nDreams, the creative force behind the free-to-play arena shooter FRENZIES, has shared news that will excite some players while disappointing others. The game, slated to exit early access later this year, won’t be making its debut on PSVR 2, as initially anticipated.
The developers released a statement explaining their decision, while hinting at upcoming plans for PS VR2 that should get fans excited:
“We’re thrilled to announce that FRENZIES will remain free-to-play when it steps out of Early Access at the end of this year! Since its debut on Meta Quest, the player feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many enjoying the uniquely chaotic gameplay we offer. Our goal is to build on this experience as we transition out of Early Access.
In our quest to deliver the best version of FRENZIES possible, we made the tough call to focus our development efforts on the Meta Quest platform, meaning a PS VR2 launch is no longer on the cards. We understand some fans will be let down by this decision, but don’t worry, we have exciting PS VR2 announcements on the horizon!
In the meantime, keep an eye out for more updates about FRENZIES in the following weeks as we share our Early Access roadmap with you.”
Initially launched in early access for Quest 2 and later in October 2024, FRENZIES is known for its fast-paced arena action and a diverse arsenal of weapons. Despite the disappointment for PSVR 2 hopefuls, the choice nDreams made aligns with several logical factors from their standpoint.
Over the last year, Quest has seen a surge in younger users embracing the platform, particularly with the introduction of the $300 Quest 3S. This influx has fostered an increase in free-to-play content, making the platform an attractive avenue for developers.
Samantha Ryan, Meta’s Vice President of Metaverse Content, remarked in February that “We expect free-to-play (F2P) to become a broadly viable strategy for developers. However, it won’t entirely supplant premium apps; rather, both models will likely coexist.”
Furthermore, the challenging economic landscape has prompted nDreams to strategically focus on their largest potential audience, especially after they recently combined nDreams Studio Orbital and nDreams Studio into a single internal entity, ‘Compass,’ following some staff reductions.
As veterans in the XR gaming arena, nDreams has a rich portfolio, producing a slew of highly acclaimed VR titles. Some of their standout projects include Vendetta Forever, PowerWash Simulator VR, Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord, Synapse, Fracked, Little Cities, and Phantom: Covert Ops, among others.
