For Flat2VR Studios, first impressions had been the whole lot after changing into an official developer.
Created from the Flat2VR group and a part of Affect Actuality, we have seen numerous VR mods throughout the years and Flat2VR Studios goals to grow to be a bridge for making such diversifications official. After the crew’s unveiling again in March 2024, a number of months handed earlier than its debut sport could be unveiled. Few anticipated that will be the comedy music sport Trombone Champ: Unflattened.
“There is a huge a part of the Flat2VR group that wasn’t significantly glad that [Trombone Champ] was the primary sport we selected,” admits Eric Masher, Chief Working Officer & Co-founder of Flat2VR Studios.
Talking to UploadVR at PG Connects London 2025, Masher defined that the studio anticipated this response. Its first announcement needed to show the crew “are by no means married to at least one style,” which is why Flat2VR Studios confirmed 4 video games throughout August’s VR Video games Showcase.
However why particularly lead with Unflattened? Masher states this “was one of many more durable video games we may have picked as a result of it was fully 2D,” however there have been a number of causes. With established modder Raicuparta formally working for Flat2VR Studios, whose prior work included Trombone Champ’s BaboonVR mod, a path turned clear.
“We had been a brand new studio popping out and never each IP needed to work with us, so we needed to show ourselves. We had a relationship with the unique IP holders, and so they had been very eager on doing one thing within the VR house. They simply did not have an avenue or a path to do it.”
Thus far, I am informed it has been comparatively profitable regardless of launching near huge names like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Metro Awakening. Masher praises Affect Actuality’s advertising and marketing crew for this, confirming that Trombone Champ: Unflattened’s gross sales had been “near what our projections had been for the vacation season.” He additionally mentions the studio’s long-term plan contains content material updates throughout 2025, reminiscent of final week’s new atmosphere.
However what challenges do these diversifications face? As an organization based by VR gaming fanatics, relationship constructing with mainstream publishers is an enormous one. Constructing mentioned connections required needing a physique of labor to indicate these potential companions. Tasks like Cabalistic’s Half Life 2 VR mods and Raicuparta’s Firewatch VR mod helped.
Explaining one in all his foremost duties is to construct these relationships, Masher had a lot to be taught going ahead.
“I had no conventional gaming relationships, I am very rooted within the VR world. I have been within the VR house for over eight years, so I needed to begin making these connections… it is not ever a one assembly factor. You are coping with conventional gaming corporations which have huge IPs which can be nonetheless necessary to them. Getting them to belief you with the IP will be tough, however we’re getting there.”
Simply because the management desires to play a specific sport in VR would not essentially imply it is an amazing enterprise choice for Flat2VR Studios.
“There are many video games that we may in all probability go signal tomorrow that won’t make an amazing VR sport. That is the place now we have to watch out and as VR followers, we all know what we wish to play. These are the video games that we sometimes intend to get, however deciding what to prioritize is necessary.”
Quest is one other main problem as a result of standalone headset’s much less highly effective {hardware}. Nevertheless, not each future adaptation essentially faces this barrier.
“There shall be occasions that we in all probability will not go to Quest. We could discover a title that’s simply such an amazing IP, we’ll wish to keep true to it, and there is going to be no method we’ll be capable to carry it to standalone. We may carry it to Steam and PlayStation VR2.”
Flat2VR Studios would additionally somewhat keep away from staggering a sport launching between totally different headsets, and Masher acknowledged the uncertainty asserting Trombone Champ: Unflattened’s launch date in levels introduced. Although the studio was apprehensive about “briefly upsetting some followers,” they needed to danger it when Sony needed to function Unflattened.
“Sony was nice for us. They had been glad we went to that platform, and we’ll proceed to help PlayStation VR2 as a lot as we are able to.”
Presently, Flat2VR Studios has three confirmed upcoming video games: Roboquest VR, Wrath: Aeon of Spoil VR, and FlatOut. I am informed Roboquest and Wrath are aiming to launch this yr, whereas FlatOut is “hopefully on a great path” however much less sure to land in 2025.
FlatOut VR ‘Desires To Take The Greatest Issues’ From Every Predominant Entry
Flat2VR Studios goals to make an authentic model of FlatOut for VR, telling UploadVR it “desires to take a number of the greatest issues” from every foremost entry.
Given the flatscreen variations of Roboquest and Wrath are already on Steam and PS5 — or in Roboquest’s case, heading to PS5 — will these VR diversifications be launched individually? I am informed each titles will launch as separate video games, somewhat than an replace or DLC to the flatscreen variations.
“In case you have it on the identical SKU as an add-on, improve or a DLC for the VR model, I feel that cheapens what we’re doing… Perhaps we’ll bundle them collectively down the street, however I feel it is necessary that we keep separate.”
As for what’s subsequent, Masher did not present any hints on different future video games. That mentioned, you may count on extra bulletins throughout 2025.
“We have now extra titles that we are going to announce later this yr. We’re going to announce one main title coming this yr in March proper earlier than GDC. This would be the largest IP that we have signed to this point, it is one of many ones we have been working in direction of for a very long time.”
Roboquest, FlatOut & Wrath: Aeon Of Spoil Will Obtain Official VR Ports
FlatOut, Roboquest, and Wrath: Aeon Of Spoil will all obtain official VR diversifications from Flat2VR Studios.
