# Budget Cuts
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Budget_Cuts
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Budget_Cuts.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_Cuts
> Source revision: 1344645584
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|2018 video game}}
{{Distinguish||text=the practice of [cutting budgets](/source/Budget_cut)}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Budget Cuts
| developer = Neat Corporation
| publisher = Neat Corporation
| genre = [Stealth](/source/Stealth_game), [action](/source/Action_game)
| platforms = [Windows](/source/Windows), [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) ([PlayStation VR](/source/PlayStation_VR)), [Oculus Quest 2](/source/Oculus_Quest_2)
| released = '''Windows'''
June 14, 2018[{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Ian |date=June 13, 2018 |title=''Budget Cuts'' Gets New June 14 Release Date |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/budget-cuts-gets-new-june-14-release-date/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=[UploadVR](/source/UploadVR) |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330142127/https://www.uploadvr.com/budget-cuts-gets-new-june-14-release-date/ |url-status=live }}]
'''PlayStation 4'''
May 15, 2020[{{Cite news|last=Graham|first=Peter|title=Budget Cuts Is Coming To PlayStation VR In May|work=VR Focus|url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2020/03/budget-cuts-is-coming-to-playstation-vr-in-may/|access-date=July 16, 2020|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205123559/https://www.vrfocus.com/2020/03/budget-cuts-is-coming-to-playstation-vr-in-may/|url-status=dead}}]
| modes = [Single-player](/source/Single-player)
| image = Budget-Cuts-Title.png
| engine = [Unity](/source/Unity_(game_engine))[{{Cite web |last=Hayden |first=Scott |date=January 13, 2016 |title='Budget Cuts' Uses Portals to Solve Room-Scale Locomotion Problem |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/budget-cuts-uses-portals-solve-room-scale-locomotion-problem/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=[Road to VR](/source/Road_to_VR) |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330142127/https://www.roadtovr.com/budget-cuts-uses-portals-solve-room-scale-locomotion-problem/ |url-status=live }}]
}}
'''''Budget Cuts''''' is an [independent](/source/Indie_game_development) [virtual reality](/source/virtual_reality) [stealth game](/source/stealth_game) developed and published by Swedish studio Neat Corporation.[{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2018 |title=Budget Cuts: Un bon jeu d'infiltration en VR, pas dénué de défauts |trans-title=Budget Cuts: A good stealth game in VR, not without flaws |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/875418/budget-cuts-un-bon-jeu-d-infiltration-en-vr-pas-denue-de-defauts.htm |access-date=16 July 2020 |work=[Jeuxvideo.com](/source/Jeuxvideo.com) |language=fr |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716055444/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/875418/budget-cuts-un-bon-jeu-d-infiltration-en-vr-pas-denue-de-defauts.htm |url-status=live }}] The player is tasked with escaping an office building using a portal device while evading detection from robotic managers.[{{Cite web |last=Donlan |first=Christian |date=April 21, 2016 |title=Budget Cuts is the future of VR right freakin' now |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-22-budget-cuts-is-the-future-of-vr-right-freakin-now |access-date=July 16, 2020 |work=[Eurogamer](/source/Eurogamer) |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716055458/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-22-budget-cuts-is-the-future-of-vr-right-freakin-now |url-status=live }}] Neat Corporation made a demo in 2016 for a showcase with [Valve Software](/source/Valve_Software)[{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=January 30, 2016 |title=Budget Cuts aims to take the puzzles and humor of Portal into VR (hands-on) |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/budget-cuts-aims-to-take-the-puzzles-and-humor-of-portal-into-vr-hands-on/ |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=[VentureBeat](/source/VentureBeat) |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427202010/https://venturebeat.com/games/budget-cuts-aims-to-take-the-puzzles-and-humor-of-portal-into-vr-hands-on/ |url-status=live }}] with an initial release date the same year,[{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Matt |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Ace VR stealth 'em up Budget Cuts budged back again |work=[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](/source/Rock%2C_Paper%2C_Shotgun) |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/budget-cuts-delayed-again |access-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427202011/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/budget-cuts-delayed-again |url-status=live }}] and eventually released on [Steam](/source/Steam_(service)) in 2018.[{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Matt |date=June 15, 2018 |title=VR robo-stealth 'em up Budget Cuts sneaks out at last |work=[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](/source/Rock%2C_Paper%2C_Shotgun) |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/budget-cuts-released |access-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427202009/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/budget-cuts-released |url-status=live }}]
