Beats 2053
Overview
Beats 2053 is an XR rhythm game developed in Unreal Engine 5, combining interactive music creation with spatial worldbuilding. Players strike rhythm cubes that are launched through physics-based interactions, and wherever the cubes land, procedural buildings dynamically emerge — creating a cityscape that grows in sync with user input.
I implemented ray-traced collisions to determine impact points and used vector math to calculate trajectory paths and determine precise building spawn locations.
All 3D assets were created in Blender, with additional systems built for real-time visual feedback, interaction timing, and environmental evolution based on player actions.
Challenge
How can rhythmic input in VR be transformed into a spatial, generative music system — one that visually and audibly reflects player choices in real time?
Solution
The final VR experience invites users to rhythmically hit flying blocks, launching them toward a field where city structures dynamically rise on impact. Each of the four building types represents a different musical loop and visual behavior. As players continue, they effectively build a glowing, responsive city that plays its own evolving beat — a blend of rhythm game and generative world.
Tools & Technology
Software: Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprints), Blender (3D modeling), Audacity (audio prep).
Hardware: Oculus Quest 2.
Techniques: VR interaction design, spatial audio layering, reactive material animation, procedural spawning.