What Movere does

Movere Inc. (株式会社Movere) is a Hiroshima, Japan-based private company that designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary VR locomotion hardware. Founded in March 2018 as the first spin-off venture from Hiroshima City University (originally named Lumbus Co., Ltd., renamed to Movere in July 2021), the company commercializes two core patented device families: Crus, a VR walking illusion device that supports the user's thighs in the direction of movement and synchronizes visual changes via load-sensor-based gait estimation (no body-worn sensors or harnesses required), and Lumbus, a motion base platform using rolling spherical actuators to achieve pitch and roll motion with double the force at half the effort of conventional rotation-based systems. Both products are patent-protected in Japan, China, and (for Crus) the United States, with the Lumbus US application pending. The product portfolio also includes VR Experience Booths (launched July 2024), adjustable stands, seat and frame accessories, and developer software such as SteamVR drivers and SDKs supporting Unity, UE4, Visual C++, MATLAB, and SimTools via UDP-based 6-axis control.

Movere operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market, selling entirely through its own e-commerce storefront (movere.co.jp/ec) on a made-to-order basis with approximately one-month lead times after payment confirmation. Pricing spans ¥99,800 (Crus-TypeC-DK1 developer kit) to ¥450,000–¥900,000 (Lumbus-DK2 basic set depending on maximum tilt angle), with booth kits at ¥176,000–¥198,000. Distribution is domestic Japan only; the company also accepts public expense payments (公費払い) for institutional/government buyers and supplements sales with trade show presence at events such as Tokyo Game Show (2021, 2022). Customer segments are individuals/developers (primary) and enterprise/institutional buyers such as research, training, and simulator operators (secondary). Marketing channels combine organic social (Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), trade show demonstrations, and self-service technical documentation.

The company is small and self-funded in an equity sense: its only disclosed capital inflows are non-equity prize/grant awards — the 25th Hiroshima Venture Grant Gold Prize (December 2018) and the Japan Unisys Award at the 1st Hiroshima Tech Plan Grand Prix (February 2021). Current Representative Director Wataru Watase has led the company since May 2023 and concurrently serves as Associate Professor at Hiroshima City University Graduate School of Information Sciences (VR Lab), reflecting the close academic-research linkage that produced the underlying technology. Revenue, headcount, and ownership details beyond this academic founder relationship are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Movere

Legal name

株式会社Movere

Website

https://movere.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Movere Inc. is a Hiroshima-based Japanese VR hardware company and the first spin-off from Hiroshima City University, selling patented Crus walking illusion devices and Lumbus rolling-motion bases via its own e-commerce store to developers, VR enthusiasts, and institutional buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

VR Hardware Devices

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)

akta.pro primary industry

VR/XR Hardware & Accessories (Headsets, Controllers, Trackers, Haptics) (MPAFAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Racing & Flight Simulation Hardware (Wheels, Pedals, HOTAS) (HDACANAE), VR/AR Gaming Hardware (Headsets & Controllers) (HDACANAD)

Keywords

• VR walking devices
• VR motion bases
• VR locomotion technology
• VR experience booths
• VR hardware manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hiroshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of proprietary VR hardware products including walking devices (Crus), motion bases (Lumbus), VR experience booths, and associated accessories. Products are custom-manufactured to order with no pre-built inventory.
2. Software Licensing: Sale and licensing of software including resident software, SteamVR drivers, and software development kits (Unity/UE4 plugins and sample programs) for integrating Movere devices with VR applications.
3. Solution Services: Provision of solutions related to VR equipment and software, including technical support, setup guidance, and integration consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Movere designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary VR locomotion and motion hardware devices, principally the Crus walking illusion device and the Lumbus motion base platform, along with complete VR experience booth kits. All products are custom-manufactured to order and accompanied by Windows resident software, SteamVR drivers, and Unity/UE4 software development kits for integration with VR applications, simulators, and games.

