Daniel Mercer
Studio Achievements: Early Successes with PSVR and Oculus Quest
Polyarc, renowned for developing the acclaimed virtual reality titles Moss and Moss: Book II, has officially shut down, as announced on the studio’s LinkedIn profile. Alongside this announcement, a reverse recruiting sheet indicated that at least 29 former employees are now seeking new job opportunities.
In their farewell message, Polyarc reflected, “After nearly 12 years experiencing the exhilarating highs and lows of game development, our journey has reached its conclusion.” They expressed gratitude for the years spent together and the joy of creating memorable experiences for players. “It has been an honor to work alongside such talented individuals, and we thank everyone at Polyarc for the incredible memories we’ve shared.”
The Seattle-based studio gained popularity with its Moss series, which captivated players through its innovative blend of traditional action-adventure gameplay and a unique camera perspective that allowed gamers to explore diorama-like environments while controlling Quill, the mouse hero. Polyarc’s titles became essential offerings across various virtual reality platforms. Moss debuted on PlayStation VR and was later adapted as a launch title for the Oculus Quest. Following its success, Moss: Book II was also released on PSVR, Quest, SteamVR, and Pico. the studio expanded its portfolio by releasing one of the few VR titles for the Apple Vision Pro, a multiplayer strategy game titled Glassbreakers.
In May 2026, Polyarc ventured beyond virtual reality with Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a compilation of the Moss series reimagined for non-VR gameplay. While the sales performance of this title remains unclear, it appears that it did not generate sufficient revenue to sustain the studio. A significant factor contributing to their closure may be the evolving landscape of the VR market, which has increasingly posed challenges for launching new projects. At the beginning of the year, Meta shifted focus from the metaverse to AI products, resulting in the closure of several of its VR studios. This pivot likely made securing funding for new VR games even more difficult.
Despite the studio’s closure, all of Polyarc’s titles are still available for purchase. If you own a VR headset that has been unused, these games are definitely worth experiencing.
