Phaser Lock Interactive, the studio behind Quest unique Primal Hunt (2023) and a bunch of early PC VR video games, introduced it’s shutting down, citing a “difficult financial local weather and the present state of the gaming trade.”
Based in 2015, the Austin, Texas-based VR studio was behind quite a few PC VR video games through the years, together with bow-shooter Twisted Arrow (2016), and real-time technique video games Ultimate Method (2016) and Ultimate Assault (2019).
In 2023, Phaser Lock launched dino-hunting recreation Primal Hunt, which leveraged Twisted Arrow’s bow-shooting mechanics in a Turok-impressed single participant journey, launched solely on Quest.
Though Primal Hunt garnered a strong [4.3/5] person score on the Horizon Retailer, it confronted challenges discovering broad enchantment. On the time of this writing, solely 201 customers have reviewed the ‘M’ rated recreation, which was priced at $30.
Shortly after releasing Primal Hunt on Quest, Phaser Lock pivoted from full-time VR studio to growing a multi-player model of the sport for Roblox. Whereas the free-to-play recreation did nicely on the platform, attracting over 5.4 million visits, the studio’s final replace arrived in April 2024, leaving Primal Hunt’s future in query.
Then, in June 2024, co-founder and former studio exec Michael Daubert departed the corporate, based on LinkedIn, leaving the studio’s trajectory and future ambitions unsure.
Right here’s the total assertion, launched on the studio’s web site:
END OF AN ERA
With deep disappointment, we announce that Phaser Lock Interactive is shutting down. Regardless of our relentless efforts to deliver our imaginative and prescient to life, the difficult financial local weather and the present state of the gaming trade have made it unattainable for us to proceed. We wish to specific our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal followers and the superb neighborhood that has supported us via this journey. Your ardour, encouragement, and perception in our work have meant the world to us. Whereas this chapter closes, the reminiscences we’ve created collectively will stay eternally. Thanks for being a part of our story.
