AEXLAB, the creative force behind the VR shooter “Vail” released in 2024, has kicked off a new crowd-investment initiative to bolster the game’s continued development. Impressively, the multiplayer shooter has already achieved over $5.5 million in revenue, thanks to its more than 300,000 unique players scattered across PC VR and Quest platforms.
Instead of going the traditional crowdfunding route where backers receive a product in exchange for their support, this Miami-based studio is taking an equity crowd-investment approach. This method is designed to draw in individuals willing to purchase common stock, aligning with how Virtuix managed the launch of its Omni One VR treadmill back in 2023. You can now become a part of AEXLAB’s journey with a minimum investment of $1,000, as mentioned on their investment page. Currently, the stock is priced at $36.52 per share.
It’s important to note that shares in private enterprises tend to lack liquidity, meaning there’s no convenient market for buying or selling them as there is for public stocks. Getting returns on such an investment hinges on one of two scenarios: either another company acquires the studio, or the studio itself goes public. Both paths are seen as long-term opportunities, often taking “approximately 5-10 years” or even longer, as highlighted in the studio’s FAQ.
While predicting the growth pace of XR technology is tricky, AEXLAB’s strategy clearly targets individuals who are confident in the rapid expansion of the XR industry and believe in the studio’s capacity to navigate through its complexities.
Reflecting on their journey, the studio expressed, “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.”
So, what potential does “Vail” hold? Since its debut on SteamVR and Quest earlier this year, it has embraced a unique hybrid model combining free-to-play and paid elements. It offers free access to its Citadel location, including 1v1 battles and a zone to experiment with various weapons and systems, while the full suite of multiplayer modes comes at a cost. This model appears to be hitting the mark.
As of now, the game proudly holds a [4.8/5] rating on the Horizon Store for Quest based on more than 13,000 user reviews, alongside a ‘Very Positive’ score on Steam from upwards of 2,300 user reviews.
