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Vertigo Games

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Vertigo Games
Information
Type Subsidiary
Industry Video games, Virtual reality
Founded 2008
Founder Richard Stitselaar, Vincent van Brummen, John Coleman
Headquarters Rotterdam, Netherlands
Notable Personnel Richard Stitselaar (CEO)
Products Arizona Sunshine, After the Fall, Metro Awakening, The 7th Guest VR
Parent Plaion (Embracer Group)
Website https://www.vertigo-games.com


Vertigo Games is a Dutch video game developer and publisher based in Rotterdam that specializes in virtual reality games. It was founded in 2008, and when Embracer Group bought it in 2020 it said the company had made only VR games since 2013. It is best known for the zombie shooter Arizona Sunshine (2016), its sequel Arizona Sunshine 2 (2023), the co-op shooter After the Fall (2021) and Metro Awakening (2024).[1][2] Besides its own games, the company publishes VR titles by independent studios under the Vertigo Publishing label, and it has licensed games to VR arcades.[1]

Embracer Group bought Vertigo Games through its subsidiary Koch Media in September 2020, and Koch Media was renamed Plaion in 2022. Vertigo describes itself as a Plaion Group company.[1][3][2] In 2021 Vertigo bought the Amsterdam VR studio Force Field, which became Vertigo Studios Amsterdam and developed Metro Awakening. Vertigo closed that studio in June 2026, citing a difficult VR market; Vertigo Studios Rotterdam remains.[4][5][2]

Reviewed 29 September 2026. Founding, ownership, Embracer/Koch Media deal terms, SpringboardVR and Force Field deals, Metro Awakening results, the June 2026 Amsterdam closure, and every games-table date, role and platform checked against the cited Embracer, Vertigo, UploadVR, Road to VR, Game Developer, Quote and Game Informer pages. About review dates.

History

Founding and early games

Vertigo Games was founded in Rotterdam in 2008.[1] Richard Stitselaar is its CEO and a co-founder.[1][4] Reporting on the 2020 sale, the Dutch business magazine Quote cited Chamber of Commerce records showing that Stitselaar held 77.5 percent of the shares and that the rest belonged to his two co-founders, Vincent van Brummen and John Coleman.[6]

One of the studio's early projects was World of Diving, a multiplayer diving game for PC, Mac and Linux. In June 2013 Vertigo was seeking 75,000 US dollars for it on Indiegogo and announced full Oculus Rift support. Game Informer reported that Stitselaar, then the game's creative director, was a scuba diver who wanted to share his underwater experiences through it.[7] According to Embracer Group, the company worked only on VR from 2013.[1]

Arizona Sunshine and growth

Arizona Sunshine, a zombie shooter developed by Vertigo Games with Jaywalkers Interactive, was released on 6 December 2016. It supports up to four players in online co-op and has a campaign and a Horde mode.[8] Road to VR reviewed it on Oculus Rift with Oculus Touch and gave it 7.5 out of 10, writing that its small changes to the VR shooter formula added up to more than the sum of their parts while criticizing "overly fussy controls and a lack of variety".[9] By September 2020, Embracer said the game had sold more than one million copies.[1]

In 2019 Vertigo published A Fisherman's Tale, a VR puzzle game by the studio Innerspace VR.[10] At the time of the Embracer acquisition in 2020, the company had 50 employees, 37 of them developers, and offices in Rotterdam and Los Angeles. It was organized in three units: Vertigo Studios for game development, Vertigo Publishing for publishing Vertigo Studios' games as well as third-party VR content, and Vertigo Arcades, which distributed games to more than 700 VR arcade locations in more than 40 countries.[1]

Acquisition by Embracer Group

On 16 September 2020, Embracer Group announced that it had acquired all shares in Vertigo Games through Koch Media. The upfront price was 50 million euros, of which 40 million euros was paid in cash and 10 million euros in newly issued Embracer B shares. The deal also carried an earnout of up to 65 million euros over ten years.[1] Vertigo's own announcement said the company would continue as an independent content provider and publishing label within Koch Media, with no changes to management or the team.[11] Koch Media renamed itself Plaion on 4 August 2022, and Game Developer listed Vertigo among the acquisitions it had made under Embracer.[3]

SpringboardVR and Force Field

In February 2021 Vertigo bought SpringboardVR, a subscription platform that VR arcades used to manage sessions and license titles. UploadVR reported that the service would continue to run under Vertigo's ownership and that neither company disclosed the value of the sale.[12] Vertigo sold SpringboardVR to SynthesisVR with effect from 1 February 2025. Stitselaar said the company remained committed to VR arcades and would focus on "content innovation and creativity".[13]

