What Vertigo Games does

Vertigo Games is a Rotterdam-headquartered VR game publisher and developer operating as a wholly owned subsidiary within Plaion Group (itself under Swedish gaming conglomerate Embracer Group). The company's dual model combines first-party development of premium full-feature VR titles with a publishing arm that funds, markets, and provides technical support to independent VR developers. First-party titles include the Arizona Sunshine franchise (a co-op zombie shooter across original VR, VR Remake, and VR 2), The 7th Guest VR, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, Metro Awakening, After the Fall, and Hellsweeper VR. Published titles include A Fisherman's Tale (2019 VR Awards Game of the Year), Maskmaker, Unplugged VR, World of Diving, Skyworld, and The Wizards: Dark Times. Distribution spans Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Xbox, and PICO with a $19.99 standard price point.

The business operates a B2C one-time-license model: revenue is generated through premium game sales and DLC across digital storefronts, with no subscription or recurring ARR layer. Proprietary technology includes volumetric video capture used in The 7th Guest VR, advanced co-op multiplayer mechanics, and gesture-based spellcasting systems. In June 2026 the company closed its Amsterdam studio (formerly Force Field Entertainment, acquired in 2021 for up to $140 million including performance milestones) after Metro Awakening's failure to meet Embracer's sales expectations, leaving the Rotterdam studio and the publishing business as the continuing operational core. Recent moves include pivoting VR-native IPs (Arizona Sunshine, The 7th Guest) onto flat PC and console platforms, an explicit attempt to widen the addressable market beyond VR hardware owners.

Name

Vertigo Games

Legal name

Vertigo Studios B.V.

Website

https://vertigo-games.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vertigo Games is a Rotterdam-based VR game publisher and developer, owned by Plaion Group, creating and distributing premium full-feature VR titles (Arizona Sunshine franchise, The 7th Guest, Thief VR, Metro Awakening) across Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Steam, and consoles for individual VR and mainstream gaming consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

VR Video Games

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution (MPAFABAK)

Keywords

• Virtual reality games
• VR game publisher
• VR game development
• Co-op zombie shooter
• Premium VR experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase revenue from VR game sales across multiple platforms including Steam, Meta Quest, PlayStation, Epic Games Store, and GOG.
2. DLC Sales: Additional content sales including DLC packs, game expansions, and bonus content for existing titles.
3. VR Publishing Services: Revenue generated from publishing third-party VR games, providing funding, marketing, and technical support to independent VR developers.
4. Market Growth Revenue Potential: Growing VR gaming market projected to reach $53.9 billion globally by 2035, providing expansion opportunities for Vertigo's game portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vertigo Games is a Dutch VR game publisher and developer that creates and distributes premium full-feature virtual reality games across Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Xbox platforms. The company develops its own proprietary IP including the Arizona Sunshine franchise, The 7th Guest (VR and Remake), Thief VR, Metro Awakening, Hellsweeper VR, After the Fall, and Unplugged VR. Through its Vertigo Publishing division, the company also provides funding, marketing, and technical support to independent VR developers, helping external VR titles reach a combined audience of over 1.5 million VR fans worldwide.

Product overview

Vertigo Games is a multi-platform VR game publisher and developer headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, operating as a Plaion Group company. The company develops and publishes VR games across multiple platforms including Steam, Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and other major VR storefronts. Core developed titles include the Arizona Sunshine franchise (co-op zombie shooter spanning original VR version, VR Remake, and VR 2), The 7th Guest (both VR and flat remakes), Thief VR, Metro Awakening, and Hellsweeper VR. Beyond its own IP, the Vertigo Publishing division provides funding, publishing, marketing, and technical support to external VR developers, with a published catalog including A Fisherman's Tale, Maskmaker, World of Diving, Skyworld, The Wizards: Dark Times, and Coaster Combat. The combined portfolio has reached over 1.5 million VR fans worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arizona Sunshine VR Legacy Original VR zombie co-op shooter released in 2016, supporting solo and multiplayer Horde modes with motion-controlled weapons across post-apocalyptic southwestern America environments.
• Arizona Sunshine VR Remake Complete rebuild of the original VR zombie shooter with new graphics, next-gen combat and weapons system, and upgraded mutilation and gore system, including all original DLC in one complete edition. Available on Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and Steam.
• Arizona Sunshine VR 2 Sequel to the award-winning Arizona Sunshine franchise, continuing the genre-defining VR co-op zombie shooter gameplay with new content.
• After the Fall Multiplayer zombie shooter with 8-player free-roam multiplayer support, developed in collaboration with SynthesisVR, available across PCVR and standalone headsets.
• The 7th Guest VR VR version of the classic puzzle-mystery game featuring volumetric video capture with live-action 3D graphics, handcrafted VR puzzles, and atmospheric haunted mansion exploration. Available on Steam, Meta Quest, and PlayStation VR2.
• The 7th Guest Remake Full remake of the iconic 1990s puzzle-mystery game rebuilt from the ground up using modern technology with cinematic volumetric video storytelling and dynamic haunted mansion environments.
• Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow VR adaptation of the classic stealth franchise featuring stealth mechanics, physics-based archery, and realistic movement through a dark steampunk city called The City.
• Metro Awakening Critically acclaimed VR title developed by Vertigo Studios Amsterdam (now closed), featuring an immersive narrative-driven experience.
• Hellsweeper VR Roguelike first-person combat VR game featuring limitless movement (wall-running, power sliding, backflips, bullet time), weapons and magic combinations, with single-player and two-player co-op support.
• Unplugged VR VR music game powered by hand-tracking technology allowing players to play air guitar without controllers, featuring classic rock tracks from world-famous bands.
• A Fisherman's Tale Mind-bending VR puzzle adventure game awarded VR Awards Game of the Year 2019, featuring reality-bending puzzles where players manipulate a model lighthouse inside a lighthouse. Published by Vertigo Games.
• Maskmaker VR adventure game where players become the Maskmaker's apprentice and learn magic of crafting masks as gateways to exploring mysterious realms across eight magical biomes. Published by Vertigo Games.
• World of Diving VR-enabled multiplayer online diving game offering underwater exploration with missions, scenarios, treasure hunting, and shipwreck exploration across various environments.
• Skyworld VR strategy game where players command armies and kingdoms at war, featuring story-based campaign across multiple unique worlds, turn-based resource management, and real-time battles. Published by Vertigo Games.
• The Wizards: Dark Times - Brotherhood First-person VR spellcasting adventure with remastered gesture-based magic system, featuring Fire, Frost, and Storm elements, with co-op multiplayer and a remastered single-player campaign set in the realm of Meliora. Published by Vertigo Games.
• Coaster Combat Roller coaster theme park experience combined with shooting action and endless track combinations, featuring online multiplayer combat for leaderboard competition. Published by Vertigo Games.
• After The Fall: Free Roam 8-player free-roam multiplayer expansion for After the Fall, developed in collaboration with SynthesisVR, supporting PCVR and standalone headsets including PICO and HTC Focus devices.
• Vertigo Publishing Publishing initiative providing funding, publishing, marketing, and technical support to external VR game developers creating novel full-featured VR experiences. Portfolio has reached over 1.5 million VR fans worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 million VR fans have played Vertigo Games' published titles

