Meta Shuts Down Ready at Dawn, the Studio Behind Echo VR and The Order: 1886

According to the latest updates, Meta has shut down Ready at Dawn, a studio recognized for its contributions to titles such as The Order: 1886 and Echo VR. This information was first revealed by Android Central, who reportedly acquired an internal memo informing staff about the developments. According to this memo, Ready at Dawn, a division of Oculus Studios, has been shut down effective immediately. The communication allegedly reassures employees that this decision does not signal broader layoffs and affirms the company’s ongoing commitment to developing first-party games. Meta, which oversees Reality Labs, previously known as Oculus VR, is a prominent player in the virtual reality landscape, with its well-regarded Meta Quest Platform and related products. Among its offerings are the popular Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3, both of which are considered top-tier in the VR headset market. 

Founded in 2003, Ready at Dawn began as an independent studio but has always maintained close ties with Sony and the PlayStation brand. The development team produced acclaimed games for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), such as Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus, and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Additionally, it was responsible for The Order: 1886, a launch title for PlayStation 4 that showcased the system’s advanced graphical capabilities. Meta purchased Ready at Dawn in June 2020 after the success of its two exclusive VR titles, Lone Echo and Echo Arena. Following this acquisition, the studio produced two more virtual reality games: Echo Combat and Lone Echo II. The memo also supposedly encourages those affected by the closure to explore other job opportunities within Meta.