In August 2021 Vertigo announced that it had acquired Force Field, an Amsterdam VR studio founded in 2015, and renamed it Vertigo Studios Amsterdam.[14] According to Embracer, Force Field had about 65 employees and was led by co-founder and CEO Arthur Houtman. Its earlier work included Landfall, Time Stall and Coaster Combat for Oculus Studios, National Geographic Explore VR and Anne Frank House VR. The terms were not disclosed.[15] At the time the studio was working on an unannounced AAA game based on a well-known IP.[14][16] The Amsterdam studio went on to develop Metro Awakening.[4]

Metro Awakening and the Amsterdam closure

Metro Awakening, the first VR game in the Metro series, made in collaboration with Deep Silver, was released on 7 November 2024 for PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest, SteamVR and Viveport.[17] In its interim report for October to December 2024, Embracer wrote that the game "had a positive reception from critics, winning the Steam VR Game of the Year award, but underperformed management financial expectations."[18]

On 5 June 2026 Vertigo announced the closure of Vertigo Studios Amsterdam in an open letter from Stitselaar, who said: "The VR market remains a challenging space and after careful consideration we have made the difficult decision to close Vertigo Studios Amsterdam."[19] The company did not say how many employees were affected or whether any projects or staff would move to other teams.[19][4] Before the closure Vertigo had two studios, in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. UploadVR noted that the Rotterdam studio is the team behind the Arizona Sunshine games, The 7th Guest VR, After the Fall, Skyworld and Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl.[5] The closure came during a period of cuts across the VR games business in 2026, including layoffs at Polyarc and the shutdown of Rec Room, according to UploadVR.[5]

Products

The table lists major games developed or published by Vertigo Games. Vertigo's catalog page also includes titles made by Force Field before the acquisition.[20]

Title Release Vertigo's role Notes
Arizona Sunshine 6 December 2016 Developer (with Jaywalkers Interactive) and publisher Zombie shooter with online co-op for up to four players[8]
A Fisherman's Tale 2019 Publisher VR puzzle game developed by Innerspace VR[10]
After the Fall 9 December 2021 Developer (Vertigo Studios) and publisher Four-player co-op shooter set in a frozen, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles about twenty years after a new ice age halted civilization in the 1980s; launched on PlayStation VR, PC VR and Oculus Quest[21]
The 7th Guest VR 19 October 2023 Developer and publisher Remake of the CD-ROM horror game The 7th Guest, using volumetric video capture for its ghostly apparitions; released on Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2 and PC VR[22]
Arizona Sunshine 2 7 December 2023 Developer and publisher Sequel released on Quest, PlayStation VR2, PC VR and Pico; UploadVR gave it 5 out of 5 stars[23]
Arizona Sunshine Remake 2024 Developer and publisher Remake of the 2016 game using the assets and mechanics made for Arizona Sunshine 2, including both original DLC campaigns; UploadVR gave it 4 out of 5 stars[24]
Metro Awakening 7 November 2024 Developer (Vertigo Studios Amsterdam) and publisher Made with Deep Silver; released on PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest, SteamVR and Viveport[17][4]
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow 4 December 2025 Publisher Developed by Maze Theory with development assistance from Eidos-Montreal; released on Meta Quest, Steam and PlayStation VR2[25][26]

Vertigo also lists a non-VR remake of The 7th Guest for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch.[20]

