Studio Vertigo Games, Known for ‘Metro Awakening,’ Sells SpringboardVR, Its VR Arcade Content Platform

Vertigo Games, the creative minds that brought us the Arizona Sunshine series and the 2024 hit Metro Awakening, recently shared news about selling off SpringboardVR. For those unfamiliar, SpringboardVR is a platform that has been instrumental in distributing VR content specifically for location-based entertainment venues.

Back in 2021, Vertigo Games took SpringboardVR under its wing with high hopes. They mentioned it was all about steering SpringboardVR toward a promising future amidst the rapid growth of VR technology. Now, fast forward to today, the reins have been passed to SynthesisVR, a leading name in virtual reality management software, who bought SpringboardVR for an undisclosed amount. This switch officially happens on February 1st, 2025.

From a joint statement by the companies, this acquisition isn’t just a simple handover—it’s a strengthening move for the industry. By merging forces, they aim to provide arcade operators and developers with a stable and robust platform, fostering innovation and growth in VR’s future. Both SpringboardVR and SynthesisVR will continue to function independently, yet by joining forces under Deploy Reality, they are showing a solid commitment to the VR landscape. The focus is to grant operators more choices and resources, bolstering the success of VR arcades on a global scale.

Vertigo Games, nestled in the Netherlands, has become a household name in VR circles. Their portfolio is impressive, spanning the likes of Metro Awakening (2024), the Arizona Sunshine Remake in 2024, and Arizona Sunshine 2 from 2023. They’ve also dipped their toes into location-based entertainment versions of Arizona Sunshine and Space Pirate Trainer and crafted multiplayer wonders like Eclipse and Ghost Patrol VR.

Although Vertigo Games might no longer be directly linked to SpringboardVR, the company assures that it’s still very much a key player in the realm of location-based VR. They’re continuing their collaboration with SynthesisVR, eager to keep developing VR experiences for both arcades and home users.

In Richard Stitselaar’s words, Vertigo Games’ CEO epitomizes the company’s dedication: “Our focus sharpens on future innovations in VR content as we trust SynthesisVR to propel the platform itself. This partnership ensures that developers and operators have powerful tools at their disposal, ready to enthrall audiences with immersive and next-generation entertainment.”

This recent development unfolds against a backdrop of some economic strains in the industry. In just this past month, we’ve witnessed layoffs at places like Sweden’s Fast Travel Games, responsible for recent VR offerings like Action Hero (2024) and Mannequin (2024), and also at Soul Assembly, the team behind Drop Dead.

Last year closed with economic challenges that saw lay-offs in experienced XR studio nDreams, known for titles such as Frenzies (2024) and Vendetta Forever (2024). Similarly, XR Games, the creators of Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded (2024), let go of most of their workforce last October. Other studios feeling the crunch include Canada’s Archiact, developers for the VR rendition of DOOM 3 (2021), and VRChat, a social VR studio, which also recently cut 30% of their staff.

In these changing times, it’s fascinating to watch how industry leaders like Vertigo Games and newcomers like SynthesisVR continue to reshape the VR landscape, setting their sights on a future that excites and evolves with the times.