Hello riders!
We wanted to take a moment to look back, thank you for being part of this journey, share a sneak peek at what’s ahead and give you update on release timeline.
Looking Back
It’s been just little over two years since DownhillVR launched in Early Access, and what a ride it’s been!
Since launch, we’ve delivered 22 updates, packed with new content, gameplay enhancements, and technical upgrades. Here are some of the highlights:
- Free Play mode nearly doubled in size! We started with 13 trails and now feature 25 unique routes to shred. We also introduced a whole new environment - Blackrock Heights, alongside upgrades to our original locations, Mountain Hills and Rocky Ridges, with added rivers, wildlife, and revamped terrain
- Improved replayability of Free Play and Challenge modes with a progression and completion system
- Challenges expanded from just 5 tracks to a solid 20, with specialized tiers like the thrilling “Speedy” category
- Refined bike handling, physics, sound design, haptics, and force feedback for a more realistic and responsive riding experience
- Revamped UI and menus for clearer navigation and a smoother overall player experience
- Smarter NPC AI, making races more competitive, challenging, and dynamic
- Added features like online leaderboards, gameplay stats, achievements, a comprehensive tutorial, and helpful assist messages for newcomers
- Visual upgrades across the board: enhanced lighting, more detailed environments, new models and materials, and special effects
- Under the hood: multiple engine upgrades, a move to Shader Model 6, plus countless performance improvements, optimizations, and bug fixes
And that’s just the big stuff! If you want the full story, you can always dive into the release notes for each version.
Thank You ❤️
None of this would have been possible without you, our incredible community. Your bug reports, feedback, and suggestions have been vital in shaping DownhillVR, and we’re deeply grateful.
A special thanks goes out to everyone who left a review. At the time of writing, DownhillVR stands at an amazing 95% positive rating on Steam, we’re absolutely blown away and thrilled that you’re enjoying the game.
The stories you’ve shared have truly touched us, from players rediscovering mountain biking after injuries, to those reliving childhood adventures on two wheels, or creating new family memories in Hot Seat mode. These were unexpected, and incredibly meaningful to us.
Once again, thank you!
What’s Coming Next
With the core systems now stable and the game running smoothly, we can finally turn our full attention to the features you’ve been asking for most:
- Career Mode and Multiplayer are now our top priorities and in active development
- Continued expansion with new trails and challenge track
- Further improvements to physics, bike control, and handling
- Smarter, more dynamic NPC AI for engaging races
- Ongoing visual upgrades, quality-of-life improvements, and the usual performance and bug-fix updates
There’s plenty on the way, which brings us to an update on our release schedule
Update on Release Timeline
When we launched DownhillVR in Early Access, we estimated a full release in about two years. Clearly, we’ve gone beyond that timeline.
The journey has turned out more ambitious than expected, especially for our small team of four. Instead of rushing to 1.0 just to meet a date, we’ve chosen to keep improving the game at a pace that lets us do things right.
We’re now aiming for a full release within the next year to year and a half. It’s later than planned, but we’re confident the final result will be worth the wait, and we’ll continue releasing updates along the way.
Thanks again for being part of this journey. Your support means the world to us, and we’re excited to keep moving forward.
Enjoy your ride! 🚵♂️
