Ramen VR

Ramen VR, a game development studio established in 2019, is the creator of the virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Zenith: Nexus. The company was founded by Andy Tsen and Lauren Frazier, who met in 2017 at the Oculus Launch Pad program and shared a vision for creating immersive VR experiences. Their combined backgrounds in technology and gaming, with Frazier having worked at Google and Unity and Tsen having experience in product management and engineering for mobile games, provided a strong foundation for their venture. Prior to Ramen VR, they collaborated on a VR game called Conjure Strike, which was nominated for a Unity award.

The company's flagship product, originally launched as Zenith: The Last City in January 2022, is a cross-platform VR MMORPG available on major platforms like Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, and SteamVR. Inspired by JRPGs and anime, the game features a vast open world, action-oriented combat, and social multiplayer elements. Upon launch, it quickly became a top-selling game on Steam and the Oculus store, demonstrating significant market demand. The business model initially relied on the upfront purchase of the game. However, facing challenges with player retention, Ramen VR transitioned to a free-to-play model in early 2024. The game is now known as Zenith: Nexus and includes a free-to-play mode called Infinite Realms alongside the original paid game, The Last City, which is available as downloadable content. This new strategy introduced a virtual currency, "Zennies," and a cosmetic shop to generate revenue.

Ramen VR's journey began with early funding from the founders' own pockets, followed by a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019 that raised approximately $280,000. The company also participated in the Y Combinator accelerator program. Significant financial milestones include a $10 million Series A funding round and a $35 million Series B round in March 2022, led by Anthos Capital and Dune Ventures. This funding was intended to expand the studio's team and develop Zenith into a broader gaming platform. Despite its initial success and substantial funding, the studio announced in 2024 that it would halt new development on Zenith due to financial losses, though the game's servers will remain active.

Keywords: VR gaming, MMORPG, virtual reality, game development, free-to-play, Y Combinator, Zenith, live service game, cross-platform, metaverse