nDreams, the creative force behind the free-to-play arena shooter FRENZIES, announced an important update: the game is set to exit early access later this year. However, contrary to earlier plans, it won’t debut on PSVR 2.
In a recent statement, the studio shed light on this decision and hinted at other exciting developments for PS VR2, despite FRENZIES no longer being on its release roadmap:
“We’re thrilled to share that FRENZIES will remain free-to-play once it transitions from Early Access later this year! Since launching on Meta Quest, the reception from players has been overwhelmingly positive, with many embracing the controlled chaos that defines FRENZIES. As we work towards delivering an optimal experience, we’ve made the tough call to focus solely on the Meta Quest release, sidestepping the PS VR2 version. We’re aware that this news might disappoint fans eagerly awaiting a PS VR2 edition, but rest assured, we have some exhilarating announcements for PS VR2 planned soon!
Stay tuned for more FRENZIES updates over the coming weeks as we prepare to unveil our Early Access roadmap.”
Since its initial release in early access on Quest 2 and newer models back in October 2024, Frenzies has been offering a slick blend of high-octane arena shooting paired with a variety of conventional weapons and game modes. The VR-native gameplay is robust and has been well-received.
For those PSVR 2 players who were eager to dive into the action from the start, this news may come as a letdown. However, from nDreams’ perspective, the decision to concentrate efforts on Meta Quest is strategic for several reasons.
Over the last year, the Quest platform has experienced a surge in popularity among younger audiences, thanks, in part, to the introduction of the $300 Quest 3S. This influx has also spurred a rise in free-to-play content on the platform.
According to Samantha Ryan, Meta VP of Metaverse Content, “We expect free-to-play (F2P) to become a broadly viable strategy for developers, who up until now have relied almost exclusively on premium apps. But we don’t think F2P will replace premium apps — both models are likely to coexist.”
Considering the current challenging economic climate, it seems nDreams is aiming to optimize returns by targeting their largest potential audience. Recently, the UK-based studio merged its nDreams Studio Orbital and nDreams Studio into a new entity called ‘Compass’ following some organizational changes.
nDreams continues to hold its ground as one of the veteran XR game studios, having delivered a plethora of high-quality VR titles including Vendetta Forever, Power Wash Simulator VR, Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord, Synapse, Fracked, Little Cities, and Phantom: Covert Ops.