Los Angeles-based creative studio Magnopus has a prestigious back catalogue, working on a multitude of XR experiences. When it comes to virtual reality (VR) content the company has created the likes of Disney Pixar Coco VR (2017) and more recently Elixir (2020), the magical experience designed to showcase Oculus Quest’s hand tracking. These have all been single-player experiences but a new job listing indicates the studios’ intention to get into multiplayer gaming.
Currently, Magnopus is looking for a “Senior Backend Server Multiplayer Engineer” to join its team in LA, someone who can “Design, develop, and maintain a highly distributed, scalable, low-latency multiplayer environment.” As is always the case when trying to glean new project details from job listings there’s very little to go on. However, it does note that it’ll bode well for applicants: “Past experience working with VR/AR content and understanding what makes these mysterious worlds so enticing.”
There’s a good chance Magnopus is working with a client’s IP considering past projects. Apart from the aforementioned Coco VR, Magnopus has created Blade Runner 2049: Memory Lab, The Lion King – Virtual Production and Mission: ISS. So what films would make a good multiplayer experience?
Co-founded in 2014, by Ben Grossmann, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor, to date Magnopus has created over 80 immersive projects, some of which have made it to home VR headsets. The company recently made the news thanks to its acquisition of British XR specialist REWIND, which it has previously worked with on several projects.
REWIND built projects like Danny MacAskill’s VR Ride Out and Universal Monsters Presents: Bride of Frankenstein holoride. When talking about the announcement Grossmann did mention: “The team is brimming with talent so this acquisition has just given us a turbo boost on our journey toward big things we’ve been cooking up.” There’s always the possibility that with such a rich talent pool to draw from Magnopus is creating its own in-house experience which would be exciting.
As VRFocus learns more about Magnopus’ future VR plans we’ll let you know.
via Mint VR