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maze TheorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Co-development partnership for Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow - Maze Theory developed the game while Vertigo Games and Eidos-Montréal served as publishers. The game brings the classic stealth franchise into VR for Meta Quest platform.
• Mixed RealmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Hellsweeper VR - published by Vertigo Games. Mixed Realms created the roguelike first-person combat game published across Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and Steam platforms.
• AnotherwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Unplugged VR - published by Vertigo Games. Anotherway created the VR music game powered by hand-tracking technology.
• Carbon StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of The Wizards: Dark Times: Brotherhood - published by Vertigo Games across Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Steam, and Viveport.
• Wolfdog InteractiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Skyworld - published by Vertigo Games. Wolfdog Interactive created the VR strategy game about commanding armies in a kingdom at war.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resolution Games: Stockholm-based VR game studio and publisher developing multiplayer VR titles (Demeo, Angry Birds VR, Cook-Out). Directly comparable as a multi-platform VR developer/publisher targeting the same VR enthusiast segment with portfolio-driven strategy.
• nDreams: UK-based dedicated VR game developer and publisher (Fracked, Little Cities, Ghostbusters VR). Directly comparable as a VR-specialized studio with both internal development and external publishing arms, similar to Vertigo's dual model.
• Owlchemy Labs: Austin-based VR game developer (Vacation Simulator, Rick and Morty VR, Cosmonious High). Comparable as a multi-platform VR developer focused on premium, full-featured VR experiences across Meta Quest and PlayStation VR2.
• Fast Travel Games: Swedish VR game publisher specializing in premium VR titles (Wraith: The Oblivion - Afterlife, Cities VR). Most comparable peer given the explicit publisher-developer split — they focus on publishing premium VR experiences across multiple storefronts, mirroring Vertigo Publishing.
• Schell Games: Pittsburgh-based VR developer (I Expect You To Die series, Until You Fall, Among Us VR). Comparable as a long-standing VR-specialized studio building premium, full-feature VR games across major VR storefronts.
• Polyarc: Bellevue-based VR game studio behind the Moss franchise (Moss, Moss: Book II). Comparable as a focused premium VR developer delivering multi-platform, award-nominated VR experiences.
• Beat Games: Czech VR studio behind Beat Saber — acquired by Meta in 2019. Comparable as a VR-native game studio developing one of the category's flagship titles; useful comparable for VR title monetization at scale.

Emerging players

• Maze Theory: UK VR developer that co-developed Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow with Vertigo Games as publisher. Comparable as a small VR studio focused on premium narrative/stealth VR experiences; serves as both a publishing partner and adjacent VR peer.

Broad incumbents

• Meta (Reality Labs / Quest Store): Parent of the Meta Quest platform and first-party VR content arm. Comparable as the dominant VR platform/storefront through which Vertigo distributes most of its titles; platform policies and first-party content decisions directly shape Vertigo's economics.
• Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation VR2): Operator of the PlayStation VR2 platform. Comparable as a major VR platform holder whose hardware adoption curve and store policies directly influence Vertigo's PSVR2 revenue across Arizona Sunshine, Thief VR, Hellsweeper and The 7th Guest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vertigogames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VertigoGames
• Facebookfacebook.com/vertigogames
• Instagraminstagram.com/vertigogames
• TikToktiktok.com/@vertigo_games

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vertigo Games