Vertigo Games, the creative force behind fan-favorite VR experiences such as the Arizona Sunshine series and Metro Awakening (2024), has decided to offload SpringboardVR, its platform dedicated to distributing VR content for location-based entertainment (LBE).
Back in 2021, Vertigo Games purchased SpringboardVR with high hopes for guiding it through a phase of rapid growth in the expanding VR market. Fast forward a few years, and the torch has been passed to SynthesisVR, a leader in virtual reality LBE management software. This acquisition, set to officially transition on February 1st, 2025, comes without public disclosure of the financial details.
The two companies announced in a joint press statement that this move aims to bolster the VR arcade industry by laying a robust foundation for future development and innovation. While SpringboardVR and SynthesisVR will continue to operate independently, under their new umbrella, Deploy Reality, they aim to enhance their offerings and provide a richer toolkit for arcade operators and developers alike. This collaboration is anticipated to be pivotal for the advancement and success of VR arcades on a global scale.
Vertigo Games, based in the Netherlands, has built its reputation on a variety of hit VR titles like Metro Awakening and Arizona Sunshine, as well as translating these experiences into LBE formats such as Space Pirate Trainer. They’ve also dived into multiplayer territory with games such as Eclipse and Ghost Patrol VR.
Even after handing over SpringboardVR, Vertigo Games ensures they are still heavily invested in the location-based VR future thanks to their enduring relationship with SynthesisVR. As a key XR developer and publisher, Vertigo remains committed to creating both LBE VR experiences and content for home-based users.
Richard Stitselaar, CEO of Vertigo Games, expressed confidence in the strategic shift, emphasizing the company’s ongoing commitment to VR arcade innovation. By focusing on content creativity and partnering with SynthesisVR’s adept platform advancements, Vertigo aims to deliver richer, next-generation immersive entertainment to audiences.
This strategic transition aligns amid a landscape of economic challenges affecting the broader gaming industry. Recent months saw layoffs at Sweden-based Fast Travel Games, developers of titles like Action Hero (2024) and Mannequin (2024), and at the Soul Assembly, creators of Drop Dead. Last year, similar financial strain led to cuts at the seasoned XR studio nDreams and XR Games, both significant players in the VR scene with titles such as Frenzies (2024) and Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded (2024).
Other developers have also felt the pinch. For instance, Canada’s Archiact and social VR hub VRChat both reduced staff numbers in early 2024, underscoring the ongoing economic pressures within the industry.
