By Riley Kaminer
When Rodolfo Saccoman co-founded VRAL Games in early 2024, he was betting on a big idea: that virtual reality and immersive experiences would lead the next wave of innovation in gaming. Now, that vision is one step closer to becoming a reality.
VRAL (pronounced “viral”) Games has announced it had acquired a 30% stake in PolarityOne, the Seattle-based studio behind the highly anticipated sci-fi VR shooter, EXOSHOCK. This news signals VRAL’s aggressive growth strategy as it looks to make a name for itself in the VR gaming space this year.
The partnership between VRAL Games and PolarityOne blends PolarityOne’s creative expertise with VRAL’s deep technological resources and publishing infrastructure. EXOSHOCK, inspired by iconic franchises like Halo and Doom, hopes to redefine cooperative VR combat with its immersive gameplay and cinematic storytelling. For VRAL, this investment represents the next logical step towards building a robust portfolio of VR games.
Saccoman, a Miami tech veteran, sees this move as a natural extension of VRAL’s mission to push the boundaries of immersive gaming.
“For me, it’s really this zero-to-one concept: can you take an idea or something very early and make it into something global?” Saccoman told Refresh Miami. “PolarityOne’s vision and innovation align perfectly with what we’re building at VRAL.”
Saccoman’s journey to VRAL Games has been far from linear. His early projects, like My Therapy Journal – featured on Shark Tank – and his work with adtech and crypto-focused startups, helped him hone a knack for taking early-stage ideas and building them into global ventures.
VRAL Games has already made waves in the VR industry. Meta, one of the leading players in virtual reality, has invested in two of VRAL’s games. Saccoman believes this demonstrates the potential of immersive gaming.
“The investment signals are clear: VR is where the industry is heading,” he said. The company already has four games in its portfolio just one year after launching.
PolarityOne’s team, led by co-founders Nicholas Bechen and Michael Shephard, brings cutting-edge creativity to the partnership. Saccoman praised their work on EXOSHOCK, emphasizing its potential to become a breakthrough title.
“Embodiment and social interaction are what make VR unique,” he explained. “EXOSHOCK nails these elements, offering players an experience they can’t find on other platforms.”
Building a VR gaming company from Miami comes with both opportunities and challenges. Saccoman highlighted Miami’s growing reputation as a tech hub, although he noted the gaming ecosystem here is still developing. “Orlando has a more established gaming community,” he admitted. “But Miami’s tech scene has transformed in the past decade. It’s exciting to see what’s possible here.”
As VRAL Games looks to the future, Saccoman is focused on scaling rapidly. The company will showcase its games at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this March, including an exclusive preview of EXOSHOCK. For Saccoman, the ultimate goal is to create global hits that redefine player engagement.
“The ability to immerse players in experiences they can’t get anywhere else – that’s what sets VR apart,” he said.
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