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Promotional illustration, not gameplay: pigeons in a Venetian-style square at golden hour.Promotional illustration, not gameplay

VR Phobia: Birds

Coming soonComing soon to Meta Quest

Face your fear of birds, one small step at a time, in virtual reality.

See the pathSee it on the Meta Store

A gentle, graded exposure experience for Meta Quest. Start with a single sparrow at the far end of a quiet park and move closer only when you are ready, all the way to a bird resting on your open hand.

Status
Coming soon
Platforms
Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro. PC VR through SteamVR later, with a desktop mode.
Content
51 short levels in 11 chapters
Languages
English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese

The path

51 short levels in 11 chapters. Each level changes one thing only: distance, number, movement, sound or flight. You decide when to take the next step.

  1. The park at golden hour, no birds close by.Far away
  2. Sparrows hopping on a gravel path in the park.Closer
  3. Feeding pigeons from a bag of seeds in the park.Feeding
  4. A sparrow resting on the player’s open hand.On your hand
  1. 01Sparrows
  2. 02Behind the glass
  3. 03First pigeons
  4. 04Wings
  5. 05The group
  6. 06Overhead
  7. 07Hens
  8. 08Gulls
  9. 09The great square
  10. 10The sky
  11. 11The open hand
A gull gliding low over the waves by a lifeguard hut.
Pigeons lifting off across the great Venetian-style square.
A flock of pigeons flying overhead in a small town square.

Birds that behave like birds

Four realistic species. They react to how fast you approach, so the calmer you move, the calmer they stay.

  • walk
  • peck
  • preen
  • coo
  • take off
  • fly
  • land

Seven calm places

Practise in a park, a small town square, a great square, on a beach, in a farmyard, a glasshouse aviary or a quiet studio. And whenever you need it, rest at the safe place.

  • Pigeons across a great square with a bell tower and arcades.A great Venetian-style square
  • Sparrows on a gravel path in the park.A park
  • Pigeons in a small town square lined with ochre houses.A small town square
  • Gulls circling above a beach with a lifeguard hut.A beach
  • Hens pecking in a sunny farmyard pen.A farmyard with a hen run
  • The long glasshouse aviary walkway under a steel and glass roof.A glasshouse aviary
  • The safe place: still water and a soft light, one gesture away.The safe place
The safe place: a calm lake with a breathing guide.

Always a way out

Squeeze both triggers at any moment and the scene fades to a quiet lake with a breathing guide. Nothing is lost, and you go back when you want.

  • An optional “How did it feel?” after each level adapts what comes next.
  • Weekly goals, never punishing streaks.
  • A weekly check-in with real pigeons, outside the headset.
The My progress panel with feelings, milestones and a practice plan.
Your progress, on the headset
The level selection menu floating above the water.
Pick the next level when you are ready

Private by default

Progress stays on the headset. Several profiles can share one device. Analytics are opt-in. Hand tracking and a wrist watch keep the menus out of the way.

Six languages

English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.

Quest first

Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro at launch. PC VR through SteamVR later, with a desktop mode on PC.

VR Phobia is a prototype for adults, ideally used with the support of a professional. Its clinical effectiveness has not been evaluated; it is neither a diagnosis nor a medical treatment.

Read How to overcome ornithophobia: a step-by-step guide Ornithophobia: meaning, causes and how common it is Why VR works for phobias

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Questions

What is VR Phobia: Birds?

A gentle, graded exposure experience in virtual reality for the fear of birds. You start with a single sparrow at the far end of a quiet park and move closer only when you are ready.

What headset do I need?

Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S or Pro. PC VR through SteamVR is planned later.

When does VR Phobia: Birds come out?

It is coming soon to Meta Quest, and its page is already on the Meta Store (https://www.meta.com/experiences/vr-phobia-birds/1731785198951751/). No release date has been announced yet.

How does it work?

51 short levels across 11 chapters, from sparrows to pigeons in a great square. Each level changes only one thing: distance, number, movement, sound or flight.

Can I stop if it gets too much?

Yes. Squeeze both triggers at any moment to fade to a calm lake with a breathing guide.

Is VR Phobia: Birds a medical treatment?

No. VR Phobia is a prototype for adults, ideally used with the support of a professional. Its clinical effectiveness has not been evaluated; it is neither a diagnosis nor a medical treatment.

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