The VR community was dealt another blow this week as Alta announced that its multiplayer RPG, A Township Tale, will be shutting down on July 20th. This news comes just months after the studio cancelled its follow-up game, Reave, citing “increasingly difficult market conditions.” For those who have spent countless hours exploring the open-world environment of A Township Tale, this news is sure to come as a disappointment.
Developed by Alta and launched in 2021 for Quest, A Township Tale was one of the most promising VR RPGs on the market. Its unique blend of sandbox-style gameplay and community-driven mechanics made it a standout title, with players able to work together to survive, craft, and build up an abandoned settlement. The game’s PC VR version supported up to 40 players, while the Quest version capped out at 8 players. Despite its limitations in terms of player capacity, A Township Tale was able to create an immersive experience that felt much larger than its actual size.
According to a statement from Alta co-founder and CTO Joel van de Vorstenbosch, the studio explored multiple avenues for keeping A Township Tale alive but ultimately found none to be viable. The game’s backend services will be taken down on July 20th, and it will no longer be available for download or purchase from the Quest Store. However, players can still access the game until then, and the community platforms – including Discord, Reddit, and the wiki – will remain live.
A Township Tale may be shutting down, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of its dedicated community. For those who have spent countless hours exploring its virtual world, it’s a testament to the power of VR gaming to create meaningful connections with others. As van de Vorstenbosch noted in his statement, “I can confidently say A Township Tale would not have made it this long without you.” The game may be coming to an end, but its community will continue to thrive.
It’s worth noting that Alta hasn’t announced any layoffs or changes to its studio size following the cancellation of Reave. However, the loss of two high-profile projects in a short span is certainly a blow to the VR industry as a whole. As market conditions continue to shift and evolve, it remains to be seen how studios will adapt and respond to these challenges.
For now, players are encouraged to take one last look at A Township Tale before its servers go dark on July 20th. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just discovering the game for the first time, there’s still plenty of time to explore its virtual world and experience all that it has to offer. As van de Vorstenbosch so eloquently put it, “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the coming weeks to jump back into ATT and enjoy some final adventures.”
Source: Road to VR — 2026-06-26