Software:Just Dance VR
| Just Dance VR | |
|---|---|
| File:Just Dance VR cover.png | |
| Developer(s) |
|
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Series | Just Dance |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | October 15, 2024 |
| Genre(s) | Rhythm |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Just Dance VR[lower-alpha 1] is a virtual reality music rhythm game developed by Ubisoft Paris in association with Soul Assembly and published by Ubisoft. It was released for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, and Meta Quest Pro headsets on October 15, 2024,[1] being a spin-off title to the Just Dance series.
It is the first Just Dance spin-off game in 8 years following Just Sing, which released in September 2016.
Development
Plans for a Just Dance virtual reality game date back to 2016. A prototype was showcased at E3 2016, containing the songs "Same Old Love", "Born This Way" and "Chiwawa" from Just Dance 2016, alongside "Problem" from Just Dance 2015, adapted to 360-degree versions. The prototype was referred to as Just Dance VR by Ubisoft.[2] Although it was said to be releasing the following year,[3] news on the game went silent after the event and the prototype was never made public. It is unclear whether or not it served as the basis for the final game.
In September 2022, the game was reannounced as a Pico 4 exclusive, aiming for a 2023 release.[4] However, news went silent once again throughout most of 2023. In November of that year, it was announced that development would continue with a new partner after major lay offs at Pico and disappointing sales from Pico 4 headsets.[5][6] The game was later featured at Ubisoft Forward in June 2024, where it was revealed that the game would be a Meta Quest exclusive.[7]
The game uses the Unity engine, the same engine used in mainline Just Dance titles since Just Dance 2023 Edition.[8]
Development focused on creating immersion and interaction, adapting songs from previous entries in the series into virtual reality experiences. This included adding left-hand scoring, in contrast to the series' games traditionally scoring only through right-hand movement, and reworking the user interface into a 360° VR setting.[9] All backgrounds are rendered in-game within the 360° viewing angle, similar to mainline Just Dance installments prior to Just Dance 2016.[8] Additionally, the game shares user interface elements with Just Dance 2023 Edition. Customizable avatars and a social hub were also added with the purpose of allowing players a more fun experience by interacting with each other.[9]
Gameplay
As with mainline and previous spin-off entries of the franchise, players must mimic the on-screen coach's choreography to a chosen song, in this case utilizing the headset's Touch, Touch Pro and Touch Plus controllers respectively.
All songs are taken from previous games in the series, with the exception of "Centuries" which acted as an exclusive track until it was released on Just Dance+ on February 18, 2025.[10]
Players can access two distinct 3D social spaces; the Apartment and Dancity. In the former, users can see any trophies they have earned, customize their avatar, and interact with glowsticks and a basketball hoop. And in the latter, they can invite other users to multiplayer sessions, engage in freestyle dance battles and compete in throwing a ball in a hoop. In both, they can choose which song to play.
Within a song, a maximum of six players can dance simultaneously. Haptic feedback such as hand trails, pulse effects and clapping can be done while dancing.[11]
Soundtrack
The following songs appear on Just Dance VR:[12]
| Song | Artist | Year | Original game |
|---|---|---|---|
| "After Party" | Banx & Ranx featuring Zach Zoya | 2023 | Just Dance 2024 Edition |
| "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" | Fergie featuring Q-Tip & GoonRock | 2013 | Just Dance 2019 |
| "Bad Liar" | Selena Gomez | 2017 | Just Dance 2018 |
| "Beauty and a Beat" | Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj | 2012 | Just Dance 4 |
| "Born This Way" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | Just Dance 2016 |
| "Blinding Lights" | The Weeknd | 2019 | Just Dance 2021 |
| "Call Me Maybe" | Carly Rae Jepsen | 2011 | Just Dance 4 |
| "Centuries" | Fall Out Boy | 2014 | Just Dance VR |
| "Dark Horse" | Katy Perry | 2013 | Just Dance 2015 |
| "Don't Stop Me Now" | Queen | 1978 | Just Dance 2017 |
| "Hollaback Girl" | Gwen Stefani | 2005 | Just Dance+ |
| "How You Like That" | BLACKPINK | 2020 | Just Dance 2024 Edition |
| "I Will Survive" | Gloria Gaynor | 1978 | Just Dance 2014 |
| "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" | A. R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger | 2009 | Just Dance 2 |
