Vertigo Games Studio Behind ‘Metro Awakening’ Sells VR Arcade Platform SpringboardVR

Vertigo Games, the creative minds behind the Arizona Sunshine series and the 2024 release, Metro Awakening, has recently shared some significant news. They’ve sold their location-based entertainment (LBE) VR content distribution platform, SpringboardVR.

Back in 2021, Vertigo Games took over SpringboardVR with an ambitious vision of steering it through an exciting phase of VR expansion. Their goal was to propel SpringboardVR into a promising future. Fast forward to 2025, and SynthesisVR, a leading authority in virtual reality LBE management software, is now stepping in. This acquisition, sealed for an undisclosed amount, is set to go live on February 1, 2025.

The companies released a joint statement stressing how this acquisition paves the way for strengthening the VR industry. They emphasized a future-proof foundation that benefits both arcade operators and developers, promising sustained growth and a new era of innovation. While SpringboardVR and SynthesisVR will operate independently, their alliance under Deploy Reality highlights a lasting commitment to location-based VR. The combination of these innovative platforms is expected to boost the growth of VR arcades globally, providing operators with a wealth of options and resources.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Vertigo Games has carved out a reputation for delivering a slew of hit VR titles. Their portfolio includes the likes of Metro Awakening (2024), the Arizona Sunshine Remake (2024), and Arizona Sunshine 2 (2023). Moreover, their knack for creating LBE adaptations of games like Arizona Sunshine and Space Pirate Trainer, along with multiplayer experiences such as Eclipse and Ghost Patrol VR, is widely recognized.

Despite parting ways with SpringboardVR, Vertigo Games reassures the community of their steadfast dedication to the future of location-based VR. They underscore their ongoing collaboration with SynthesisVR, focusing on continuing their production of both LBE VR experiences and consumer content for home users.

Richard Stitselaar, CEO of Vertigo Games, remarked on the company’s commitment to evolving VR arcades. He articulated that this recent shift allows Vertigo Games to sharpen its focus on content innovation and creativity, while SynthesisVR advances platform development. This reinforced collaboration is poised to deliver more robust, future-oriented solutions that promise audiences next-generation immersive entertainment.

While this news doesn’t explicitly indicate financial strife, it does emerge amidst a backdrop of some economic shakiness in the industry. Recently, Sweden-based Fast Travel Games, known for Action Hero (2024) and Mannequin (2024), along with Drop Dead studio Soul Assembly, have faced layoffs.

Similarly, late last year, economic challenges prompted job cuts at nDreams, the seasoned XR studio behind titles like Frenzies (2024) and Vendetta Forever (2024). XR Games, known for Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded, also saw significant workforce reductions.

Elsewhere, Canada’s Archiact, known for the VR port of DOOM 3 (2021), trimmed its team earlier this year, and the social VR studio VRChat also had to reduce their headcount by 30%. It’s a challenging climate, but companies like Vertigo Games and SynthesisVR are looking to the future with optimism, aiming to drive the industry forward.