SideQuest and Creature Launch $1 Million Fund for Indie VR Developers
Shaun M Jooste 
SideQuest – the popular free VR store that has hosted Oculus and other VR games and helped countless VR titles like Gorilla Tag to grow communities and become big hits – is partnering up with Creature – the mixed reality developer/publisher label headed by industry veteran Doug North Cook – to launch a fund dedicated to supporting promising developers in the indie VR space. Worth approximately $1 million, it will be used to uncover VR gaming’s next hidden gems and expand the industry.
Starting August 18th, developers are invited to send pitches to Creature for funding consideration. Full details of the Indie Developer Fund, including how to apply, what to include in your pitch, and criteria for success, can be found here.
SideQuest and Creature Press Release
Today, VR content aggregator SideQuest has announced its partnership with VR studio and label, Creature to launch an indie VR fund worth $1 million. The fund – established by SideQuest and managed by Creature – will be used to support promising independent developers, uncover VR gaming’s next hidden gems, and expand the industry.
Developers are invited to send pitches to Creature from August 18, 2023 for funding consideration. Both SideQuest and Creature will support successful applicants throughout the journey to major platforms and beyond.
The fund was provided by SideQuest having been ring-fenced during their Series A investment expressly for this purpose; Creature will be responsible for management of the fund. Both SideQuest and Creature are excited for this opportunity to support VR content creation and the passionate developers growing the industry.
Creature makes for an ideal partner for SideQuest in this venture. Launching in January 2023 and led by industry veteran Doug North Cook, Creature is dedicated to sourcing and supporting the artists, designers, and developers unlocking new projects and possibilities in VR. Above all, they want to help developers build sustainable businesses while releasing outstanding games to the community – most of whom are very active on SideQuest.
With the Creature team’s experience working with some of VR’s highest-rated games (including titles like The Light Brigade by Funktronic Labs, Cubism by Thomas Van Bouwel, and Budget Cuts Ultimate by Neat Corporation) and SideQuest acting as a reliable proving ground for aspiring developers to grow their fanbase and test their creations, this is the perfect partnership to find the industry’s next big hits.
Full details of the Indie Developer Fund including how to apply, what to include in your pitch, and criteria for success can be found here.
Quote from the dev
“Since we started SideQuest, we’ve often been asked why we don’t sign/launch/release games ourselves. The simple answer is: we’ve never had the expertise to do it before,” says Orla Harris, SideQuest COO. “Championing developers has always been our focus, but we’ve needed time to learn, grow, and build relationships with industry experts. Doug North Cook and the Creature team are those experts. And now, we have the funding to back them up. Together, we’re poised to help more indie devs get their games released while expanding what VR can offer.”
“SideQuest has a great reputation for supporting developers as they work to find an audience prior to release on one of the major platforms. Games like Gorilla Tag, Ancient Dungeon VR, We Are One, and hundreds of others have benefitted from the community SideQuest has built,” says Doug North Cook, Creature CEO. “We know that the best VR games have yet to be discovered and that many of those games will come from unexpected places – like most of our current favorite VR games. The teams making those next great games will benefit from the collected experience, support, and funding that this collaboration will provide.”
About Creature
Founded in 2023, Creature is a VR-focused video game studio and label committed to revolutionizing the gaming industry through innovation and creativity. With a talented team of industry veterans and a portfolio of groundbreaking projects, Creature aims to build the future of play. In addition to developing its own games, Creature offers business development services to independent studios, empowering them to succeed in a competitive market. For press requests, please contact the team at [email protected].
About SideQuest
SideQuest is a place to get more apps for the Oculus Quest, as well as a completely safe way to enjoy some cutting-edge content in VR and expand the capability of your standalone VR headset. The VR content aggregator makes it easier for users to access content that is not yet available on the Oculus Store and as a proving ground for developers to validate their content and kick-start their communities. SideQuest is completely free for users and developers – and always will be – as it is deeply committed to supporting the VR industry. For press requests, please contact the team at [email protected].
Join the excitement!
the partnership between SideQuest and Creature marks an exciting milestone in the indie VR space. With the launch of the Indie Developer Fund, promising developers now have the opportunity to receive funding and support to bring their innovative VR games to the forefront. SideQuest’s proven track record of nurturing communities and Creature’s expertise in unlocking new projects make them the perfect partners to uncover VR gaming’s next hidden gems. Together, they are dedicated to expanding the industry and helping developers build sustainable businesses while releasing outstanding games to the passionate VR community.
This collaboration represents a significant step forward for SideQuest, as they leverage their expertise and relationships with industry experts to champion developers and offer them the opportunity to get their games released on major platforms. With the funding provided by SideQuest and managed by Creature, developers will have the resources they need to bring their visions to life.
The collective experience, support, and funding provided by this partnership will undoubtedly pave the way for the discovery of the best VR games, many of which will come from unexpected places. The future of VR gaming looks brighter than ever, thanks to the dedication and commitment of SideQuest and Creature.
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