Quest Sleeper Hit Yeeps Reveals Player Population, Talks Past & Future of the Studio

Yeeps: Hide and Seek has quickly become a popular App Lab game, attracting 360,000 monthly-active users even before its recent debut on the main Quest store. In an exclusive interview with Road to VR, the developers at Trass Games discuss the inspiration behind the game and their plans for its future.

Developed over eight months by the team at Trass Games, Yeeps: Hide and Seek entered Closed Alpha in February 2024 before officially launching on App Lab in March. The game’s unique concept was born out of a collaborative effort among co-founders Jack Southard, Nathan Jew, and Steve Shockey, who combined their individual game ideas to create Yeeps.

One of the standout features of Yeeps is its arm-based locomotion system, inspired by popular VR titles like Gorilla Tag. The developers aimed to enhance this system by introducing gadgets such as bombs and gliders, drawing inspiration from games like Fortnite to add depth to the gameplay.

Central to Yeeps is its focus on user-generated content (UGC), influenced by the team’s childhood experiences with games like Minecraft. This emphasis on creativity and community engagement has contributed to the game’s rapid growth, with over 360,000 MAU since its App Lab launch.

Trass Games has ambitious plans for Yeeps, with regular content updates in the pipeline to introduce new features, gadgets, and biomes. The team is particularly excited about expanding the social UGC aspect of the game, allowing players to build and share their creations with the community.

Founded in 2022 by Jack Southard and Nathan Jew, Trass Games has a history of creating innovative VR experiences. From their first VR project Overboard to the successful Gods of Gravity, the team has continually pushed boundaries in the VR gaming industry.

After participating in the A16Z Speedrun accelerator program, Trass Games expanded its team and set out to create an even more ambitious project with Yeeps. Despite receiving funding through the program, the studio remains committed to organic growth and independence.

As Yeeps continues to gain popularity and acclaim, Trass Games remains dedicated to delivering engaging content and fostering a vibrant community within the game. With their unique blend of creativity and innovation, the future looks bright for this dynamic development team.