PSVR 2 Cancels ‘FRENZIES’ Free-to-Play Shooter, Teases Upcoming Announcements

nDreams, the creative minds behind the free-to-play arena shooter FRENZIES, have decided that the game will fully launch later this year, moving out of its early access phase. However, they’ve changed their initial plans and will not be releasing it on PSVR 2 as earlier anticipated.

The studio released a statement explaining their decision and hinted at other developments for PS VR2 enthusiasts:

“We’re thrilled to share that FRENZIES will be available for free once it transitions out of Early Access later this year! Since its debut on Meta Quest, we’ve been amazed by the player response to FRENZIES and its unique brand of explosive fun, and we aim to enhance that experience as we complete Early Access.

We’re dedicating our efforts to perfecting the FRENZIES experience on Meta Quest and, unfortunately, will not be moving forward with a PS VR2 release. We understand that this may come as a letdown to those who were excited for it, but rest assured, we have some thrilling new PS VR2 announcements in the pipeline for you!

In the meantime, stay tuned for updates on FRENZIES as we unveil more of our Early Access roadmap in the weeks to come.”

FRENZIES initially launched in early access on Quest 2 and newer models in October 2024, delivering a quick and dynamic shooter experience with a variety of classic weapons and game modes wrapped in VR-native gameplay that’s both robust and engaging.

While PSVR 2 fans might be feeling disappointed about this shift, the decision seems quite strategic when considering the developer’s perspective.

The past year has seen a surge in younger audiences flocking to Quest, buoyed by the introduction of the cost-effective $300 Quest 3S. This change in demographic has, in turn, helped boost the demand for free-to-play content on this platform.

Samantha Ryan, Meta’s VP of Metaverse Content, mentioned earlier this year: “We foresee free-to-play (F2P) becoming a broadly feasible approach for developers, who’ve mostly relied on premium apps so far. But we believe F2P won’t completely replace premium apps—both models are poised to coexist.”

Additionally, navigating today’s challenging economic landscape means studios like nDreams are likely aiming to maximize their reach by focusing on their largest user base. Recently, the UK-based company merged its nDreams Studio Orbital and nDreams Studio to form a new internal team called ‘Compass’ after undergoing a round of layoffs.

Despite these shifts, nDreams remains a major player in the XR gaming world. They’ve crafted and published a wide array of top-tier VR games, including Vendetta Forever, Power Wash Simulator VR, Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord, Synapse, Fracked, Little Cities, and Phantom: Cover Ops, among others.