AEXLAB, the creative team behind the virtual reality shooter Vail, has taken a step forward in their development journey by launching a crowd-investment campaign. This unique approach is aimed at fueling the continued growth of the game, which has already generated over $5.5 million in revenue thanks to its loyal base of more than 300,000 players on PC VR and Quest platforms.
This venture shifts away from traditional crowdfunding methods where backers typically receive a product or perk in return for their financial support. Instead, AEXLAB, based in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, is embracing an equity crowd-investment model to secure ongoing financial backing for Vail.
Much like what Virtuix successfully did for its Omni One VR treadmill last year, AEXLAB is inviting individuals to become stakeholders in the company by purchasing common stock. Details on their investment page indicate they’re open to investments starting at a minimum of $1,000, with each share priced currently at $36.52.
It’s worth noting that shares in private companies, like AEXLAB, are generally considered illiquid. This means there’s no straightforward market for buying and selling them akin to public stock exchanges. Investors would typically see a return from their investment under two main circumstances: if the studio is acquired by a larger company or if it decides to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Both are typically long-term prospects, as outlined in the studio’s FAQ, which estimates potential outcomes in “approximately 5-10 years” or possibly even longer.
Predicting the pace of XR (Extended Reality) industry growth is anyone’s game at this point, but AEXLAB appears to be targeting individuals who are optimistic not just about a boom in the XR space, but also confident in the studio’s capabilities to steer through this anticipated expansion.
Expressing gratitude and enthusiasm, AEXLAB shared, “We’ve built something extraordinary with your support, and it’s important to us to give longstanding community members like you the chance to be part of this next chapter. This is your opportunity to join us as we scale VAIL VR to heights previously only dreamed of.”
As for where Vail could potentially soar, the game has already made waves since hitting SteamVR and Quest earlier this year. By adopting a hybrid model that blends free-to-play elements with paid features, it invites players to explore its Citadel location, engage in 1v1 duels, and experiment with various systems and weapons without charge, while offering full multiplayer content for purchase. This formula appears to be resonating well within the gaming community.
Currently, Vail boasts impressive ratings with a 4.8 out of 5 on the Horizon Store for Quest, based on feedback from over 13,000 reviewers, and enjoys a ‘Very Positive’ overall rating from more than 2,300 reviewers on Steam.
