The mixed reality (MR) gaming space is entering an exciting new phase, inspired by technological advancements and growing user interest. One of the exciting players in the space is Romanian startup MixRift. The startup recently secured $1.6 million in a seven-week pre-seed investment round, with major backers such as Outsized Ventures, Underline Ventures, and SOSV.
During the past few years though, the industry is faced with a critical challenge: a noticeable lack of engaging content despite the hardware’s growing user base. MixRift, led by CEO Bobby Voicu, is tackling this gap head-on. The team’s focus on creating games that are intuitive yet deeply immersive positions them to capture a diverse audience, appealing to both gamers and broader users of wearable tech.
In an interview with IT Logs, Voicu shares what sets MixRift apart in the competitive MR landscape, the vision behind their gaming innovations, and his insights on upcoming trends shaping the future of mixed reality.
IT Logs: What sets MixRift apart from other companies in the mixed reality gaming space?
Bobby Voicu: Our mixed-reality studio emerged from a shared vision to transform gaming through emerging technology. With core expertise in immersive gaming, we spotted the potential of mixed reality long before its mainstream emergence.
What sets us apart is our iterative development strategy. We prioritise initial mock-ups and swift prototyping, rather than spending extensive time on a single title release. We gain user insights to further evolve and strengthen our games. This helps our aim to bridge the gap between both the digital and physical worlds that mixed reality gaming has merged.
What is MixRift doing to make mixed reality games more fun and easy to play?
Mixed reality games are both easy and accessible, in contrast with traditional and pure virtual reality gaming. By blending the virtual world with a player’s real surroundings, mixed reality games like ours create immersive but familiar, and therefore comfortable, environments. This balance attracts a wider and more diverse audience, from dedicated game enthusiasts to relaxed, occasional players.
The ultimate test of a games’ success is if the player enjoys it. To keep our users engaged, we strive to offer a range of games designed and developed that offer interest to players of different ages and backgrounds. Having a variety ensures our games never become stale, remain exciting, innovative, and maintain the thrill of gaming.
We expanded our portfolio, releasing two new titles for the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro platforms: “Fractured,” a mixed reality 3D puzzle game that blends immersive brain-teasing challenges with your environment, and “Hell Horde,” an adrenaline-pumping, retro-inspired shooter game that redefines the boundaries of mixed-reality combat.
We’re also excited to share a new game, designed specifically for a younger audience, just in time for the festive season: Crit Attack! Our new release is a perfect example of our commitment to creating experiences that resonate with all ages and interests, offering a fun and engaging adventure for players of every kind.
How does MixRift plan to stay ahead as the MR gaming market grows?
The market is set to expand,with projections saying it will reach $58.3 billion by 2030, increasing at CAGR of 71.3%. The surge is driven by mainstream tech players like Meta and Apple, with innovations fueling consumer interest, marking the beginning of the interactive entertainment realm.
Our product roadmap follows an expected rise of gaming hardware. At MixRift, we’re making significant investments in research and development to maintain our leadership in mixed reality technology, including proprietary tools and engines. Strategic partnerships will also be central in our journey, and we are actively seeking collaborations with hardware manufacturers and content creators.
What long-term trends in mixed reality does the company aim to capitalise on?
The landscape is ever-evolving, driven by hardware advancements that can redefine user experiences. With major strides in display technology, enhanced fields of view and increased processing power, innovations like these are pushing the boundaries of immersion. Mixed reality is then becoming ever more seamless, offering users a more engaging environment, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds and shifting the way we interact with technology.
Another trend is attention towards creating immersive social experiences, where users can play with each other in shared virtual spaces, furthering connectivity and collaboration between people.
How does the company envision mixed reality gaming evolving in the next five years?
Over the next five years, the success of mixed reality gaming is going to lean on the evolution of hardware. Following the bustle around Apple Vision Pro, the market has shown that lack of consumer traction can dull excitement. Mixed reality gaming will evolve separately from traditional gaming, with innovations in hardware and immersive experiences driving key growth. However, until the technology becomes more mainstream and accessible, the broader gaming market will remain most popular.
This is where MixRift comes in. We’ve spotted a great opportunity in the space: while demand for mixed reality experiences is skyrocketing, there’s a significant lack of standout MR games. This gap is where we want to make our mark. We’re not just looking to ride the wave of innovation — we aim to define it, crafting immersive, game-changing experiences that push the limits of what’s possible in the industry.
