Modest early access Quest game I am a cat appeared within a few months and went viral on social media, with videos showing the cat's antics. We reached out to developer New Folder Games to learn more about the recipe for success.
I am a catIt is a Quest game developed by New Folder Games that has achieved significant success, although it is still in Early Access (formerly 'App Lab'). After just a year in development and less than five months in Early Access, the $15 game has amassed nearly 40,000 user reviews with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
This puts it far ahead among big-budget productions in terms of both ratings and review scores. Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (3.9k reviews, 4.3 rating), Resident Evil 4 VR (12,000 reviews, 4.7 rating), Wrath of Asgard II (4.8K reviews, 4.2 rating) and much more.
The game's rapid growth is apparently thanks to the strong viral momentum provided by the new and somewhat humorous role-playing game. You can easily find individual videos of the game with millions or tens of millions of views on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. The game is also another example of the growing trend (and apparent demand) for VR games featuring arm-based movement.
I am a cat It is not the studio's only successful project. Two other notable games, both released within months I am a catIt also found very strong interest and high ratings.
I am Security It has 12k reviews (also in Early Access) and a rating of 4.8 out of 5. Titans Clinic It has a respectable 5K reviews and a 4.8 rating.
Having one highly successful and two highly successful Quest games released in the same year is a strong argument. I am a cat allure is more than a coincidence; This studio has a clear understanding of what a portion of Quest users are looking for and has created a repeatable strategy to deliver it.
But it took a lot of experimentation to get there. If there's one thing that's clearly defined New Folder Games up to this point, it's the studio's ability to experiment quickly. The titles mentioned above are just three out of nine (yes nine) Adventure games published by the studio last year… same month:
Many of the studio's games are built around pretty 'crazy' rigs, which are the exact opposite of what you'd think VR gamers would be looking for. But it seems I am a cat– the single most resonant of the group of actors playing from an explicitly non-human perspective. Maybe it's because players are familiar with how cats behave, but are uniquely fascinated by the opportunity to see the world through their eyes and interact with it — at least in a funny, playful way.
So how did New Folder Games get here and where is it going?
The studio tells The Road to VR He said New Folder Games was founded in Cyprus in 2019 and employs about 15 people, most of whom work remotely.
“Idea I am a cat It comes from our love for pets, especially cats; every team member has a cat. During the conversation, one of our team members said: 'What if I were a cat in VR? The studio says there will be a claw instead of a hand, and boom, it all comes together.
Development I am a cat It started in the first quarter of 2023. Nearly a year later, the game was released in Early Access. Five months after its release, the game has garnered more reviews than the vast majority of other Quest games.
“We believe this is the key.” I am a cat Popularity is people's love for pets, especially cats. There also aren't a lot of fun VR games out there, which makes it stand out,” the studio said matter-of-factly.
As for the future of gaming? The studio plans to add more content before its full launch in late 2024.
“We plan to release the full game with additional locations, mechanics, quests, and characters around December 2024. We will continue to support the game with new content and exciting things. “Our vision for version 1.0 is a highly polished game filled with rich content for players to enjoy.”
Right now I am a cat It's only available on Quest, but the studio says it plans to release the game on Steam, PSVR 2, and Vision Pro as well.
Despite I am a cat seems to be the studio's highest priority, launched later I am Security It's also attracting attention, and the studio says it's continuing to develop on this game, as well as working on a “new secret project.”
New Folder Games says that for now, the studio is focusing its attention on these two games and the unannounced project. The Road to VR We may not have seen the last of the rapid prototyping strategy.
“Almost everyone is working on this right now. I am a cat title. But there's still a chance we'll break up [into groups] and publish nine more books within a year!” says the studio.