VR Industry Leader ‘Primal Hunt’ Studio Phaser Lock Interactive Announces Closure

Phaser Lock Interactive, a well-regarded game development studio famous for the Quest-exclusive “Primal Hunt” as well as several early PC VR titles, has just announced that it is closing its doors. The studio pointed to a “challenging economic climate and the current state of the gaming industry” as the driving factors behind this difficult decision.

Since its founding in 2015 in Austin, Texas, Phaser Lock Interactive has been behind a number of notable PC VR games. These include the bow-and-arrow action game “Twisted Arrow” released in 2016, and the strategy games “Final Approach” (2016) and “Final Assault” (2019), which both offered engaging, real-time strategic gameplay.

In 2023, the studio launched “Primal Hunt,” inviting players into a dinosaur-hunting adventure inspired by the mechanics of “Twisted Arrow,” exclusively for the Quest platform. Despite securing a solid 4.3 out of 5 from users on the Horizon Store, “Primal Hunt” struggled to gain wider traction. As of now, a mere 201 users had reviewed the Mature-rated game, which went on sale for $30.

After “Primal Hunt” made its mark on Quest, Phaser Lock pivoted to adapt the game into a multiplayer version designed for Roblox. This free-to-play iteration was successful, tallying over 5.4 million visits to date. However, the last content update came out in April 2024, casting some doubt on the game’s ongoing development and plans for the future.

The situation became more uncertain when co-founder and former executive Michael Daubert left the company in June 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile. This led to more questions about the studio’s future path and ambitions.

Here’s the official statement from the studio, addressing their closure:

“We are deeply saddened to announce the closure of Phaser Lock Interactive. Despite our tireless efforts to fulfill our vision, the challenging economic landscape and the current state of the gaming industry have forced us to make this tough decision. We extend our deepest gratitude to our fans and the incredible community that has stood by us throughout this journey. Your passion, support, and trust in our projects have been invaluable to us. While this chapter draws to a close, the memories we’ve crafted together will remain. Thank you for being a part of our journey.”