NDreams explained

nDreams, Ltd.
Type:	Video game developer
Foundation:	^[1]
Location:	Farnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Founder:	Patrick O'Luanaigh
Industry:	Video games
Products:	Xi PlayStation Home content Facebook games/apps

nDreams is a company that develops and publishes video games. Based in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK, it was formed in August 2006 by former SCi and Eidos creative director, Patrick O'Luanaigh.^[2]

Since formation, the developer has worked on numerous projects for different video game platforms, initially PlayStation Home, the virtual world on Sony's PlayStation 3 console, where they grew to become one of the leading publishers.^[3]

From late 2013 it began working on content for virtual reality (VR) headsets, such as Sony's PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.^[4] The company has stated that they are now entirely focused on developing content for virtual reality.^[5]

On November 20, 2023, it was announced that Aonic completed the acquisition of nDreams for $110 million.^[6]

History

nDreams claimed to be one of the world's leading independent developers and publishers in PlayStation Home, the virtual world on Sony's PlayStation 3 console.^[7] The company created numerous games, virtual spaces and items for the platform between 2009 and 2014.^[8]

The first project created by nDreams for PlayStation Home was the world's first console-based and virtual world-based alternate reality game, Xi. Xi was released on March 23, 2009 and lasted a total of 12 weeks, taking place within PlayStation Home, across the web and in the real world.

nDreams next project for Home was a personal space called "The Pirate Galleon Apartment" which also released in 2009. This was the European Home's first personal space to have a mini-game with prizes.^[9] In 2010, nDreams released another personal space called "Musicality".^[10] In this space users could play a multiplayer music game.^[11] In 2011, nDreams released a new game space called "Aurora" where PlayStation Home users can visit and play various mini games, receive rewards and hang out with fellow users.^[12] Aurora has had over 18 million visits from 1.8 million unique players, making it nDreams' most successful project in PlayStation Home.^[13] nDreams also created numerous virtual items for use on a player's avatar as well as many more spaces.^[14]

Since 2013, nDreams has focused on developing content for virtual reality headsets.^[15] The first game released by nDreams for virtual reality was the tech demo SkyDIEving, which launched in 2013.^[16] This saw players freefalling through the sky until they inevitably crashed to their doom on the ground. Patrick O'Luanaigh stated that nDreams had seen "fantastic" reaction to SkyDIEving since it was released in 2013 and the demo received many plaudits.^[17]

In June 2014 at the E3 video game show nDreams announced The Assembly, which is planned for release on the Oculus Rift and Sony PlayStation VR headsets.^[18] The Assembly is an adventure game where you uncover the morally dubious secrets of an unknown scientific organisation from the perspective of two different characters.^[19]

Following the announcement of the Samsung Gear VR headset in September 2014, nDreams announced two titles that would be released for the headset.^[20] Gunner is a video game where the player wields a gun turret in outer space, shooting down the incoming enemy spacecraft.^[21] Perfect Beach is a relaxation experience where users sit on a tropical beach and take in vistas or listen to the meditation track.^[22] A demo for Gunner released in January 2015 on the Oculus Home store for the Samsung Gear VR headset.^[23] Full products of both Gunner and Perfect Beach are due to release in early 2015.^[24]

In early 2014, nDreams launched a consumer website focused on virtual reality called VRFocus.^[25] This is run on an independent basis and was founded by editor-in-chief, Kevin Joyce.^[26] In February 2016, VRFocus launched VRTV, a fortnightly web show presented by Zeena Al-Obaidi. nDreams sold VRFocus in 2017.

