Slovakian videogame development studio Pixel Federation is currently working to bring their first virtual reality (VR) videogame to market, Colab. A VR puzzle experience in the vein of Coatsink’s Esper, Colab is heading to Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, with a demo already available for the former. However, the studio is well aware of the pitfalls of VR development, openly stating that this first title ‘will not make profit’.
Speaking to VRFocus at Gamescom, Cologne, Pixel Federation’s Jakub Remiar, VR Game Designer, wasn’t coy about the studio’s presence in thr VR market. “We’re aiming to bring Colab out in a space where there are no PlayStation VR, Google Daydream, Oculus Touch announcements. We need people to notice us,” stated Remair. “Colab is our first game in VR but we have many other successful games; we will not make profit with this game but that’s ok. It’s for research and development, testing and making sure that our VR games are the best they can be.”
Remair was open to discussing the problems Pixel Federation have experienced in designing for VR, most of which would be shared by other studios. Pixel Federation acknowledges the youth of VR and it’s relative audience, and the studio’s awareness of the market size will most certainly benefit them in the long run.
Colab has been built with the intention of offering simple puzzles and an easy first step into the world of VR, using just one button for input and high fidelity visuals thanks to Unreal Engine 4. A demo version is currently available for Samsung Gear VR with the full release also coming to Oculus Rift and HTC Vive later this year.
VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details on Colab and other forthcoming VR titles from Pixel Federation.
