Survios

In March 2012, motivated by a shared vision of what VR home entertainment can and should be—active and social—University of Southern California students Nathan Burba, James Iliff, Graham Matuszewski and Alex Silkin launched Project Holodeck. Together, they built the first full-body and portable VR system and developed Wild Skies, a co-op tech demo featuring Active VR gameplay, full-body tracking, and avatar embodiment.{{cite web|url=https://gigaom.com/2014/04/24/how-survios-plans-to-make-virtual-reality-gaming-a-full-body-experience/|title=How Survios Plans to Make Virtual Reality Gaming A Full Body Experience|publisher=Gigaom|first=Signe |last=Brewster|date=April 24, 2014|access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/11/survios-raw-data-is-a-frenetic-two-player-co-op-shooter-on-the-htc-vive-2/|title=Survios' Raw Data is a Frenetic Two-Player Co-Op Shooter For The HTC Vive VR Headset|publisher=Venture Beat|first=Dean |last=Takashi |date=March 11, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.roadtovr.com/survios-breaks-stealth-with-debut-of-action-packed-title-headed-to-rift-and-vive/|title=Survios Breaks Stealth With Debut of Action-Packed Title Headed to Rift and Vive|publisher=RoadtoVR|first=Ben |last=Lang|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

In 2013, the students officially founded Survios and began demoing its first virtual reality project, Zombies on the Holodeck, a noir, horde-based survival shooter demoed on a prototype Oculus Rift head-mounted display (HMD) that used a variety of tracking devices for improved immersion, including PlayStation Move controllers and Razer Hydra controllers from Sixense.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/23/5238118/virtual-reality-check-oculus-rift-hardware-ecosystem|title=Virtual reality check: why controllers haven't caught up to the Oculus Rift|publisher=TheVerge|first=Sean |last=Hollister|date=December 23, 2013|access-date=April 20, 2021}} The project won three Proto Awards for ‘Best Overall Experience’, ‘Most Transportive’ and ‘Best Interaction Design’.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/zombies-on-the-holodeck-best-overall-proto-awards-nvidia-geforce-gtx-980/|title=Zombies on the Holodeck Wins 'Best Overall' at Proto Awards, Winners Took Home Nvidia's New GTX 980 GPU|publisher=RoadToVR|first=Ben |last=Lang|date=September 24, 2014|access-date=April 20, 2021}} In 2014, Survios secured $4 million in funding from Shasta Ventures, Mavent Partners, World Innovation Lab, and Felicis Ventures, allowing the studio to continue developing virtual reality content and technology.

Survios announced its first game, Raw Data, in December 2015 for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The game features a variety of weapons for players to use against hordes of robotic enemies and touted interactive environments and destructible objects. It also included full-body positional tracking, avatar embodiment, and cooperative multiplayer.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/survios-breaks-stealth-with-debut-of-action-packed-title-headed-to-rift-and-vive/|title=Survios Breaks Stealth With Debut of Action-packed Title Headed to Rift and Vive|publisher=RoadToVR|first=Ben |last=Lang|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2021}} Prior to release, the media praised Raw Data for its immersive gameplay experience, which TechCrunch hailed as "Perhaps the most advanced first person shooter in VR."{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/12/jack-me-back-in/|title=Survios' First-Person Shooter Shows How Addictive VR Will Be|publisher=TechCrunch|first=Josh |last=Constine|date=February 12, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2021}} After months of event demos and alpha tests, Survios released Raw Data on Steam Early Access for HTC Vive in July 2016. A version for Oculus Rift+Touch was added shortly thereafter with support for cross-platform co-op.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/02/27/survios-takes-raw-data-to-oculus-rift-with-cross-platform-multiplayer/|title=Survios takes Raw Data to Oculus Rift with cross-platform multiplayer|publisher=VentureBeat|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=February 27, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Raw Data was the first VR game to reach $1 million in sales one month after its early access release as well as the first VR game to become a #1 Top Seller on Steam across all games. In addition to its financial success, Raw Data also garnered critical acclaim.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/survios-raw-data-may-be-vrs-first-hit-game-with-more-1-million-in-sales/|title=Survios' Raw Data may be VR's first hit game, with more $1 million in sales|publisher=CNET|first=Ian|last=Sherr|date=September 16, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

In 2016, MGM and Lux Capital joined Shasta Ventures, Danhua Capital, Shanda Holdings Felicis Ventures and Dentsu Ventures in two rounds of funding for Survios, which provided $50 million to resume development on projects and further expansion.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/13/virtual-reality-game-studio-survios-raises-50m-from-mgm-and-others/|title=VR game studio Survios raises $50 million led by MGM, Lux Capitol|publisher=TechCrunch|first=Lucas|last=Matney|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2021}} In January 2017, the company announced Raw Data Arcade, an exclusive version of the game that was designed with arcades in mind.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/13/virtual-reality-game-studio-survios-raises-50m-from-mgm-and-others/|title=Survios to launch Raw Data game in virtual reality arcades|publisher=VentureBeat|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Sprint Vector, the company-owned VR racing game, was announced at GDC 2017. Sprint Vector introduced Survios’ "Fluid Locomotion," which allowed players to simulate walking, running, climbing, leaping and flying at high speeds by swinging and moving their arms, providing an alternative to moving in VR beyond teleporting or blinking through environments.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/survios-new-title-sprint-vector-could-be-a-watershed-moment-for-vr-locomotion/|title=Survios' New Title 'Sprint Vector' Could be a Watershed Moment for VR Locomotion|publisher=RoadToVR|first=Ben|last=Lang|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2021}} The game launched February 2, 2018 for PCVR and PSVR. It received high praise from critics due to its polish, content offerings, and ambitious locomotion systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-20-sprint-vector-review|title=Sprint Vector review - intensely physical VR racer|publisher=Eurogamer|first=Ian|last=Higton|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

