water redirects: drawn streams, tendrils for combat and climbing, waves, geysers and healing.
• Fire attacks: fireballs, a flame bow, twin fire swords, a burning shield and palm jets.
• Air evades: air-ball riding, a wind staff, launches and outward gusts.

The world

A believable, inhabited land

A semi-open world of connected natural regions (forests, rivers, valleys, mountains and coasts), each with its own people and elemental tradition. Expect villages and martial schools, camps of hostile elemental fighters, wandering rivals, temples hiding advanced techniques, and the occasional ancient elemental spirit guarding something worth finding.

Most of your opponents are human: earth shapers who use terrain and cover, water shapers who fight near rivers and redirect your attacks, fire shapers who press forward relentlessly, and air shapers who stay mobile and turn your projectiles aside. Not everyone is hostile; some will train you, and some will simply want to test you.

Progression

Build your own style

New techniques are earned by exploring, finding masters, completing quests, defeating strong opponents and training. What you unlock can be assigned to your own hand gestures, foot movements and full-body motions, so your fighting style is yours.

Questions

FAQ

When is it coming out?

There is no release date yet. Primal Balance is in early development; follow the dev log for progress.

Which platforms?

PC VR headsets through SteamVR and OpenXR.

Do I need full-body tracking?

The current prototype is built around three body trackers (hips and both feet) for kicks, stomps and spins. Options for players without trackers have not been decided yet.

Is there multiplayer?

No. Primal Balance is a single-player experience.

Can I playtest?

Not yet. Subscribe on the home page and you’ll hear first when playtests open.