Successful VR studio nDreams is on expansion course again
The acquisition of the "Shooty Fruity" developer is the starting signal for new expansion plans by nDreams.
In March, British VR game developer Ndreams (Fracked, Phantom: Covert Ops) received a $35 million investment from Aonic Group. The sum is to go primarily toward the development of even bigger, more ambitious VR games. At the time, co-founder Patrick O'Luanaigh spoke of a decisive moment for the company: VR was on course to become a mass-market technology.
Part of this strategy is the cooperative ghost hunt Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord for Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR 2. In addition, the company from Farnborough near London is also active as a VR publisher, for example for Little Cities by developer Purple Yonder (review). The title cleverly brought the principle of the cozy construction game to virtual reality. Later, Purple Yonder delivered a successful hand-tracking interface.
Creative VR games for PC, Quest 2, and PSVR2
Small, creative projects are not neglected internally at nDreams either. That's why the company announced the acquisition of VR studio Near Light from Brighton, England. The team is already working on an as-yet-unannounced VR title. Further details or a takeover sum were not mentioned. nDreams already distributed experimental VR games of the developer in the past.
Shooty Fruity, for example, mixed silly Job Simulator-style physics experiments with wild shootouts of aggressive fruit in 2018. Near Light accompanied the launch of the first PlayStation VR with Perfect back in 2016. The relaxation app sends users to vacation destinations with picturesque views.
Previously, parts of the team worked on similarly beginner-friendly game series with creative innovations. These include EyeToy Play, SingStar, and Guitar Hero.
The ambitious expansion shows the company's confidence in the future of virtual reality, the announcement said. The deal represents just the beginning of new investments, it said. It will go toward both internal development and the company's publishing arm.
More acquisitions are in the works at nDreams
"For other development studios with whom we are similarly aligned on vision and strategy, there's certainly potential for more acquisitions in our future," said nDreams CEO Patrick O'Luanaigh.
Near Light co-founder Paul Mottram is already looking forward developing things "that no one has done before." He says his company philosophy is in line with the way nDreams and its chief O'Luanaigh want to produce games and build teams.
Investor Aonic stressed at the launch of the games studio family in February that the intention is to not interfere with the company in the development process. Other investment objects besides Ndreams include mobile game developer TutoTOONS and mobile advertising company AddApptr.
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