Interactive mode selector

VR vs Flat Mode Planner

Use this before your first session: mark what is true for you. The planner recommends a starting mode, explains the tradeoff and gives you a short setup test. You can still try the other mode later.

I own a PCVR/OpenXR headset and compatible controllers Physical aiming, reloading and weapon handling are the main attraction I want portable play or Steam Deck support I prefer mouse/keyboard or conventional controller input I want the lowest setup and motion-comfort burden My PC is near the listed VR recommendation, including an RTX 3060-class GPU

Choose what matters to you, then run the planner.

Quick comparison

Decision	Start in VR when…	Start in non-VR when…
Main appeal	You want embodied weapon handling and have a PCVR setup.	You want conventional FPS controls or fast access.
Hardware	Your system is close to the listed VR recommendation and already runs OpenXR reliably.	Your system is closer to the non-VR minimum, or you do not own a headset.
Comfort	You are comfortable with longer VR sessions and room setup.	You want the simplest seated or desktop session.
Portable play	Not the priority.	Steam Deck or play away from the headset PC matters.
Competitive comparison	Compare against the VR board.	Compare against the non-VR board.

Run a ten-minute confirmation test

Enter the Hive in the recommended mode and choose one simple firearm.
Draw, aim, fire and reload several times without changing attachments.
Repeat a short target sequence three times. Look for consistency, not one lucky result.
Check comfort and setup friction. A mode that feels impressive for two minutes but stops you playing is the wrong default.
If the result is close, test the other mode with the same weapon and sequence. Keep the mode that produces calmer, more repeatable actions.

Do not mix leaderboard comparisons

VR and non-VR use separate Steam leaderboards. That is useful: each input style is compared within its own pool. It also means switching modes during practice can hide whether your improvement came from route knowledge or from a different control method. Settle on one mode before you begin serious score runs.

Platform boundary

Steam Deck belongs to the non-VR side of this decision. A standalone headset is not automatically the same as PCVR: the current PC release uses Steam and OpenXR, so a headset still needs a compatible PCVR connection unless a separate native headset version is announced.