In December 2017, Survios announced its newest game alongside Apple and their powerful new iMac Pro, revealing Electronauts, a dynamic, immersive music creation experience designed for music lovers of all skill levels.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/03/everything-a-vr-studio-had-to-do-to-port-to-the-mac/|title=Everything a VR studio had to do to port to the Mac|publisher=ArsTechnica|first=Samuel|last=Axon|date=March 28, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Survios officially announced at CES 2018 that it would open up its own VR arcade in Torrance, Calif. The studio also announced that it partnered with theaters and retailers to host VR Pods under the codename "Tesseract," which were designed for easy and social gameplay experiences: players can play the game as they see it, however the glass projects allow spectators to see the action as well.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/survios-vr-arcade-1202660361/|title=Survios to Open VR Arcade in Torrance, Partner With Theaters, Retailers on VR Pods|work=Variety|first=Janko|last=Roettgers|date=January 10, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

In May 2019, Survios unveiled its new project for that year called Battlewake, a pirate-themed naval combat game akin to Twisted Metal where players engage in fights on the high seas.{{cite web|url=https://uploadvr.com/survios-battlewake-announce/|title=Battlewake High-Seas Combat Game From Survios Releases This Summer|publisher=UploadVR|first=Ian|last=Hamilton|date=May 7, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}} In June 2020, Square Enix, Taito, and Survios announced a brand new game set in the Bubble Bobble universe.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/puzzle-bobble-vr-vacation-odyssey-150000885.html|title=Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey launches for Oculus Quest on May 20|publisher=Yahoo|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=April 15, 2021|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

On October 27, 2021, the Company announced the launch of 2124 Publishing. The new publishing division intends to offer independent game developers services such as financing, live services, and platform relations. The new division will be run by TQ Jefferson.{{cite web|url=https://gamingindustry247.com/vr-game-developer-survios-launches-2124-publishing/|title=VR Game Developer Survios launches 2124 Publishingdate|date=October 27, 2021}} The first game to be published by 2124 will be RPG Romancelvania: BATchelor’s Curse developed by The Deep End Games. The title is scheduled for release in 2022.

In recent years, Survios established itself as a home for licensed VR games and experiences, starting in March 2018 when the studio secured the license for MGM's Creed film, a spin-off of the Rocky franchise. Creed: Rise to Glory is a VR boxing game that allows players to box as titular character Adonis Creed and his journey to become a world champion fighter.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/survios-creed-rise-to-glory-vr-game-1202727282/|title=Survios & AMC Unveil 'The Walking Dead' VR Game, Launching Fall 2019|work=Variety|first=Janko|last=Roettgers|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Survios announced in May 2019 that it secured the license to "AMC’s The Walking Dead". The partnership between Survios and AMC resulted in The Walking Dead: Onslaught, a VR game set in the universe of the TV Show starring Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/survios-walking-dead-onslaught-vr-game/|title=Survios Partners with MGM on 'Creed: Rise to Glory' VR Game|publisher=RoadToVR|first=Scott|last=Hayden|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

The company also developed a VR experience for HBO’s highly successful Westworld TV series. Westworld: Awakening, a five-chapter arc set during the show’s second season, uses themes and beats from the show to immerse players further into its universe using VR technology. Survios later released the game in the same year on August 20, 2019 for Viveport and SteamVR.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/hbo-westworld-awakening-vr-game-survious-1203306086/|title=HBO Launches 'Westworld Awakening' VR Game With Survios|work=Variety|first=Janko|last=Roettgers|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

After developing virtual reality games and experiences, Survios began exploring ways to expand their games to a wider swath of players around the world. The initiative began first with the announcement of Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions, a boxing game set in the Creed and Rocky franchise, playable on traditional consoles and platforms outside of VR, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendoenthusiast.com/big-rumble-boxing-creed-champions-is-your-rocky-fix-on-switch/|title=Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is your Rocky fix on Switch|work=Variety|first=John|last=Friscia|date=August 26, 2020|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

In October 2020, the company raised $16.7 million to continue development on virtual reality and cross-reality-based experiences. This third round of funding included and was led by Irongrey, Woori Technology, KNET Venture Fund, Seoul Investment Partners, Shasta Ventures, Lux Capital, and Samsung Next.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/10/02/the-deanbeat-the-walking-dead-onslaught-creator-survios-raises-16-7-million-for-vr-games/|title=Survios raises $16.7M for VR games|work=Variety|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=October 2, 2020|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

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Category:Companies based in Los Angeles

Category:American companies established in 2013

Category:Video game companies established in 2013

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game companies based in California

Category:Privately held companies based in California

Category:2013 establishments in California