Eight years in the making, Moss: The Forgotten Relic has launched today, transitioning from a beloved VR title into a realm accessible to a broader audience. Now available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam, this marks a pivotal step for Polyarc and represents a beacon of hope in a shifting industry — no VR headset required.
Founded in Seattle, Polyarc faced turbulent times earlier this year, laying off approximately two-thirds of its staff in March 2026. The team grappled with a significant withdrawal of funds from Meta and a broader slump impacting VR development. Yet, in adversity, The Forgotten Relic emerged — not just as their first foray into non-VR gaming but a testament to survival and adaptation.
This release coincides with a broader industry retraction in 2026, affecting prominent VR studios like nDreams, Rec Room, and others. Polyarc’s strategic move to bring Quill’s adventures to flat screens exemplifies a paradigm shift for VR-native studios, signaling a new era for the industry.
In the package, players will find the complete Moss saga: both the original Moss and Moss: Book II alongside all Twilight Garden DLC content. Having collected over 160 awards and nominations, including Best VR/AR Game at The Game Awards 2022, these titles are offered at an attractive price of $19.99. This compilation includes enhanced cutscenes and a Skip Combat feature, explicitly crafted for non-VR play.
Transitioning to flat screens required Polyarc to tackle engineering challenges, most notably adapting the VR camera system. The new Smart Follow Camera dynamically repositions itself, capturing Quill’s movements and the game environment seamlessly. Coupled with their “Twofold” control scheme, players experience Quill’s journey using a dual-stick input setup, effectively capturing the interactive essence previously only available in VR.
Critics have largely applauded the effort, as evidenced by an 80 out of 100 average score on OpenCritic. Calling it a “charming fairy tale,” IGN awarded it an 8 out of 10, praising the adaptation as successful, albeit with minor camera quibbles. While some reviews cited camera limitations, the consensus is clear: the translation retains the franchise’s heart and a broader audience can now embark on this whimsical adventure.
For those undecided on which platform to choose, performance is optimized across all. The Switch 2 supports 60 FPS in all modes, and the game runs impressively on the Steam Deck. With localized voice acting in multiple languages and additional text localizations, the global appeal is significant.
The Forgotten Relic is more than a singular release; it’s a potential catalyst for VR-to-flat adaptations. Moss, originally celebrated for its miniaturized VR diorama experiences, serves as proof that core emotional narratives and gameplay can survive beyond their nascent platforms.
As the game becomes available on Steam and other platforms, Moss: The Forgotten Relic signifies a new beginning for Polyarc and the potential rebirth for many VR-native franchises. The launch not only diversifies the audience who can now appreciate Quill’s story but also charts a path forward during uncertain times for the VR industry.
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