Dev Clever gets approval to launch first cross-platform VR experience

Immersive and mobile experience developer Dev Clever Holdings announced on Thursday that its cross-platform, core virtual reality (VR) multi user framework had been successfully approved to deploy its first live interactive experience across multiple platforms, including Google Play, Google Daydream, Oculus Store, Samsung Gear VR and the Apple App Store.

The London-listed firm explained that its core framework enabled the “rapid development” of multiplayer, immersive, full 360-degree VR experiences and games.

Those cross-platform games and experiences could be accessed through any approved platform via a compatible mobile device using a VR headset, Google ‘Cardboard’ or standalone VR device.

They allowed groups of users to be connected to the same experience from around the world, regardless of which platform or device they were using, and compete or collaborate with each other in real-time with minimal connectivity.

Developed over the last two years, the company said the framework allowed Dev Clever to quickly deploy competitive games and seasonally-themed VR experiences, as well as immersive eLearning and training modules.

Those could be made available to the mass market across all mobile VR platforms and devices, reducing the cost of development and increasing accessibility to global audiences.

The first example of that deployment - ‘Easter Squad VR’ - was described as a collaborative, seasonally-themed experience where family or friends worked together to “defeat the Easter bunny's dastardly brother Bozo and save Easter”.

Dev Clever said the on-rails interactive experience, which took seven minutes to complete, was now available to download and play at home.

Easter Squad VR was available on a cost-per-download on the Google Play Store, Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR and Apple App Store.

Dev Clever said it would be releasing multiple seasonally-themed games including Halloween and Christmas versions in 2019, which would be available on a cost-per-download and with in-app purchases model for unique character customisation.

Later in the year, it said it would also offer the games as a premium retail gift sold with VR cardboard in retail shops and online.

They would also be available across the firm’s expanding network of leisure partners, offering the out-of-home multiplayer VR version of ‘Vanguard: Fight for Rudiarius’.

“This is the final framework to be released from Dev Clever,” said chief executive officer Chris Jeffries.

“The core virtual reality framework allows the Company to leverage greater opportunities through all three of our channels, by providing multi user eLearning and training modules to our Educate customers and selling immersive multiplayer gaming experiences through our Engage hospitality, leisure, brand and retail customers.

“At the same time, the platform is able to deliver the launches of Vanguard: Flight or Rudiarius to the play-at-home VR market in the coming weeks.”