**Origins: A Passion Project by Kerestell Smith**
Gorilla Tag, the virtual reality game that has taken the gaming world by storm, had humble beginnings. Created by Kerestell Smith, known as LemmingVR, Gorilla Tag started as a passion project for this talented developer. Smith was previously a star in the esports community of Echo VR, a zero-gravity game created by Meta’s studio, Ready at Dawn. However, when Echo VR was shut down, Smith decided to channel his talents into creating Gorilla Tag.
Initially launched on the App Lab in February 2021, Gorilla Tag gained popularity and made its way to the Meta Quest Store in 2022. The game, available on both Meta Quest and Steam, features a gorilla character navigating a jungle environment using VR controllers. While the graphics may not be groundbreaking, the gameplay proved to be addictive.
**Growth: A Phenomenon in the VR World**
Since its launch, Gorilla Tag has seen exponential growth. Another Axiom COO David Yee revealed that the game has attracted over 10 million players and generated an impressive $100 million in revenue. The game reached peaks of three million monthly active users and one million daily active users. It also became the first app to surpass 110,000 reviews on the Meta Quest Store, solidifying its position as the most popular game on the platform.
One of the factors contributing to Gorilla Tag’s success is its social multiplayer gameplay. Yee described how the game became a “third place,” a virtual space where people gather and interact. On average, players spend nearly 60 minutes in each play session, double the previous record. At any given time, there are over 90,000 concurrent players, highlighting the game’s popularity.
Gorilla Tag’s success extends beyond gameplay statistics. The game’s Discord community boasts over 350,000 members, and it has garnered more than 10 billion views on TikTok. Another Axiom, the development studio behind Gorilla Tag, has grown to over 100 employees who continuously update the game every few weeks, ensuring its freshness and maintaining high retention rates. New features, including swimming, zip lines, and climbing ropes, have been added to enhance the gameplay experience.
**Perception Problems: The Untapped Potential of VR**
Despite Gorilla Tag’s immense success, there seems to be a narrative that virtual reality (VR) is in decline or overshadowed by other extended reality (XR) technologies. However, Yee emphasizes that VR is thriving and in a healthy state. He believes that part of the reason why VR’s success goes unnoticed is the lack of data and discussion surrounding it.
Another Axiom has not heavily relied on paid marketing or influencer campaigns, suggesting that the game’s popularity is primarily driven by word-of-mouth among its target audience, which predominantly consists of players in their 20s and younger. Yee urges industry professionals to reframe their perspective on VR, emphasizing that it offers a vast market opportunity, often referred to as a “blue ocean.”
Looking ahead, Another Axiom is considering expanding Gorilla Tag to other platforms such as Apple Vision Pro, aiming to reach as many players as possible. Yee envisions a future where VR games can succeed on various devices and platforms.
In a gaming market where many companies have faced setbacks and layoffs, Another Axiom stands out as a success story. Despite challenges, the studio continues to hire new talent for its remote team. Yee attributes this resilience to the different usage patterns of VR, highlighting how VR audiences behave differently from traditional gaming audiences.
Yee concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the potential of VR games and the need for developers to have access to data and market insights. Gorilla Tag’s success serves as proof that VR has a thriving ecosystem and can achieve remarkable results, even in a space where major game companies have yet to fully explore.
As the VR industry continues to evolve, Gorilla Tag stands as a testament to the power of immersive and social gameplay experiences, captivating millions of players and generating significant revenue. With its unique blend of simplicity and addictiveness, Gorilla Tag has become a shining example of how VR games can flourish in today’s gaming landscape.
