VR Pioneer and ‘Primal Hunt’ Developer Phaser Lock Interactive Closing Its Doors

Phaser Lock Interactive, the creators behind the Quest-exclusive Primal Hunt (2023) and several early PC VR games, has announced its closure. The studio cited the "challenging economic climate and the current state of the gaming industry" as reasons for this difficult decision.

Since its inception in 2015, the Austin, Texas-based VR studio has produced a series of engaging titles, including the bow-shooter Twisted Arrow (2016) and strategic games like Final Approach (2016) and Final Assault (2019). This year, they released Primal Hunt, a dinosaur-hunting adventure that brought the bow mechanics from Twisted Arrow into a Turok-inspired solo experience, exclusively for Quest.

Despite Primal Hunt earning a decent 4.3 out of 5 user rating on the Horizon Store, the game struggled to capture a wide audience. At the time of writing, only 201 users have reviewed this mature-rated game, which was priced at $30.

Not long after Primal Hunt’s release on Quest, Phaser Lock shifted its focus. They began developing a multi-player version of the game for Roblox. The free-to-play iteration attracted significant attention, achieving over 5.4 million visits. However, there has been no update since April 2024, casting uncertainty over Primal Hunt’s future.

Adding to the uncertainty, co-founder and former executive Michael Daubert left the company in June 2024, as noted on LinkedIn, leaving fans questioning the studio’s next moves.

The studio released an emotional statement on their website:

END OF AN ERA

It is with profound sadness that we announce the closure of Phaser Lock Interactive. Despite our persistent efforts to realize our creative visions, the tough economic landscape and the gaming industry’s current state have rendered it impossible for us to continue. We extend our deepest gratitude to our loyal fans and the incredible community that has supported us on this journey. Your passion, encouragement, and belief in our projects have been invaluable. As this chapter concludes, the memories we’ve created together will endure. Thank you for being an intrinsic part of our story.