VR enthusiasts, get ready for some exciting news from the world of social VR gaming. The popular game Gorilla Tag is taking a bold step forward by making a previously tested level creation mode a permanent feature in the game. This new mode, known as “Monke Blocks,” allows players and their friends to collaboratively build and then explore these unique creations together. In a similar vein, the team behind the promising social VR game, Digigods, has just secured a hefty $2.6 million investment. These developments strongly indicate that user-generated content (UGC) is indeed becoming a cornerstone for thriving social VR games.
Let’s dive into what makes UGC so appealing. Games like VRChat, Rec Room, Roblox, and Horizon Worlds have all risen to prominence by harnessing the power of content created by their user communities. It’s fascinating really—friends who build together, seem to stick together.
On the surface, Gorilla Tag might appear to be just a simple multiplayer game. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that its open multiplayer setup—where players can effortlessly jump from one lobby to another—combined with its relaxed gameplay rules, has turned it into more than just a game. It’s a social playground that invites spontaneity and creativity.
And now, with Monke Blocks becoming a permanent feature, Gorilla Tag is further embedding itself in the social VR space, letting players dive into an immersive world that they can shape and explore. Players can use blocks to craft new levels collaboratively, and while they’re building, other players can shrink down to run, jump, and explore their growing creation.
To make the most out of this feature, players can enhance their creations by purchasing new block sets using Gorilla Tag’s premium currency, ‘Shiny Rocks.’ The first set, featuring medieval castle-themed pieces, is set at a price of 6,000 SR (or around $30).
The rise of UGC is a huge driving force behind successful social VR games, old and new. Another Axiom, the creative minds who brought Gorilla Tag to life, are working on another title, Orion Drift. This game aims to offer players the freedom to create mini-games and unique rules in a vast playground, further embracing the UGC revolution.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Yeeps, another UGC-focused game, managed to attract 360,000 monthly active users. This month, Digigods, developed by Squido Studio, received a $3 million seed investment from various investors including Triptyq Capital and Grishin Robotics. Despite launching in April 2024, Digigods has already captivated 100,000 unique players and boasts an impressive average user rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
As with many successful social VR games, UGC forms the backbone of these widely popular platforms. But there’s something else that’s noteworthy: the way players move within these virtual worlds. Older titles like Rec Room, VRChat, and Horizon Worlds use more traditional controls like thumbsticks and teleport mechanics. On the other hand, newer games such as Orion Drift, Yeeps, and Digigods incorporate arm-based locomotion, a method that first took off with Gorilla Tag.
This shift in locomotion style marks a clear generational divide in VR gaming. Arm-based movement attracts younger audiences, aligning more with Gen Z, whereas traditional methods appeal to millennials and older.
In essence, the future of social VR seems deeply intertwined with both the creativity of its players and the innovative ways they experience these immersive spaces. As technologies and preferences evolve, it’s clear that UGC and the nuances of player movement will continue to shape the landscape of virtual reality gaming.
