Meta’s Acquisition of 9 Top VR Studios Since 2019: Developments and Impact

Between 2019 and 2022, Meta was like that person in a candy store who’s got cash and a sweet tooth. They scooped up one VR studio after another—nine altogether. Now we’re diving into the aftermath, looking back over the past six years, from big wins to complete fizzles.

So, Meta’s basically like a magic wand for studios. They get more resources, links to famous IPs, and the kind of security that comes with becoming part of the Meta universe. But it also means they lose some freedom—they gotta stick with what got them noticed in the first place.

Now, nine studios joined the Meta family, each having a different fate post-acquisition. Only some have managed to truly break out and offer fresh, exciting projects.

### Beat Games – Beat Saber Fanatics, Acquired 2019

Meta snagged Beat Games in 2019 to keep Beat Saber humming with fresh features and new content. The indie spirit was meant to stay intact. They’ve thrown out regular updates and music packs from big-name artists. Multiplayer was the major add-on, but some dreams like custom sabers and a mixed reality mode are still just dreams. No big shake-ups to the gameplay itself, though. You’d think they were moving on to something new… nope, just keeping the Beat Saber train rolling.

Come June 2025, and suddenly Beat Saber for PSVR/2 is cut off—no more updates, no new content. Multiplayer on PSVR’s set to say goodbye in 2026. Meanwhile, they hint at a “next big leap,” but right now? Probably the same old song and dance—DLC and pop tracks. The original creators—Jan Ilavsky, Jaroslav Beck, and Vladimir Hrincar—they’ve all moved on. Now it’s Meta calling the shots.

#### Grade: B–

### Sanzaru Games – Asgard’s Wrath Heroes, Acquired 2020

Meta was jazzed about Sanzaru when they bought them in 2020, touting more epic VR adventures after Asgard’s Wrath. Fast forward to 2023, bam, there’s Asgard’s Wrath 2. They squeezed it into Quest 2 and 3—pretty impressive since it started on more powerful PCs. It’s a graphically stunning Quest title with a 4.2/5 user score, but it took nearly four years to get there. Come 2025, and Asgard’s Wrath 2 isn’t getting any more updates, though they’ve hinted at a “next big thing.”

#### Grade: B+

### Ready at Dawn – Lone Echo Adventurers, Acquired 2020, Closed 2024

Ah, Ready at Dawn. They made Lone Echo—top tier VR back in the day. The zero-G vibe was a fan hit, spawning the multiplayer Echo VR. They started Lone Echo II, but delays hit. Meta scooped them up in 2020, helping them finish the game. They imagined expanding Echo VR to Quest. Didn’t happen. Instead, in just three years, they decided to close Echo VR, disappointing fans. They teased new projects, but then Meta shut the studio down in 2024. End of an era.

#### Grade: F+ (ouch)

### Downpour Interactive – Onward Warriors, Acquired 2021, Closed 2025

Onward was a VR military sim favorite, hitting Steam and Rift in 2016. Meta acquired them in 2021, aiming to bolster Onward as a major multiplayer VR title. But the Quest launch was rocky, though it improved over time, amassing a loyal fanbase and a 4.2/5 rating. Despite this, layoffs hit in 2023, and CEO Dante Buckley left. A June 2025 shutter followed Onward’s 2.0 update. Remaining folks got shuffled to another Meta studio. Onward lives, but just barely.

#### Grade: D+

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