Product overview

Movere is a Hiroshima City University spin-off company manufacturing VR hardware devices. The core product portfolio consists of two main device lines: the Crus walking illusion device (supporting the user's thighs during forward walking motion to create a natural VR locomotion sensation) and the Lumbus motion base platform (using rolling spherical actuators for vestibular stimulation in pitch/roll axes). Both products are sold as developer evaluation kits with companion Windows resident software, SteamVR drivers, and Unity/UE4 software development kits. Additional offerings include height-adjustable stands for the Crus, seat sets and reinforced base frames for the Lumbus, and complete VR experience booth setups for event deployments. The company sells directly via its e-commerce site with made-to-order production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crus-TypeC-DK1 Developer Evaluation Kit A developer evaluation version of the patented Crus VR walking illusion device. Supports the user's thighs in the direction of movement and uses load sensors to estimate gait and walking direction, then synchronizes visual changes in VR to create a walking illusion — without requiring sensors, shoes, or harnesses on the body. Sold on a made-to-order basis; intended for VR developers and enthusiasts integrating walking-in-place motion into VR applications on SteamVR-compatible platforms.
• Crus-TypeS-DK1 Development Kit A version of the Crus walking illusion device bundled with Windows resident software and a custom SteamVR driver (beta) that translates walking motion into VR controller thumbstick/joystick input. Supports VR applications including cluster, VRChat, and Virtual Cast. Connects via USB-serial and is intended for VR developers seeking SteamVR-based integration of Movere's walking locomotion.
• Lumbus-DK2 Basic Motion Base Set A motion base platform using patented spherical rolling motion for 2-axis (pitch/roll) vestibular stimulation, configurable from ±13° to ±26° maximum tilt, with motion accuracy within 1 degree. Provides double the force at half the power consumption of conventional rotation-based platforms. Supports up to 100kg payload, 156W rated power, USB connection, and Windows 10/11. Designed for driving simulators, flight simulators, VR-based training, and research applications, with integration via UDP into SimTools, Unity, UE4, Visual C++, and MATLAB.
• VR Experience Booth Basic Set A complete VR experience booth setup kit including black aluminum frame (2000mm × 2000mm × 2256/2556mm), LED lighting strips (red/blue/green), velvet/polyester backdrop cloth (2000×3000mm), monitor mount bracket, power extension cables, and cable ties. Intended for event operators, exhibitors, and venues deploying VR demonstration booths; customer-assembled using the included hex wrench.

Quantifiable outcome

• Double the force output with half the power consumption compared to conventional rotation-based motion bases
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hiroshima City University (広島市立大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018Movere was established as the first spin-off venture from Hiroshima City University, originating from the VR Lab in the Graduate School of Systems Engineering. The company holds licensing agreements with Hiroshima City University for motion base technology (signed March 2018) and walking sensation presentation technology (signed September 2021).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Razer: Razer is a major gaming hardware brand with a wide VR peripherals portfolio (controllers, audio, haptics). While it does not directly compete in VR locomotion or motion bases, it represents the type of scaled gaming-hardware incumbent that could enter Movere's niche or acquire/partner with the company.
• Next Level Racing: Next Level Racing is a large, established manufacturer of racing/flight simulator cockpits, seats, and motion platforms. It overlaps with Movere's Lumbus motion base and seat-set accessory business, but operates at much broader scale across the global sim racing ecosystem.

Direct peers

• 3dRudder: 3dRudder makes a foot-operated VR movement controller that lets users navigate VR environments with their feet while seated or standing. It addresses the same controller-free locomotion problem as Movere's Crus, but via a fundamentally different (foot-tilt) interaction model.
• Yaw VR: Yaw VR manufactures compact 2- and 3-axis motion simulators (Yaw2, Yaw3) for VR flight and racing, targeting the same prosumer price band and SimTools-compatible ecosystem as Movere's Lumbus. Both compete on affordability, compact footprint, and ease of setup for home VR simulation.
• DOF Reality: DOF Reality builds 2- and 3-axis motion platforms for VR racing and flight simulators, directly competing with Movere's Lumbus product line. Both companies target hobbyist and prosumer sim enthusiasts with consumer-grade motion bases supporting standard sim software like SimTools.
• Cyberith: Cyberith produces the Virtualizer, a low-friction VR treadmill designed for natural walking-in-place locomotion in VR. Like Movere's Crus, it targets VR enthusiasts and LBE (location-based entertainment) operators seeking to free VR movement from physical room-scale constraints.
• Virtuix: Virtuix makes the Omni treadmill, a VR locomotion device that lets users walk or run in place to drive in-game movement. It is the closest direct competitor to Movere's Crus walking device, targeting the same pain point of enabling natural VR movement while mitigating motion sickness.

Emerging players

• SimXperience: SimXperience designs professional-grade motion simulator systems (Stage 5, Motion Pro) for racing, flight, and VR training. It is more high-end than Movere's Lumbus but targets the same SimTools-compatible motion base category, with overlap in the prosumer-to-pro motion simulation segment.
• bHaptics: bHaptics produces wearable haptic devices (Tactosy, TactGlove, TactSuit) for VR immersion. While it tackles a different sensory dimension (haptics rather than locomotion or motion), it shares Movere's positioning as a specialist VR peripheral vendor focused on solving immersion gaps in standalone VR.

Regional players

• Proxemics (Stir VR Inc.): Proxemics (operated by Stir VR Inc.) is a Japanese startup developing VR-related hardware and software solutions. Like Movere, it is a Japan-based VR hardware venture targeting domestic VR developers and operators, making it a useful regional comparable for GTM and ecosystem dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MovereVR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQo-OD0kSMXdi4cd_1fbveg
• Facebookfacebook.com/MovereVR
• Instagraminstagram.com/moverevr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Movere