In December 2014 nDreams announced a new partnership with VR filmmakers Virtual View Productions.^[27] The partnership would allow them to explore the crossover between VR video games and movies. nDreams has previously stated they also have other products in development for virtual reality headsets.^[28] They have also stated they are focused entirely on developing content for VR devices.^[28]

In January 2015, nDreams announced a $2.75 million investment from Mercia Technologies.^[29] This investment is planned to allow the studio to expand and invest in research and development of virtual reality games.^[30] One of Mercia's leaders, former Sega CEO Mike Hayes, joined the nDreams board of directors in 2014.^[31]

PlayStation Home closed 31 March 2015.^[32] At the time the closure was announced nDreams stated they would continue to release additional content ahead of the closure of the platform.^[33] On reflection of PlayStation Home's success, CEO Patrick O'Luanaigh stated that PlayStation Home "was a commercial success" for nDreams.^[34]

• In February 2021, nDreams announced that they were moving into third-party publishing and had set up a $2 million dollar development fund.^[35]
• In July 2021 nDreams the opening of a new studio, nDreams Studio Orbital, which would develop live VR games.^[36]
• In October 2021, they announced that Little Cities, a VR game developed by Purple Yonder, was their first third-party published game.^[37]
• In January 2022 nDreams announced the opening of a second studio nDreams Studio Elevation, which would develop AAA and VR games.^[38]
• In March 2022, nDreams announced that they had received a $35 million investment from the Aonic Group.^[39]
• In April 2022, Mark Zuckerberg announced at the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase. nDreams were revealed as the developers of the cooperative multiplayer VR game.^{[40] [41] [42]}
• In December 2022, nDreams announced it had acquired the Brighton-based virtual reality studio, Near Light for an undisclosed sum.^[43]

Early projects

In early 2008, nDreams contributed to educational tool iStories.^[44]

• Venus Redemption was an episodic video game that was in development by nDreams. The game was to cater primarily to a female audience around 30 years of age. It was to be released for Microsoft Windows, Mac, iPhone, Wii, and web browsers, but the game was put on hold while nDreams focused on other projects.^[45] The game was planned to be dialogue-heavy.^[46] The story was being written by Kate Pullinger, with help from comic book writer Gordon Rennie, the music was to be composed by Tim Wright, and it was to be directed by Robin Shepperd.^[47] The first season of the game was to be composed of six ninety-minute episodes, and they were to be released on either a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. It was being developed with the Unity engine. After a great response to an early demo, Venus Redemption was put on hold while nDreams focused on other projects, such as PlayStation Home and other third party projects.^[48] It was initially announced in 2009, but no further updates on its status have been released as of, .
• Project Y is currently in development for mobile phones running Android and iOS.^[49]
• Spirit of Adventure^[50]
• StreetDance 3D, a Facebook app, is a collaborative project between nDreams and Vertigo Films based on the StreetDance 3D movie.^[51]
• Lewis Hamilton: Secret Life is nDreams's second alternate reality game. It was not based in PlayStation Home like Xi was. The ARG was created for Reebok, who also co-developed the game. Wired called it 'one of the most engaging, interactive, and exciting games of 2010.'^[52] The game launched in March 2010 and ran until November 2010, with over 637,000 players from 154 countries taking part. They worked together to solve puzzles and complete tests online, on mobiles and in the real world. Live events took place across the globe including tasks in Spain, Lebanon, Malaysia, India and the United Kingdom. The game was run in nine languages (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish and Korean), which Guinness acknowledged as a world record for a game of this type in 2013.^[53]