| "Lights" | Ellie Goulding | 2011 | Just Dance 2016 |
| "Love Me Again" | John Newman | 2013 | Just Dance 2015 |
| "Starships" | Nicki Minaj | 2012 | Just Dance 2014 |
| "Stop This Fire" | Nius | 2024 | Just Dance 2025 Edition |
| "Taki Taki" | DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B | 2018 | Just Dance 2020 |
| "Thank U, Next" | Ariana Grande | 2018 | Just Dance+ |
| "Therefore I Am" | Billie Eilish | 2020 | Just Dance 2023 Edition |
| "Tusa" | Karol G and Nicki Minaj | 2019 | Just Dance Unlimited |
| "Volar" | Lele Pons featuring Susan Diaz and Victor Cardenas | 2020 | Just Dance 2021 |
| "Wake Me Up”[lower-alpha 2] | Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc | 2013 | Just Dance 2014 |
| "Wannabe" | Itzy | 2020 | Just Dance 2023 Edition |
Reception
Just Dance VR received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. Hamish Hector of TechRadar Gaming described the track list as "out of date" compared to Just Dance 2025 Edition, which released on the same day. He also criticized how the game didn't take full advantage of its 360-VR stages, alongside the lack of a mixed reality mode and a poor scoring system.[13] Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends gave the game a more positive outlook, praising the series' smooth transition into a virtual reality format, while still criticizing the unclear UI, the small song selection, and the possibility of hitting real-life objects while dancing.[14] Henry Stockdale of UploadVR commented positively on the social hub and the songs' environments, while the small song selection and the limited amount of things to do in Dancity were his main complaints.[15]
Notes
References
- ↑ Herrero, Juan Ignacio (October 16, 2024). "Ariana Grande, una de las grandes protagonistas de 'Just Dance 2025'". LOS40. https://los40.com/2024/10/16/ariana-grande-una-de-las-grandes-protagonistas-de-just-dance-2025/.
- ↑ Reparaz, Mikel (June 14, 2016). "Just Dance VR Prototype Debuts at E3 2016". Ubisoft News. https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/3xIv3gp4DVPtwaep8rCqRN/just-dance-vr-prototype-debuts-at-e3-2016.
- ↑ Feltham, Jamie (June 13, 2016). "Ubisoft is Bringing 'Just Dance' and 'Trackmania Turbo' to VR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/trackmania-turbo-just-dance-vr/.
- ↑ Hamilton, Ian (September 21, 2022). "Just Dance VR Is Pico's First Major Exclusive". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/just-dance-vr-pico-4/.
- ↑ Stockdale, Henry (November 20, 2023). "'New Partner' Takes Lead On Ubisoft's Just Dance VR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/just-dance-vr-new-partner/.
- ↑ Brady, Sarah (7 November 2023). "Signal: ByteDance to cut jobs from VR arm Pico as market demand weakens". Verdict. https://www.verdict.co.uk/signal-bytedance-to-cut-jobs-from-vr-arm-pico-as-market-demand-weakens.
- ↑ Purchese, Robert (June 10, 2024). "Everything shown during Ubisoft Forward 2024". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/everything-shown-ubisoft-forward-2024-1.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Horn, James (December 16, 2025). Expanding the dancefloor: Reinventing Just Dance for VR using Unity – Unite 2025. Unity. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Spurlin, Brittany (September 30, 2024). "Ubisoft Partners with Soul Assembly for Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity". Ubisoft News. https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/2abk6iMWvG58VJ8Qk5xU68/ubisoft-partners-with-soul-assembly-for-just-dance-vr-welcome-to-dancity.
- ↑ @justdancegame (February 18, 2025). "Take a look at Centuries by Fall Out Boy available now on Just Dance JD+!". https://twitter.com/justdancegame/status/1891895530717913445.
- ↑ "Just Dance VR". Ubisoft. October 15, 2024. https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/just-dance/vr.
- ↑ Vicencio, Chastity (October 15, 2024). "Just Dance 2025 Edition & Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity Available Now". Ubisoft News. https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/yJEMRMtbY21JaJZ6JOBMT/just-dance-2025-edition-just-dance-vr-welcome-to-dancity-available-now.
- ↑ Hector, Hamish (October 16, 2024). "Just Dance VR review: big on style, lacking in substance". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/gaming/just-dance-vr-review.
- ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (October 15, 2024). "Just Dance VR is the best (and most dangerous) way to play". Digital Trends. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/just-dance-vr-meta-quest-3s-impressions/.
- ↑ Stockdale, Henry (October 15, 2024). "Just Dance VR Review: A Familiar Beat". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/just-dance-vr-review/.
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