New ‘Gorilla Tag’ Mode and $2.6M Funding for ‘Digigods’ Highlight UGC’s Importance in Social VR

VR enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to as one of the biggest titles, Gorilla Tag, has officially incorporated a previously tested level creation mode known as ‘Monke Blocks’ into the game permanently. This feature invites players to team up, build their imaginative worlds, and dive right into those creations together. Meanwhile, in the wider VR landscape, developers of the new social VR game Digigods have managed to secure a substantial $2.6 million in funding. These moves highlight a growing trend: user-generated content is becoming a crucial element for the success of social VR platforms.

When you look at popular social VR games like VRChat, Rec Room, Roblox, and Horizon Worlds, a common thread emerges: they all thrive on user-generated content. There seems to be truth in the idea that communities that create together, stay together.

On the surface, Gorilla Tag might appear to be a straightforward multiplayer game. However, its dynamic multiplayer system, which lets players jump from one game space to another, combined with its free-form gameplay, transforms it into much more than just a game—it’s a vibrant social hangout.

With the introduction of the ‘Monke Blocks’ feature as a staple mode, Gorilla Tag is diving deeper into the social VR waters. Players can now construct their own environments to explore and enjoy with friends.

This system lets players snap together blocks to create new levels, which they can then play in as if they are in any regular round of Gorilla Tag. While some players might be busy building, others can shrink down to explore these burgeoning landscapes at the same time, adding a fun dimension to the process.

To make this feature profitable, players have the option to purchase additional block sets to tweak and customize their builds. Using Gorilla Tag’s premium currency, ‘Shiny Rocks’, the inaugural collection of medieval castle-themed pieces will set players back 6,000 SR, equivalent to about $30.

Such creative, immersive systems, often categorized as user-generated content (UGC), have become fundamental to the rise of popular social VR experiences, both fresh and established.

Meanwhile, Another Axion, the creative force behind Gorilla Tag, is set to roll out Orion Drift. This new game will similarly empower players with an expansive virtual playground to explore and shape their experiences, hinting at future features where players could create their own mini-games and rules.

Earlier this year, we noted that UGC-centered platform Yeeps had grown to 360,000 monthly active users. Now, Digigods is making strides too, with Squido Studio, its developer, raising $3 million from partners like Triptyq Capital, Grishin Robotics, and Hartmann Capital, to name a few, as reported by VentureBeat.

Launched in April 2024, Digigods has attracted 100,000 unique players and has garnered over 10,600 reviews, boasting an impressive average of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Although it remains in Early Access, its trajectory suggests that it could see notable growth post its full launch.

Clearly, UGC is a unifying factor among thriving social VR games. However, a division exists between the classics and the newcomers: how players move within these games.

Older social VR games like Rec Room, VRChat, and Horizon Worlds rely on traditional thumbstick or teleport movement. In contrast, newer titles like Orion Drift, Yeeps, and Digigods embrace the arm-based locomotion style popularized by Gorilla Tag, distinguishing it as the bridge between old and new VR gaming paradigms.

Interestingly, this difference in movement styles seems to reflect a shift in player demographics. The newer games, with their energetic arm-based movements, tend to attract more of Gen Z, while the more classic locomotion styles appear to resonate better with millennials and older players.