Rec Room is a virtual reality, online video game with an integrated game creation system developed and published by Rec Room Inc. (formerly known as Against Gravity Corp) playable on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5, Oculus Quest 1/2, Apple Devices, and Android 7.1 and up. It was released for Microsoft Windows in June 2016, PlayStation 4 (with PSVR support) in November 2017,[1] Oculus Quest in May 2019,[2] iOS in November 2019, Oculus Quest 2 in October 2020, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in December 2020, Android in August 2021, and PlayStation 5 in December 2021.

Rec Room
Developer(s)	Rec Room Inc.
Publisher(s)	Rec Room Inc.
Composer(s)	Cameron Brown, VotaVader, John Bevis, Slide20XX
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation VR, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2,Pico 4, Apple Devices, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android
Release	Microsoft Windows June 1, 2016 PlayStation 4 November 21, 2017 Oculus Quest May 21, 2019 Apple Devices November 25, 2019 Oculus Quest 2 October 13, 2020 Xbox One / Xbox Series X/S December 3, 2020 Android August 5, 2021 Full Release September 2, 2021 PlayStation 5 December 9, 2021
Genre(s)	Game creation system, massively multiplayer online
Mode(s)	Singleplayer, Multiplayer

Gameplay

A hub room (called the “Rec Center”) vaguely resembles the lobby of a YMCA or other recreational centers (thus earning the game's title of Rec Room) with doors that lead to various games called Rec Room Originals or RROs and featured user-generated rooms.

The game can optionally be played on a virtual reality headset, specifically using SteamVR, Oculus, or PlayStation VR. In virtual reality mode, the game uses full 3D motion via the motion capture system of a virtual reality headset and two hand-held motion controllers, which are required to pick up and handle objects in the game world, including balls, weapons, construction tools, and other objects. Players can explore the space around them within the confines of their physical floor-space while roaming further by using the controller buttons to teleport a short distance, with minimal or no virtual reality sickness. A “walking” mode enables players to move continuously rather than teleporting; however, this poses a higher risk of motion sickness.[3]

When creating rooms, players can use the Maker Pen, a tool resembling a hot glue gun, that can be used to draw shapes in 3D. Players can also code in Circuits, which is Rec Room's programming language.

Game modes

Rec Room consists of separate built-in multiplayer games, which are known as “Rec Room Originals”. The game includes first-person shooters, a Battle Royale game, cooperative action-adventure games, a Pictionary-like game, and various sports games. Rec Room also provides in-game tools for user-generated content,[4] which led to the creation of many user-generated experiences.[5]

Also in Rec Room Creators can pay for a monthly subscription called Rec Room Plus. This monthly subscription lets them do many things. They can even sell their own user-generated content. They sell this content for in-game currency. This currency then can be transferred to money in real life. This lets in-game creators get paid with real money.

Music

Most of the music found in the game's "Rec Room Originals" is made by Cameron Brown, popularly known as Gribbly in-game, with a few exceptions being VotaVader, John Bevis, Slide20XX.[6]

Development

Seattle-based development studio Rec Room Inc (formerly Against Gravity Corp) was co-founded in April 2016 by Nick Fajt, Cameron Brown, Dan Kroymann, Bilal Orhan, Josh Wehrly, and John Bevis.[7] Prior to that, CEO Nick Fajt worked as a program manager on the HoloLens team at Microsoft. Dan Kroymann worked on the same team after working on the Xbox team. Rec Room Inc.′s CCO Cameron Brown also worked at Microsoft as HoloLens Creative Director.

In 2016 and early 2017, the company raised $5 million in funding for the development of Rec Room and its player community. According to CEO Nick Fajt, the company will keep Rec Room free to download.[8]

In 2017, Rec Room's “Junior Mode” was COPPA-certified by Samet Privacy.[9]

In June 2019, Rec Room Inc. announced that the company raised an additional $24 million over two rounds of funding.,[10] and in December 2020, Rec Room Inc. announced additional $20 million in funding.[11]

In March 2021, Rec Room Inc. announced another funding round of $100 million with a valuation of $1.25 billion leading to its unicorn status.[12][13]

In December 2021, Rec Room Inc. announced that they raised $145 million during another funding round, bringing the studio's valuation up to $3.5 billion.

Reception

Dan Ackerman, writing for CNET, described Rec Room as VR's killer app.[14]

In January 2017, Ars Technica reported that trolling and harassment in Rec Room was a problem.[15]

In June 2017 MIT Technology Review contributor Rachel Metz described it as a great example of VR's potential for social interaction while criticizing its underdeveloped anti-abuse features.[16]

Filmmaker Joyce Wong described it as her choice of “most interesting piece of art in 2017”.[17]

References

External links

• Official website