Awards and nominations

• 2008: Develop "Hot companies to look out for"
• 2009: Edge Magazine 'XI project for PlayStation Home"^[54]
• 2009: Develop Award "Best New Studio" nominee.^[55]
• 2010: Develop Award "Business Development" nominee.^[56]
• 2010: Kemp Little Innovation Award "Outstanding Business innovation" nominee
• 2011: Develop Award "Business Development" nominee^[57]
• 2011: Smarta 100 Awards Winner^[58]
• 2012: Inspire "Online Excellence" Award Winner^[59]
• 2014: Santander "Breakthrough 50" Winner^[60]
• 2014: Tiga Awards "Independent Studio" nominee^[61]
• 2019: Viveport Developer Award "Arcade - PC" for Shooty Fruity Arcade^[62]
• 2019: Game Critics Award "Best VR/AR Game" for Phantom: Covert Ops^[63]
• 2020: Lloyds Business Award: Exporter of the Year^[64]
• 2020: Tiga Awards: Best VR Game for Phantom: Covert Ops^[65]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Eidos Exec Forms New nDreams Studio. Jenkins. David. 2009-08-25. Gamasutra.
2. Web site: About us . nDreams.
3. Web site: PLAYSTATION®HOME. nDreams. https://web.archive.org/web/20131117040105/http://www.ndreams.com/portfolio-view/playstation-home-virtual-items. November 17, 2013 . dead.
4. Web site: nDreams invites Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus to attend The Academy.
5. Web site: Working with Virtual Worlds: nDreams Dev Diary #1 - VRFocus.
6. Web site: nDreams acquired for $110 million, 'exciting projects' in the works. MIXED Reality News. 2023-12-11. en.
7. Web site: Nouch . James . 8 November 2013 . The story of PlayStation Home . .
8. Web site: VR titles . nDreams.
9. Web site: Marie . Kassadee . Go nDreams on a Budget . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120916022956/http://www.hsmagazine.net/2012/09/go-ndreams-on-a-budget . September 16, 2012 . HomeStation Magazine.
10. Web site: Musicality Apartment . https://web.archive.org/web/20150401092123/https://alphazone4.com/spaces/musicality-apartment/ . 2015-04-01 . AlphaZone4.
11. Web site: PlayStation Home Update: Jam in the Musicality Clubhouse .
12. Web site: 23 March 2011 . nDreams launches the Aurora space in PlayStation Home - Gamesbrief .
13. Web site: PlayStation Home memories .
14. Web site: PlayStation Home Item Database | AlphaZone4 - Your home away from PlayStation Home . dead . https://archive.today/20150130155801/http://alphazone4.com/store/search/eyJxdWVyeSI6Im5EcmVhbXMiLCJnZW5kZXIiOiIiLCJyZWdpb25zIjoiIn0/ . 2015-01-30 . 2015-01-30.
15. Web site: 11 July 2014 . Designing for VR - Dos and Don'ts from nDreams .
16. Web site: Now you can virtually skydive using nDreams' experimental Oculus Rift demo. Emily. Gera. . 13 August 2013.
17. Web site: nDreams to Release New Version of SkyDIEving - VRFocus.
18. Web site: "THE ASSEMBLY" MAKES WAVES AT E3. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821200105/http://www.ndreams.com/the-assembly-makes-waves-at-e3. August 21, 2014 . dead. nDreams.
19. Web site: nDreams Announces The Assembly for Project Morpheus & Oculus Rift - VRFocus.
20. Web site: VR Developer nDreams Announce Two Titles For Samsung Gear VR. MIKAEL VON STROOT. September 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140904235510/http://www.fullyavinit.com/ndreamstitleannounce/. September 4, 2014. dead. nDreams.
21. Web site: GUNNER. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113120632/http://www.ndreams.com/portfolio-view/gunner/. January 13, 2015. dead. nDreams.
22. Web site: PERFECT BEACH. https://web.archive.org/web/20140906223242/http://www.ndreams.com/portfolio-view/perfect-beach/. September 6, 2014. dead. nDreams.
23. Web site: nDreams Launches Gunner Demo for Gear VR - VRFocus.
24. Web site: nDreams announces Gunner and Perfect Beach for Samsung Gear VR.
25. Web site: Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games .
26. Web site: Contact Us - VRFocus .
27. Web site: nDreams and Virtual View Productions to Explore VR Videogames and Movie Crossovers - VRFocus.
28. Web site: nDreams working on six VR projects.
29. Web site: NDREAMS COMPLETES $2.75 MILLION INVESTMENT . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150511155817/http://www.ndreams.com/vr-specialist-ndreams-completes-2-75-million-investment-round-2/ . 2015-05-11 . nDreams.
30. Web site: Portfolio – Mercia Technologies .
31. Web site: Mike Hayes joins virtual reality firm nDreams . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140913034844/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/mike-hayes-joins-virtual-reality-firm-ndreams/0130843 . 2014-09-13 . 2015-01-30.
32. Web site: Tassi . Paul . Sony Finally Shutting Down PlayStation Home On PS3 . .
33. https://www.facebook.com/ndreamers/posts/10152735474549907
