The Thrill of the Fight 2 – VR Boxing

What it is A fully reimagined sequel to VR’s most authentic boxing experience, described as a boxing simulator featuring training, career, and multiplayer modes. It was shaped by over one million players during Early Access.

Developer & Publisher Developed and published by Halfbrick Studios, taking over from the original’s solo developer Ian Fitz, who remained involved in the project.

Release Dates Early Access launched on 21 November 2024, exclusively on Meta Quest 2 and 3. The full version 1.0 released on 19 November 2025, adding a complete single-player career mode. A PCVR version has been described as “very likely” but had not launched at the time of full release.

Price $19.99 on the Meta Quest store.

Game Modes Three main modes are available: Career, Multiplayer, and Training. Career mode features smart, adaptive AI opponents that react to your individual fighting style. Multiplayer includes both ranked and casual matches via a skill-based matchmaking lobby system.

Multiplayer Online PvP is the standout new feature over the original. Players can challenge friends or be matched via the lobby system. After millions of matches during Early Access, developers refined the physics, balance, and anti-exploit systems. A major challenge was ensuring punches, blocks, and movement felt authentic on both sides of an online match despite latency.

Training Mode Includes a training dummy with tutorial videos on proper punching form, and drills to perfect different moves. A “body effort” scoring system grades how much physical force is put into punches — though early reviews noted this system needed further refinement.

Avatars & Customisation Players can create and fully personalise their boxer avatar, including gloves, shorts, and shoes.

Visuals Features improved HDR lighting, texture sharpness, and dynamic shadows compared to the original. A new boxing venue with rows of audience seating was added post-launch. Both titles run smoothly on Quest 3, but TOTF2 benefits from better optimisation and faster load times.

Comfort Options Designed as a standing game requiring physical exertion. A stationary standing mode is available for those with limited space. Analogue stick turning can be assigned to either hand.

As a Live Esport The game has been used as a live spectator esport event. Pro boxer Chase DeMoor fought podcast host Gillie da Kid live in front of a crowd, both wearing Meta Quest 3 headsets. By the final rounds both competitors were visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat. The creative director noted the game was always conceived as a potential esport due to how physically readable it is to a watching audience.

Future Plans Post-launch plans include expanding the single-player career path, new training mini-games, continued multiplayer refinements, and the introduction of the first-ever official tournament league in Thrill of the Fight history.

Reception Reviews describe it as a significant evolutionary step for both VR boxing and VR fitness. It is praised for its beautiful graphics and flexibility in play style — though the body-effort punch detection system was flagged as needing improvement in early reviews.