Phaser Lock Interactive, the renowned studio best known for the Quest-exclusive title Primal Hunt (2023) and a variety of pioneering PC VR experiences, has sadly announced that it will be closing its doors. The Austin, Texas-based team, which first emerged in 2015, cited "a challenging economic climate and the current state of the gaming industry" as the primary reasons behind their difficult decision.
Over the years, Phaser Lock Interactive has been at the forefront of VR gaming with popular titles such as the bow-shooting game Twisted Arrow and strategic titles like Final Approach (2016) and Final Assault (2019). In 2023, the studio launched Primal Hunt, a thrilling dino-hunting adventure that cleverly utilized the bow mechanics from Twisted Arrow. This game, clearly inspired by Turok, was exclusively released for the Quest platform.
Primal Hunt managed to secure a commendable 4.3 out of 5-star rating on the Horizon Store, yet it struggled to reach a wider audience. By the time of this report, merely 201 users had weighed in with their reviews of the mature-rated game, which hit the market with a price tag of $30.
Following the Quest release of Primal Hunt, Phaser Lock decided to shift its focus from a dedicated VR studio to experimenting with a multiplayer version of the game on Roblox. This free-to-play adaptation performed admirably, amassing over 5.4 million visits. However, its last update was rolled out in April 2024, casting doubt over the continued development of Primal Hunt.
June 2024 marked another turning point for Phaser Lock when co-founder and former studio executive Michael Daubert parted ways with the company, as indicated on LinkedIn. This departure added further uncertainty to the studio’s direction and future plans.
In a heartfelt message on their website, Phaser Lock Interactive shared the following statement with its community:
END OF AN ERA
With heavy hearts, we reveal that Phaser Lock Interactive is closing its doors. Despite our unwavering dedication to realizing our vision, the current economic conditions and gaming industry’s state have made it unsustainable to move forward. Our deepest gratitude goes out to our loyal fans and the incredible community that stood by us throughout our journey. Your enthusiasm, support, and belief in what we do have been invaluable. Although this chapter is coming to a close, the memories we’ve built together will endure. Thank you for being part of our story.
This bittersweet farewell leaves a notable emptiness in the VR gaming sphere, reminding us of the swift changes and challenges within the industry.
