Meta’s Acquisition of 9 Leading VR Studios Since 2019: Developments & Impact

Between 2019 and 2022, Meta went on this spree of buying up VR studios like they were going out of style. Nine, to be exact. Let’s dive into this whirlwind six-year adventure—there’ve been highs, lows, and a bunch of in-betweens.

First off, joining the Meta family usually means you get some cool perks: resources, sweet IP connections, and that big brand security. But—here’s the catch—suddenly there are strings attached, and you might find yourself stuck making sequels instead of venturing into new territories.

Meta grabbed nine studios, and lemme tell you, their track records are all over the place. Let’s just cut to the chase: only a handful have really knocked our socks off since joining the big M.

Beat Games – You Know ‘Em for Beat Saber, Snagged in 2019

Meta eyed Beat Games and thought, “Yep, let’s have some of that rhythm game magic.” They promised those guys some independence, and to be fair, Beat Saber has been steadily dishing out music packs and updates. Multiplayer got added, big win there! But other promises? Yeah, not so much. Custom sabers and mixed reality mode—got teased, never saw daylight.

Anyway—uh, where was I? Oh right, the core Beat Saber formula hasn’t really evolved, but maybe they’re cooking up something new. Or not. Hard to tell. In June 2025, they decided to drop the PSVR/2 version like a hot potato, no more updates, nada. Multiplayer’s also getting the boot in early 2026. But hey, they hinted at some "next big leap." Let’s hope that’s real.

Since then, the original gang behind Beat Games has left. Now Meta’s steering the ship, and we’re all just hoping it doesn’t run aground.

Post-acquisition Grade: B–

Sanzaru Games – Legends for Asgard’s Wrath, Acquired 2020

In 2020, Sanzaru joined forces with Meta. They’d impressed with Asgard’s Wrath (2019), and Meta thought, "Let’s see more epic VR stuff from these folks." Fast forward to 2023, and boom—Asgard’s Wrath 2 hit the shelves for Quest 2 and Quest 3. Talk about squeezing a watermelon into a grape, right? But seriously, they pulled it off.

People liked it a lot, solid reviews across the board. But it took, like, four years to get there. And by January 2025, they threw in the towel on updates. Now they claim to be working on something fresh, but that’s anyone’s guess.

Post-acquisition Grade: B+

Ready at Dawn – Known for Lone Echo & Echo VR, Joined 2020, Closed 2024

Ready at Dawn gave us Lone Echo, with its crazy cool zero-G movement. They later spun that off into Echo VR for some social fun. Meta swept them up in 2020 and hopes were high for those sweet multiplayer vibes on Quest.

Lone Echo II dropped in 2021, but Echo VR never made it to Quest. Fans were bummed. Then, just when we thought things were looking up, Ready at Dawn shut its doors in August 2024. A real “thanks for the memories” moment.

Post-acquisition Grade: F+ (A for Effort?)

Downpour Interactive – Famous for Onward, Bought 2021, Closed 2025

Onward was the poster child for VR mil-sim fans since it first debuted. Meta decided to scoop up the studio in 2021 with promises of grand support. Quest version? Kinda rocky at first, but it eventually found its stride.

Yet, even a strong game couldn’t fend off 2023 layoffs, and when founder Dante Buckley stepped out, the writing was on the wall. By June 2025, Meta closed the doors on Downpour Interactive, moving folks to another studio. Onward’s hanging in there, but barely.

Post-acquisition Grade: D+

So, that’s the lowdown for now. We’ll see what page 2 has in store next time—gotta keep you folks in suspense, right?