The physics-driven VR action game is out now
Today, we’re incredibly excited to launch Deep Cuts, our first yet very ambitious VR game —a wild, genre-bending adventure set inside the madness of moviemaking. We’re Scythe Studios, the minds behind twisted experiences like Happy’s Humble Burger Farm and the Northbury Grove series, but with Deep Cuts, we’ve pushed ourselves into entirely new territory.
In Deep Cuts, you step into the shoes of Elise Weber, filmmaker and co-founder of the quirky production studio Lights Camera Faction. When Elise’s creative partner goes missing within their own film catalog, you’re thrust into a journey across cinematic worlds—from noir detective dramas and spaghetti westerns to sci-fi epics and retro ’80s horror. Each genre you visit is bursting with interactive chaos and cinematic authenticity, powered by our commitment to VR immersion and dynamic physics-driven gameplay.
Speaking of physics: Prepare yourself for a playground of chaos. Every prop, enemy, and environment responds dynamically. With over 400 unique interactive objects, Deep Cuts encourages you to experiment freely. Punch, throw, shoot—or just create your own creative chaos. But what sets Deep Cuts apart even further are Elise’s “editing” powers. We’ve transformed cinematic editing techniques into gameplay mechanics, allowing you to strategically slow down time, apply some superhero-like muscle power, and even pause enemies mid-attack. You’re the director now—literally—and these abilities open up a whole new world of action-packed fun.
Deep Cuts also marks another entry into our interconnected Scythe Saga Universe, a sprawling metanarrative that connects all our games. It’s our playground to explore alternate realities and interconnected stories, giving fans those rewarding “a-ha!” moments when they spot familiar names or locations across our titles.
While it’s easy to see Deep Cuts as purely action-driven chaos, it also brings our trademark horror twist. Imagine wandering the eerie, abandoned film sets reminiscent of something like Westworld—places once full of life, now unnerving and uncanny, controlled by rogue AI-driven characters who aren’t exactly welcoming.
VR development, particularly on standalone headsets like Meta Quest, challenged us in ways we didn’t expect. Creating something this expansive required meticulous planning to fit our big ideas onto VR hardware, pushing our creativity and technical skills to new heights.
Ultimately, Deep Cuts was born from our love of film and the storytelling magic it creates. We wanted to play with the tropes and styles of beloved cinema—from French New Wave to classic sci-fi—and explore deeper themes of creative collaboration and artistic passion. Along the way, we couldn’t resist paying homage to unforgettable scenes like HAL’s shutdown in 2001: A Space Odyssey or the chilling pig vat from Saw III. These moments are our love letters to cinema, placed thoughtfully (and sometimes mischievously) into your path.
So grab your headset and dive into Deep Cuts, available now on the Meta Horizon Store. The movies are calling, and it’s your time to shine—lights, camera, faction!
