Is MOSS up to something new?

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

Not sure if this belongs in off topic, but can anyone explain what these strange videos mean?
https://youtu.be/wRGVryfUKFk
https://youtu.be/lUVUGk9IWbI

[Shepardus]

MOSS tweeted earlier that they're recruiting people interested in working with UE4 and VR.

[AxelMill]

VR

Ewww.
I mean, as long as they stay afloat, I'm perfectly okay with them doing whatever they want, even H visual novels, but still, eww.

[GSK]

There's a lot of money being thrown at VR right now and a lot of struggling mid-tier/contract console studios are finding work on VR projects as other markets retreat.

I don't think MOSS is a large enough target for acquisition but both 8ing and Gulti have been bought out and put to work on VR projects within the last year.

[Durandal]

Are game developers aware that VR gaming is a fledgling market and that making VR games will most likely sell jack, or are they dabbling in the unknown for other reasons?

[Glick]

Are game developers aware that VR gaming is a fledgling market and that making VR games will most likely sell jack, or are they dabbling in the unknown for other reasons?

They're definitely aware. The idea at this point isn't to sell a lot.

Building (good) games for VR requires you to rethink a lot of game design from the ground up. Old UIs don't work, old presentation models don't work, and locomotion is completely unsolved at this point (no, point and click movement is not the solution).

Studios are trying to get in on the ground floor and gain experience in understanding/solving these problems. If you wait to start development when VR has matured, you're insanely behind and are going to get crushed by anyone who invested in this experience.

For a mid-tier studio like this to invest, it's definitely a huge risk. You can definitely see why someone would want to take this risk, though.

[Ed Oscuro]

You can definitely see why someone would want to take this risk, though.

But if I was a small studio with limited chances to rebound from bad bets, and with core competencies elsewhere, why?

The payoff would just be one big title, probably poorly timed for the market penetration reason Durandal mentioned - I know VR headset shipments are set to explode but we're still talking low millions I think - so either this is a long term bet, or somebody else reaps the rewards. For example, if somebody solves locomotion now, everybody else will profit from that.

In any case, best luck to them!

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

Raiden VI in UE4, please make it happen, MOSS