Hey, so between 2019 and 2022, Meta went on this wild spree of buying up VR studios like they were collecting Pokémon cards. Seriously, nine studios later, and it’s been a mix of hits, misses, and a couple of "eh, what happened there?" moments. Let’s just dive into this rollercoaster of virtual reality, shall we?
Meta Mothership, Anyone?
So, Meta. Yeah, when they sweep up a studio, it’s like they dump a truckload of resources and sort of say, "Here, make magic." But, uh, it also kinda locks folks into doing only what grabbed Meta’s attention initially. You get perks and restrictions, I guess?
Beat Games – Beat Saber Legends
Remember 2019? Simpler times. That’s when Beat Games got scooped up for Beat Saber. This game is legendary, with its rhythm-based block slashing. But, no mind-blowing changes since then, other than multiplayer. Guess they teased us with cool stuff like custom sabers, but then… crickets. And then June 2025? Bam! No more PSVR/2 updates. Multiplayer gone soon too. What’s in the works? Who knows, but a “big leap” is promised. Whatever that means. Oh, founders left, by the way. Meta runs the show now.
Sanzaru Games – Asgard’s Wrath Adventures
Then there’s 2020’s Sanzaru Games deal. They promised more grand VR stuff after the success of Asgard’s Wrath. And whew, in 2023, they launched Asgard’s Wrath 2. Managed to squeeze it into Quest 2 and 3. Not too shabby. Got a 4.2/5 score. But after their last update in January 2025, it’s like they hit cruise control. New stuff cooking, apparently, but beats me what.
Ready at Dawn – Echoes and Goodbyes
Ready at Dawn, oh man. They did Lone Echo, which was like a VR cornerstone. Zero-G fun with Echo VR too! But delays hit Lone Echo II, though Meta saved the day in 2020. Sounds good, right? But by 2024? Echo VR sunset, studio closed. Thanks, Meta. It’s like reading a bittersweet novel.
Downpour Interactive – Onward: Wait, What Just Happened?
Onward was a VR mil-sim darling, and Downpour joined Meta in 2021. Improvements came after a rocky Quest launch. But then, boo—layoffs in 2023, and founder Dante Buckley exited left a month before. They closed in 2025 after a 2.0 update. Servers are up, so… not dead, just on life support? What a journey.
And — yeah, there’s more, but you get the vibe. Meta’s acquisitions are like a mixed bag of magic and mystery. What’ll happen next? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.
