Meta Acquired 9 Leading VR Studios Starting in 2019: Here’s What’s Happened Since

Meta has significantly expanded its VR game portfolio through the acquisition of nine VR studios since 2019. Let’s take a look at the developments that have occurred as a result of these deals over the past five years.

When Meta acquires a studio, it can lead to various outcomes. Sometimes, the studio gains access to more resources and the stability of being part of a major platform holder. However, it can also limit the flexibility of developers, as they may be required to focus on maintaining successful game properties or developing exclusively for a single platform.

Overall, Meta has acquired nine studios, each showing different levels of performance post-acquisition, with only a few standing out for delivering compelling new content.

Beat Games – Known for Beat Saber, Acquired 2019

After acquiring Beat Games in 2019, Meta ensured that Beat Saber continued to grow with new features and content, while allowing the studio some independence. While the game has received updates and DLC packs, major additions like custom sabers and a mixed reality mode have yet to materialize.

Despite being a highly profitable game, Beat Games has not shown significant innovation or progress beyond maintaining Beat Saber. With the departure of its founders, the studio now relies heavily on Meta’s direction.

Post-acquisition Grade: B

Sanzaru Games – Known for Asgard’s Wrath, Acquired 2020

Following the acquisition of Sanzaru Games in 2020, the studio released Asgard’s Wrath 2 in 2023, showcasing impressive visuals on the Quest platform. However, players without a VR-ready PC were unable to access the original game on Quest, creating a limitation.

While the sequel received positive reviews, the long development time raised concerns. It took nearly four years from the acquisition for Asgard’s Wrath 2 to launch. Moving forward, fans hope to see more timely releases from the studio.

Post-acquisition Grade: B+

Ready at Dawn – Known for Lone Echo & Echo VR, Acquired 2020

Ready at Dawn, known for Lone Echo and Echo VR, faced challenges post-acquisition. The release of Lone Echo II in 2021 was followed by the discontinuation of Echo VR in 2024, disappointing fans.

Despite plans for future projects, Meta ultimately shut down the studio in August 2024, leaving uncertainty about the studio’s future endeavors.

Post-acquisition Grade: F+ (see me after class)

Downpour Interactive – Known for Onward, Acquired 2021

Onward has been a popular VR mil-sim game since its release in 2016. Meta’s acquisition of Downpour Interactive in 2021 aimed to support the studio in further developing the game.

In 2021, Meta acquired Downpour Interactive as an opportunity to support the popular game, Onward, with the goal of growing it as one of the leading multiplayer VR games.

A year prior to the acquisition, Onward faced challenges during its launch on Quest. Despite improvements in stability and visuals, the game has maintained a strong following with 17,000 user reviews on Quest, earning it a solid [4.2/5] rating.

However, advancements in Onward post-acquisition have been more incremental than transformative. While Meta has honored its commitment to keeping the game cross-platform, the port to Quest received criticism for a major graphical downgrade in the PC version to accommodate both platforms.

Similar to Beat Games, there has been speculation about new game developments, but no official announcements have been made. The departure of studio founder and CEO Dante Buckley in March 2023, just before Meta announced layoffs at Downpour and Ready at Dawn, has raised questions about the future of Onward.

Overall, the post-acquisition grade for Onward is a C.