VR StrideS: Jog in Place to Move in PC VR Games, No Treadmill

VR StrideS is a new PC VR app that lets you jog on the spot to move around in your games. It launched on Steam on 5 November 2026, and it needs no treadmill and no extra trackers. Instead, it reads your headset and controllers and turns your jogging into ordinary thumbstick movement. For anyone who wants a bit more exercise out of VR, that is a really interesting idea.

VR StrideS official trailer, from the VR StrideS YouTube channel.

The app itself is sold on Steam rather than the Meta Store. So if you are also picking up Quest games to play standalone, remember you can use my promo code VRCGUY on the Meta Horizon Store. It is my own code, and using it supports the site.

What is VR StrideS?

The developer is gnuj industries, and this is not a game. Instead, it is a companion app that runs on your PC alongside a game. The official VR StrideS website sums it up as “your body is the joystick”.

The idea is simple. When you jog in place, your headset bobs up and down in a steady rhythm. VR StrideS uses that rhythm to estimate how fast you want to go. Meanwhile, small leans and tilts of your headset and controllers tell it which way you want to move. Then it sends a normal thumbstick signal to the game. As far as the game knows, you are just pushing the stick.

Because it works at that level, there is no mod to install for each game. That also means nothing breaks when a game updates, according to the developer.

How jog in place VR movement works

The developer says the app samples your headset and controllers 90 times a second. It works out speed and direction separately. You can also move one way while looking another, which matters if you are aiming a weapon while running.

There are two main settings. Effort decides how much real movement it takes to reach a given speed in the game. Turn it down for a gentle stroll, or turn it up if you want a proper workout. Freedom of Movement limits which directions you can travel. For example, the developer suggests a narrow, mostly forward cone while you are learning, so you do not drift sideways.

One honest limit is worth knowing. The developer says detection is most reliable with a clear jogging rhythm. Very slow walking on the spot can be harder to register. You can still use your thumbstick whenever you need precise movement.

Which headsets and games work with VR StrideS?

The VR StrideS Steam page says it works with SteamVR and Virtual Desktop. On the developer’s compatibility list, Quest 3 used with a PC is the main tuning target. Quest 3S and Quest Pro are also listed as supported. Quest 2, PS VR2 with its PC adapter, and other tethered headsets are still in testing.

Connection matters too. Virtual Desktop, Steam Link and ALVR are listed as supported. Meta Link, Air Link and a direct cable are still in testing. If you stream with Steam Link, my look at the SteamVR 2.19.1 beta covers the recent image quality upgrade.

On games, the rule is simple. If the left stick moves you, VR StrideS should too. The developer lists Blade & Sorcery, Half-Life: Alyx (with continuous movement on), VRChat, BONELAB and BONEWORKS as confirmed working. Skyrim VR, No Man’s Sky, Pavlov, Phasmophobia and Fallout 4 VR are in testing. Teleport-only games are not supported. Neither are games like Beat Saber or Gorilla Tag, because there is no stick movement to replace.

Windows 10 and 11 are supported. A Linux build exists, but the developer says it is still in testing after launch and connection problems.

Does it work on a standalone Quest?

No, and this is the bit most likely to trip people up. It is PC software. As MIXED reports, there is a standalone Quest demo, but it only teaches the movement inside its own tutorial. It does not add jogging to other games running directly on your Quest.

So you need a gaming PC that already runs PC VR. If you are new to playing PC VR games on a Quest, my Meta Quest hub is a good place to start.

VR StrideS price and demo

It is out now on Steam. When I checked on 7 November, it had a 10% launch discount, bringing it to £8.18 from £9.09 in the UK, or $11.69 from $12.99 in the US. Launch prices can change at any time, so check the store page. There is also a free Steam demo and the free standalone Quest tutorial, which let you learn the movement before you pay.

VR StrideS vs a VR treadmill

Treadmills like the Virtuix Omni One solve the same problem with hardware. In fact, UploadVR reported in October that Virtuix has partnered with Meta to sell Omni One treadmills bundled with Quest headsets. A treadmill gives you real walking, but it also needs floor space and serious money.

The app takes the opposite approach. It costs about the price of a cheap game, and you stay on one spot. On the other hand, you are jogging rather than walking, so it will not feel like a stroll through the countryside. Your feet are not tracked either, so it is guessing your intent from your upper body. For most people at home, though, that trade-off sounds sensible.

Why this matters for VR fitness

This is where it gets interesting for anyone into active VR. Holding a stick forward for twenty minutes is about as lazy as gaming gets. Jogging through Half-Life: Alyx instead could turn a normal evening of gaming into a decent workout. The developer openly says some players use it for fitness, and the Effort setting lets you choose how hard you work.

Space and safety still matter. You stay in one spot, but you need room to turn and swing your arms. My guide to space for VR cricket covers clearing a safe play area, and the same rules apply here. For more active games, see my VR sports and fitness hub.

What to watch next

The developer says gentle walking still needs work, and per-game tuning profiles are planned. Better support for Meta Link and Air Link would also make it easier for Quest owners. Finally, it will be worth seeing whether Skyrim VR and No Man’s Sky move from testing to supported.

VR StrideS FAQ

Do I need trackers or a treadmill?

No. It uses only your headset and controllers.

Does VR StrideS work with Beat Saber?

No. Beat Saber has no stick movement for the app to drive.

Can I use it without a PC?

Only the free Quest tutorial runs without a PC. To use it in other games, you need the PC companion app.