Between 2019 and 2022, Meta went absolutely wild — scooping up VR studios left and right, like a kid with candy money. They snagged nine studios, no less! So, what happened in the six years since? Let’s dive into the chaos, from the big wins to the faceplants, shall we?
Just so you know, this is an ever-evolving saga. Last update was in October 2024 — stay tuned for twists and turns.
Okay, so when Meta snags a studio, they get loads of cool stuff: resources galore, access to beloved characters (you know, the whole shebang), and a safety net that’s all about stability. But — and it’s a big but — they gotta keep the hits coming. Less wiggle room and all that jazz.
So, nine studios got pulled into the Meta orbit. The results? All over the place. Some shining stars, others… not so much.
Beat Games – Beat Saber Champs, Grabbed in 2019
Ah, Beat Saber — the original rhythm game hit. Meta bought Beat Games to keep those beats rolling, promising the gang would stay semi-independent. Cool.
Since the buyout, they’ve kept dropping updates and big-name music pack collabs. Multiplayer was the biggie. But, come on, where are those custom sabers and the mixed reality mode they hinted at? Still missing in action. Beats me.
No groundbreaking changes to the OG Beat Saber flow though. You’d think that the peeps at Beat Games had something new cooking. But nope, just more of the same after six years.
Then, in June 2025, bam! Meta says bye-bye to Beat Saber on PSVR/2. No more updates, nada. Multiplayer on PSVR? Kicking the bucket in 2026. Oh, but they’re teasing a “next big leap for Beat Saber.” Fingers crossed, I guess.
Through it all, Beat Saber’s raked in cash, sticking with the tried-and-true formula. Unless this leap actually happens, expect more of the same — pop hits packaged as neat DLCs, and… not a lot else.
Oh yeah, the founders, Jan, Jaroslav, and Vladimir? Gone. Now it’s all Meta’s puppet show.
Post-acquisition Grade: B–
Sanzaru Games – Asgard’s Wrath Heroes, Snatched in 2020
Back in 2020, Meta promised big things from Sanzaru, riding high from Asgard’s Wrath’s buzz. Folks loved it, a neat little RPG exclusive to Rift just before the buyout.
Fast-forward to 2023, and — voila! — Asgard’s Wrath 2 pops up. And get this, they squeezed it onto Quest 2 and Quest 3. That’s no small feat, swapping out PC-level oomph for handheld. And it looks pretty swanky for Quest standards.
People dig it, scoring a 4.2/5 in user reviews. But boy, did it take time — nearly four years from buyout to sequel launch.
January 2025 hits, and that’s the final Asgard’s Wrath 2 update, then, autopilot time. Rumor has it a “next big thing” is brewing. Mums the word on what it is though. Typical.
Post-acquisition Grade: B+
Ready at Dawn – From Lone Echo Glory to Shutdown, Acquired in 2020, Closed 2024
Now Ready at Dawn made a splash with Lone Echo way back in 2017, with zero-G moves that felt revolutionary. They even cooked up Echo VR, a multiplayer offshoot.
Chitchat around Lone Echo II began — slated originally for 2019 — delays galore. Then Meta swoops in during 2020, seemingly giving them a leg up.
Lone Echo II finally bows for Rift in 2021. With Meta’s sights shifting to Quest, fans expected Echo VR would follow to the new headsets. Nope. Didn’t pan out.
Just three years in, Ready at Dawn shelves Echo VR, much to fans’ dismay — but hey, they were onto something else. Promising, right? And then, wham! August 2024, Meta axes the whole studio. So long, partner.
Post-acquisition Grade: F+ (A for effort?)
Downpour Interactive – Onward Hardcore, Hooked in 2021, Closed 2025
Onward had quite the run for VR military sim fans since it hit Steam and Rift in 2016. Meta snaps up Downpour Interactive in 2021, eager to keep Onward front and center in multiplayer VR.
Onward’s Quest launch? Yikes. Messy at first, but it shapes up visually and in stability later on. It pulls in a solid [4.2/5]. Loyal fans aplenty, no doubt.
2023 kicks off with layoffs — Downpour and Ready at Dawn both take hits. Dante Buckley? The founder jumps ship right before.
By June 2025, Meta shuts Downpour after Onward’s 2.0 splash. Remaining crew sail off to Camouflaj, Meta’s other studio star. Onward lingers, the game lives, but on life support.
Post-acquisition Grade: D+
And the saga continues… Page 2 awaits!
