The hot dogs are coming to standalone VR. H3VR2 on Quest 3 launches on Thursday 12 November, and it’s the first time this cult series will run on a Quest without a PC. Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2 (or H3VR 2, as most people type it) is a gun-mad extraction shooter where you play a sentient hot dog. So here’s what’s confirmed, what it costs and what to know before you pre-order.
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What is Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2?
It’s the sequel to Hot Dogs, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, usually shortened to H3VR. The original arrived on Steam Early Access back in 2016 as a PC VR-only game. It became famous for its silly hot dog enemies and its very serious, very detailed guns. You could spend hours just reloading things on a firing range.
The sequel comes from the same developer, RUST LTD., led by Anton Hand. According to the official RUST LTD. press kit, you play “The Handy”. That’s a hot dog who is part field engineer, part tactical operator and, in the studio’s words, “All Beef”. Your job is to raid a huge, procedurally generated building called the Facility.
H3VR2 on Quest 3: release date, price and headsets
Here are the key facts, taken from the press kit and the store listings:
- Release date: Thursday 12 November 2026 on Meta Quest.
- UK launch time: the Quest Store DB listing shows 18:00, which is 6pm UK time.
- Price: $39.99 on the Meta store, with a pre-order price of $35.99 until launch.
- Headsets: Quest 3 and Quest 3S only. There’s no Quest 2 version listed.
- Comfort rating: Intense, with a 13+ age rating.
- PC VR: the Steam version follows in the second half of 2027.
That Quest 2 point is worth repeating. If you’re still on an older headset, this one isn’t for you yet. Meanwhile, if you’ve been wondering which headset to upgrade to, my guide to the best VR headset for VR cricket in 2026 is worth a look, even if cricket is not your main game.
How does the game actually work?
The main mode is called Facility. It’s an extraction shooter, so each run follows a simple loop. You grab a loadout, deploy, fight whatever’s inside, loot what you can and get out. Anything you extract goes back to your base. Then each run makes you a bit stronger than the last.
Because the Facility is procedurally generated, the layout changes every time. The press kit calls it an “endlessly reconfiguring megastructure that’s slowly tearing itself apart”. As a result, you shouldn’t be able to memorise a route and speed through it.
More ways to play than just extraction
Not everyone wants a tense roguelike, though, and RUST seems to know that. There’s a Certification Range to teach newcomers how the guns work. There are also Competition, Arcade Shooting and Sandbox options. Road to VR also reported a competitive Combat mode, where every player gets the same run and fights for a spot on online leaderboards. Daily challenges sit on top of that.
Of course, the guns are the real star. RUST promises more realism, more complex handling, more ballistics depth and more authentic audio than the first game. If you loved fiddling with magazines and safeties in H3VR, that’s the bit to get excited about.
Why the Quest version is a big deal
For years, Anton Hand said H3VR couldn’t run on standalone headsets. So what changed? In a May interview with Road to VR, he said Quest 3 is “100% an ‘over the power threshold to be truly interesting’ device”. However, he also admitted it took “a significant, absolutely top class engineering team” to make it work.
Hand told Road to VR the team is targeting 72 frames per second on Quest 3. That means the game shouldn’t need to lean on space-warp all the time, which is good news for smoothness. He also said Meta gave the studio “a significant amount of support”. Most importantly, he stressed it’s “not a port” and not a cut-down version of the first game.
That’s a brave promise. Physics-heavy shooters are hard work for a mobile chip, and plenty of PC-to-Quest games have had to cut corners. So the launch-day performance reviews will be well worth reading.
A “pseudo-live service” with paid DLC
There’s one detail that may split opinion. UploadVR reports that Hand described the game as a “pseudo-live service”. The plan is to add around two new biomes a year. Meanwhile, new game modes, sandbox packs and licensed content will be sold as paid DLC.
On the plus side, that means the game should keep growing for years. On the other hand, $39.99 is already at the top end for a Quest game. So it’s fair to want a clear picture of what’s in the base game before you pay extra for add-ons.
What about PC VR players?
PC players have to wait. UploadVR says the Steam version arrives in the second half of 2027 with enhanced graphics, wider hardware support and a dedicated modding framework. RUST will also put together a community testing team to check PC VR headsets. In other words, Quest owners get it first this time, which is a bit of a turn-up for the books.
[AUTHOR’S TAKE: add a sentence or two from your own experience here, or delete this paragraph before publishing]
How it compares with other Quest shooters
November is a busy month for VR shooters. For example, Payday Aces High on Quest lands a week earlier and is all about four-player heists. Then there’s Forefront, the 32-player war shooter, which is about to add PS VR2 crossplay. H3VR2 is different from both, because it’s built around deep gun handling and solo runs rather than big team play.
And yes, the hot dog theme will sound familiar to regular readers. If you enjoyed my Scary Hot Dogs VR game guide, this is a very different beast. Scary Hot Dogs is a horror game, whereas H3VR2 is a hardcore shooter that just happens to star sausages. For more big-budget picks, my list of AAA games on the Meta Quest 3 is a good next stop.
Should you pre-order H3VR2 on Quest 3?
If you loved the original H3VR on PC, the pre-order looks like an easy call. You’ll save a few dollars, and you’ll be playing on day one. Also, the press kit and Road to VR both describe a proper sequel rather than a stripped-down port.
If you’re newer to VR, though, think about comfort first. The store rates it Intense, so it may not suit you if smooth movement makes you queasy. Either way, remember Meta’s refund policy. You can usually ask for a refund within 14 days, as long as you’ve played for less than two hours.
H3VR2 FAQ
When does Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2 come out?
It launches on Meta Quest 3 and 3S on 12 November 2026. The Steam version follows in the second half of 2027.
Is H3VR2 on Quest 2?
No. The store listing supports Quest 3 and Quest 3S only.
Does H3VR2 need an internet connection?
The Quest Store DB listing says an internet connection isn’t required. However, online leaderboards will naturally need you to be connected.
Is H3VR2 a port of the first game?
No. Anton Hand told Road to VR it is “not a port” and not a “mini” version of H3VR1.
What to watch next
The big questions are performance and value. First, look out for launch reviews that test the 72fps target. Next, watch for news on the first paid DLC and the next biome. For more launch guides and headset news, have a look at my Meta Quest hub for Quest 3 and 3S owners.
Sources
- RUST LTD.: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2 press kit
- UploadVR: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2 Launches On Quest 3 In November
- Road to VR: Sequel to Acclaimed VR Shooter ‘Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades’ Coming to Quest & PC VR
- Meta: New Titles and Updates Announced at Meta Connect
- Meta Horizon Store: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2
- Quest Store DB: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2