XR work

Vertigo's recent games have been released on Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, SteamVR and Pico headsets.[23][17] After the Fall was made available for licensing to VR arcades through location-based distribution platforms on 9 December 2021, the same day as its home release; Vertigo had earlier adapted Arizona Sunshine for arcades.[27] Through Vertigo Publishing the company publishes third-party VR games such as A Fisherman's Tale; its about page says the label has sold more than 1.5 million VR units.[2][1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 "Embracer Group acquires Vertigo Games". Embracer Group. 2020-09-16. https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-acquires-vertigo-games/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "About". Vertigo Games. https://www.vertigo-games.com/about/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chris Kerr (2022-08-04). "Koch Media rebrands as Plaion as it continues to expand under Embracer". Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/koch-media-rebrands-as-plaion-as-it-continues-to-expand-under-embracer. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Chris Kerr (2026-06-09). "Embracer-owned VR developer Vertigo Games closes Amsterdam studio". Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/embracer-owned-vr-developer-vertigo-games-closes-amsterdam-studio. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mike Johnson (2026-06-05). "Metro Awakening Studio Vertigo Games Amsterdam Shuts Down". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/metro-awakening-studio-vertigo-games-amsterdam-shuts-down/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  6. ↑ Tom Wouda (2020-09-16). "Highscore! Nederlandse game-boys cashen maximaal 115 miljoen met verkoop Vertigo Games". Quote. https://www.quotenet.nl/zakelijk/a34038430/highscore-nederlandse-game-boys-cashen-maximaal-euro115-miljoen-met-verkoop-vertigo-games/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  7. ↑ "Explore Sunken Ships With Oculus Rift In World Of Diving". Game Informer. 2013-06-14. https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/06/14/explore-sunken-ships-with-oculus-rift-in-world-of-diving.aspx. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Arizona Sunshine VR Legacy". Vertigo Games. https://www.vertigo-games.com/games/arizona-sunshine-vr-legacy/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. ↑ "Arizona Sunshine Review". Road to VR. 2016-12-09. https://roadtovr.com/arizona-sunshine-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Vertigo Games Enters Publishing Agreement with A Fisherman's Tale Developer Innerspace for Unannounced VR Game". Vertigo Games. 2021-05-03. https://www.vertigo-games.com/vertigo-games-enters-publishing-agreement-with-a-fishermans-tale-developer-innerspace-for-unannounced-vr-game/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. ↑ "Vertigo Games Joins Koch Media adding VR Gaming to the Group's global network". Vertigo Games. https://www.vertigo-games.com/vertigo-games-joins-koch-media-adding-vr-gaming-to-the-groups-global-network/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. ↑ Jamie Feltham (2021-02-02). "Vertigo Games Buys VR Arcade Platform SpringboardVR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vertigo-games-springboardvr/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. ↑ Scott Hayden (2025-01-31). "'Metro Awakening' Studio Vertigo Games Sells Off VR Arcade Content Platform SpringboardVR". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/metro-awakening-studio-vertigo-games-sells-off-vr-arcade-content-platform-springboardvr/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Vertigo Games Acquires VR Game Development Studio Force Field". Vertigo Games. 2021-08-05. https://www.vertigo-games.com/vertigo-games-acquires-vr-game-development-studio-force-field/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. ↑ "Embracer Group acquires Force Field". Embracer Group. 2021-08-05. https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-acquires-force-field/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  16. ↑ Jamie Feltham (2021-08-04). "Vertigo Games Acquires Force Field, Working On 'AAA VR Game'". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vertigo-games-acquires-force-field/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Metro Awakening Out Now". Vertigo Games. 2024-11-07. https://www.vertigo-games.com/metro-awakening-out-now/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  18. ↑ Scott Hayden (2025-02-17). "Post-apocalyptic VR Shooter 'Metro Awakening' Failed to Meet Revenue Goals, Parent Company Reveals". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/metro-awakening-underperforms-embracer-group-quest-3-steam-psvr-2/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Scott Hayden (2026-06-05). "Vertigo Games Shutters 'Metro Awakening' Studio Amid "challenging" VR Market". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/vertigo-games-shuts-down-metro-awakening-studio/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Games". Vertigo Games. https://www.vertigo-games.com/games/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  21. ↑ "VR Action FPS After the Fall Lets Players Start Their Journey on December 9". Vertigo Games. 2021-10-28. https://www.vertigo-games.com/vr-action-fps-after-the-fall-lets-players-start-their-journey-on-december-9/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  22. ↑ Harry Baker (2023-08-22). "The 7th Guest VR Releases This October For Quest, PSVR 2 and PC VR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/the-7th-guest-vr-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pete Austin (2023-12-05). "Arizona Sunshine 2 Review: Reanimating A Dying Genre In The Best Possible Way". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/arizona-sunshine-2-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  24. ↑ Pete Austin (2024-10-17). "Arizona Sunshine Remake Review: Proof You Can't Keep a Good Zombie Down". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/arizona-sunshine-remake-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  25. ↑ Henry Stockdale (2025-10-30). "Thief VR: Legacy Of Shadow Gets December Launch On Quest, Steam and PS VR2". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/thief-vr-legacy-of-shadow-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  26. ↑ "The Thief Franchise Returns with Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, Out Now". Vertigo Games. 2025-12-04. https://www.vertigo-games.com/the-thief-franchise-returns-with-thief-vr-legacy-of-shadow-out-now/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  27. ↑ Harry Baker (2021-12-01). "After The Fall Coming To VR Arcades On December 9". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/after-the-fall-arcades/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
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