34. Web site: Martin . Michael . 30 September 2014 . PlayStation Home Was a Commercial Success .
35. Web site: VR specialist NDreams becomes a third-party publisher with $2 million fund . 2022-04-21 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
36. Web site: 2021-07-29. nDreams kickstarts new VR studio led by mobile game veteran. 2022-01-18. VentureBeat. en-US.
37. Web site: Lyons . Ben . nDreams first published game is the VR city creation game Little Cities . 2022-04-21 . Gamereactor UK . en.
38. Web site: 2022-01-18. nDreams reveals new Studio Elevation for AAA and VR titles. 2022-01-18. VentureBeat. en-US.
39. Web site: NDreams receives $35m investment . 2022-04-21 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
40. Carson . John . Ghostbusters VR Is Bringing Something Strange To Your Virtual Neighborhood . https://web.archive.org/web/20220420213412/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/20/ghostbusters-vr-is-bringing-something-strange-to-your-virtual-neighborhood . dead . April 20, 2022 . 2022-04-21 . Game Informer . en.
41. Web site: [TGA 2022] ‘Ghostbusters: Rise of The Ghost Lord’ Gets New Trailer [Watch]]. Bloody Disgusting. Mike. Wilson. December 8, 2022. June 1, 2023.
42. Web site: Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord - Official Story Trailer Meta Quest Gaming Showcase 2023. IGN. IGN. June 1, 2023. June 1, 2023.
43. Web site: 2022-12-20 . NDreams's first acquisition is Shooty Fruity developer Near Light . 2022-12-20 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
44. Web site: iStories on sale. nDreams. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004103227/http://ndreams.co.uk/node/5. 2013-10-04.
45. Web site: nDreams and the Female Goldmine. https://archive.today/20120905045941/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/ndreams-and-female-goldmine. dead. 2012-09-05. edge-online.com.
46. Web site: E3 2009: Venus Redemption Details. https://web.archive.org/web/20090621090928/http://pc.ign.com/articles/991/991553p1.html. dead. June 21, 2009. IGN.
47. Web site: nDreams announces Venus Redemption. GameSpot.
48. Web site: Venus Redemption. 2017-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20100926185835/http://www.ndreams.co.uk/venus. 2010-09-26. dead.
49. Web site: Project Y. nDreams. 2009-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20090418181702/http://www.ndreams.co.uk/projecty. 2009-04-18. dead.
50. Web site: Facebook's first interactive soap opera launches. 2010-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20100926185346/http://www.ndreams.co.uk/soalaunch. 2010-09-26. dead.
51. Web site: nDreams and Vertigo Films announce StreetDance 3D Facebook game. 2010-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20101130194713/http://www.ndreams.co.uk/node/67. 2010-11-30. dead.
52. Web site: F1 Racer Plays International Art Thief in ARG. https://archive.today/20130412050512/http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/a-close-look-at-f1-racer-lewis-hamiltons-secret-life/. 12 April 2013.
53. Web site: Image of the Guinness World Record certificate.
54. Web site: Edge Magazine - GamesRadar+. Edge .
55. Web site: Rockstar leads Develop Awards nominations. 2015-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20120503100120/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/rockstar-leads-develop-awards-nominations/012254. 2012-05-03. dead.
56. Web site: Develop Awards: The 2010 winners list.
57. Web site: Independent developers dominate Develop Awards.
58. Web site: Smarta 100 Awards 2011: WINNERS ANNOUNCED! - Smarta Business Builder.
59. Web site: nDreams wins Online Excellence award!. x-libris.eu. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207161545/http://x-libris.eu/node/126. December 7, 2013 . dead.
60. Web site: nDreams Ltd. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813025738/http://breakthrough50.smarta.com/ndreams-ltd/. August 13, 2014 . dead.
61. Web site: TIGA Games Industry Awards 2012 – Winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20130319233109/http://awards.tiga.org/awards_categories.php. March 19, 2013. dead.
62. Web site: Third Annual Viveport Developer Awards Winners Announced. 2019-03-19. VIVE Blog. 2019-08-06.
63. Web site: Game Critics Awards. www.gamecriticsawards.com. 2019-08-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140701223451/http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/winners.html. 2014-07-01. dead.
64. Web site: nDreams Ltd - Ones to Watch 2021 . 2022-04-21 . www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk . en.
65. Web site: 2020 Winners . 2022-04-21 . TIGA . en-GB.