Oct 9, 2025

VRFS: How a Grassroots Community Helped Build a Sports Simulator Hit

While many Meta Quest hits have grown through influencer buzz and savvy marketing, VRFS - Football (Soccer) Simulator stands out as a success story built on organic growth, retention, and a deeply passionate community. And while games that rely on joystick-free physics and viral buzz continue to thrive on Meta Horizon, VRFS offers a different model: joystick-centric mechanics and an all-ages aesthetic. All in the service of what has become a self-sustaining game community with little to no marketing or moderation on the part of the game’s creators. The success of VRFS bodes well for the future of developing VR for Quest, offering valuable lessons for teams looking to rely on more than a viral moment to achieve success.

From PCVR to Quest

Oleg, one of the Spain-based lead developers for the VRFS team, began his career as an entrepreneur before transitioning to developing titles for GearVR. Struggling to generate revenue, a chance visit to an electronics store changed everything. “I saw the Quest 2, and I got it just to see what’s going on with VR. I realized that, finally the technology had come. So I started creating VRFS.” With wireless freedom, robust development tools and a developer-friendly platform at his disposal, the foundation for success—in terms of both creative potential and revenue—was set.

VRFS began out of a simple desire: to create a VR game the developers themselves would love to play. Oleg was a fan of Spain’s local soccer scene thanks to his brother’s professional career, so he and the team set out to build a physics-driven multiplayer experience using their real-world knowledge. Considerations like revenue and marketing were far in the distance.

We’re not even a studio, so our intention wasn’t even revenue. VRFS was something for us. Because we were playing console soccer games for two decades.

Oleg, Lead Developer, VRFS

The team started small—just two people at first—and was obsessed with getting the physics right. Oleg was inspired early on by Gym Class, drawn to its visual fidelity for a sports title. His childhood dream of becoming a soccer player fueled months of prototyping and iteration. “It felt like my whole life depended on how good the physics would be,” Oleg recalls. “I saw the potential and realized I have to do it.”

The Kick That Started It All

VRFS’s core innovation is its creative kicking mechanic, inspired by classic shooters and real-world soccer. Oleg describes the gameplay as “ping pong for soccer,” with a focus on intuitive, physics-based ball control.

The team’s relentless focus on physics paid off, creating a game where players can scan the field, kick with precision, and experience the cognitive thrill of soccer in an immersive headset environment. Oleg even noticed that the skills he practiced in the virtual game were beginning to translate into real-world play. After experimenting with in-game mechanics, Oleg went to the soccer field to play casually. He realized he knew how to kick the ball and scan the field based on playing VRFS.

Those parts of the brain work the same in VR and real training.

Oleg, Lead Developer, VRFS

The ultimate vindication may have come when Oleg invited a soccer-playing friend who was new to VR to try out the game. His friend was hooked almost immediately, and would even go on to join the VRFS team.

Growth & Retention: The Power of Community

Unlike other breakout Quest titles, VRFS’s growth has been almost entirely organic. Everything from leagues, tournaments, and events are managed by the community itself. The game’s Discord, which includes over 70,000 active members, is run by volunteer moderators. These mods play a crucial role in the community, running Discord, managing events, and even joining the development team as paid staff. The collaborative spirit extends to anti-cheat measures, private lobbies, and replay systems for league matches. When applications to join the VRFS Mod team opened up, over 900 people submitted applications, reflecting the depth of player investment.

And when it comes to the community, Oleg is as much a fan as a creator.

Because we play our game ourselves. I see so many things I would never see if I wasn’t actually playing the game and talking to the community and being on the same page with the community. I couldn’t let down the people who believed in VRFS and I want to do whatever I can to make this product better for them, because they’re the ones spending their time with it.

Oleg, Lead Developer, VRFS

The VRFS roadmap is ultimately shaped by player feedback. Features like the jersey editor and arena builder were added at the community’s request. Competitive leagues run their own Champions League tournaments, and the developers work closely with moderators and content creators to keep the ecosystem vibrant.

Their community helps inform opportunities for monetization as well. They saw extremely positive reception with their most recent creator-led bundle update, which featured the strongest team in VRFS and gave back to power players in the form of a unique rev-sharing agreement.

What’s Next: More Community, More Engagement

Oleg credits Meta’s support for empowering small teams like VRFS to quickly bring their visions to life, and iterate and optimize post-launch. “The way Meta supports developers like us with no background at all, I couldn’t imagine VRFS existing without it,” Oleg remarked, estimating that Meta’s investment has sped up the pace of VR development by 10 years. All of which means the sky’s the limit for evolving VRFS. Weekly updates, new game modes, and larger lobbies are all part of the ongoing roadmap.

Oleg’s advice to other developers: play and love your own game, and let the community help shape its future. “The most important thing is that developers play and enjoy the game themselves,” Oleg emphasizes. “Our team plays the game a lot. And not because it’s something we have to play or test. We really play. We have emotions. We play tournaments.”

Key Takeaways

VRFS proves that with passion, community, and a relentless focus on player experience, it’s possible to build a breakout VR hit with no viral moments or influencers required.

Empower your community: Let players and moderators take ownership of events and social spaces.

Retention first: Focus on making a game people want to return to before monetizing.

Mechanics Matter: Invest the time in developing unique mechanics to give your players a more satisfying experience.

Iterate with feedback: Build your roadmap around player requests and organic engagement.

Play your own game: Developers who play and love their own creations build better experiences.

If you’re ready to build your own breakout VR hit, the Meta Horizon Start program provides the support you need:

Dedicated support. Receive priority technical support from Meta staff and fellow community developers.

Development resources. Get access to resources like software credits and pre-release products to accelerate your process.

A global community. Join our global community of developers and get invited to exclusive events and opportunities to give Meta feedback.

Apply to the Start program today to accelerate your own VR development journey.

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