The sequel, ''Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency'', released in 2019.[{{Cite web |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency Preview: I, For One, Do NOT Welcome Our Robot Overlords |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/06/budget-cuts-2-mission-insolvency-preview-i-for-one-do-not-welcome-our-robot-overlords |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=[IGN](/source/IGN) |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427202012/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/06/budget-cuts-2-mission-insolvency-preview-i-for-one-do-not-welcome-our-robot-overlords |url-status=live }}] A collection containing both the original and sequel game and the DLC was released as ''Budget Cuts Ultimate'' on September 20, 2023.[{{cite web |title=Budget Cuts Ultimate, Neat Corp's release comprising Budget Cuts and Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency, is OUT NOW on PCVR via Steam today! |url=https://www.gamespress.com/Budget-Cuts-Ultimate-Neat-Corps-release-comprising-Budget-Cuts-and-Bud |website=Games Press |publisher=Games Press Ltd. |access-date=29 December 2025 |date=2023-09-20}}]
== Gameplay ==
''Budget Cuts'' has the player move around the office building using a portal gun. This device, when activated, shoots a projectile in the direction it is facing and bounces off walls to land on a movable position. Once landed, it creates a small and movable [heads-up display](/source/Heads-up_display_(video_games)) which can be used to view the area where the ball landed to scope out the next location. The player can then [teleport](/source/Teleportation_in_fiction) to the new location if desired.[{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Budget Cuts is like Mission Impossible crossed with Portal in virtual reality |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/8/11178858/budget-cuts-htc-vive-vr-stealth-game-hands-on |access-date=July 16, 2020 |work=[The Verge](/source/The_Verge) |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716050943/https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/8/11178858/budget-cuts-htc-vive-vr-stealth-game-hands-on |url-status=live }}][{{Cite web |title=Video: Pulling off portal locomotion in the VR game Budget Cuts |author=Staff |work=gamasutra.com |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=16 July 2020 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/video-pulling-off-portal-locomotion-in-the-vr-game-i-budget-cuts-i- |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827120214/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/video-pulling-off-portal-locomotion-in-the-vr-game-i-budget-cuts-i- |url-status=live }}]
A core mechanic of the game is throwing knives and scissors at enemies. The weapons were made to hit the target with the sharp edge so to always cause harm with an accurate aim by the player.[{{Cite news |title=Long-awaited VR stealth game Budget Cuts to release this Thursday |work=pcgamer |date=28 May 2018 |access-date=16 July 2020 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/long-awaited-vr-stealth-game-budget-cuts-to-release-this-thursday/ |author1=Samuel Horti |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716052340/https://www.pcgamer.com/long-awaited-vr-stealth-game-budget-cuts-to-release-this-thursday/ |url-status=live }}]
== Plot ==
''Budget Cuts'' is set in a company called "TransCorp," filled with human-like robotic office workers and security guards. There are no other people to be found, except for a voice over the phone, Winta. Winta informs the player that people have been disappearing, and the protagonist is the next target of an unspecified group. The player must escape the office buildings of TransCorp, while hiding from supervisors, walking security guards with guns.
== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = PC: 76/100
PS4: 78/100[{{cite web|title=Budget Cuts for PS4 Reviews - Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/budget-cuts/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|website=Metacritic|access-date=2023-11-01|archive-date=2026-01-18|archive-url=https://archive.today/20260118080413/https://www.metacritic.com/game/budget-cuts/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|url-status=live}}]
}}
The game received generally positive reviews, according to [review aggregator](/source/review_aggregator) [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic).[{{Cite web|title=Budget Cuts for PC Reviews - Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/budget-cuts/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|access-date=Jul 16, 2020|website=Metacritic|archive-date=2026-01-18|archive-url=https://archive.today/20260118080428/https://www.metacritic.com/game/budget-cuts/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|url-status=live}}] ''[IGN](/source/IGN)'' writer Mitch Dyer said that it "might be the best, most interesting VR game I’ve played."[{{Cite web|last=Dyer|first=Mitch|date=Jan 27, 2016|title=Valve VR: Hands-On With 12 Vive Games|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/28/valve-vr-hands-on-with-12-vive-games|access-date=Jul 16, 2020|website=IGN|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717095743/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/28/valve-vr-hands-on-with-12-vive-games|url-status=live}}] ''[Jeuxvideo.com](/source/Jeuxvideo.com)'' criticized it for having a repetitive game pattern,