In a bold move to push the boundaries of their VR shooter, Vail, AEXLAB has thrown open the doors to a crowd-investment campaign. This initiative aims to fuel the continued development of the game, already a favorite among over 300,000 players on PC VR and Quest platforms. What’s impressive is that the game has raked in more than $5.5 million in revenue so far.
Shaking things up in the crowdfunding world, the Miami-based team isn’t just promising early adopters cool gadgets but is instead offering a stake in the business. Drawing inspiration from Virtuix’s strategy for their Omni One VR treadmill last year, AEXLAB invites individuals to buy shares in the company. Currently, they’re accepting minimum investments of $1,000, with each share priced at $36.52, according to the info on their investment page.
Investing in private companies like AEXLAB comes with its quirks. These shares don’t have a ready marketplace for trading, unlike public stocks. So, if you’re looking at recouping your investment, there’s generally a long wait involved. You’re banking on a major move like AEXLAB being acquired by a bigger player or going public, which could take anywhere from five to ten years, as they note in their FAQ.
The world of extended reality (XR) promises a whirlwind of growth, and AEXLAB is hoping to attract those ready to place their bets on this exciting industry’s future. The studio’s strategy involves banking not only on XR’s upswing but also proving their mettle in capitalizing on this surge.
They’ve issued a heartfelt message to their backers: “With your backing, we’ve crafted something extraordinary. Now, as we prepare for the next chapter, we’re excited to invite you, our community, to climb even higher with VAIL VR. It’s a unique chance to join us on this journey.”
Just how high can Vail soar? Since its debut on SteamVR and Quest this year, Vail has embraced a hybrid model of free-to-play and paid content. Players can dive into its Citadel map freely, engage in 1v1 battles, and explore various features, while full access, including all multiplayer modes, comes at a price. This approach seems to hit the mark with gamers.
At this juncture, Vail is glowing with a 4.8 out of 5 rating on the Horizon Store for Quest, based on over 13,000 reviews. Meanwhile, on Steam, over 2,300 users have applauded it, giving it a ‘Very Positive’ rating. The buzz around Vail is certainly worth watching as it continues to scale new heights in the VR gaming world.
