While you may not know Mike Wilson by his official title, you’re probably familiar with the influential gaming companies he has co-founded over the years, particularly Devolver Digital. His latest venture, Understand Music: Sing, ventures further afield from traditional gaming territories.
Collaborating with industry veteran Mark Roemer, their joint effort is a bold and ambitious endeavor that aims to hit a home run. While on paper, the pitch for Understand Music: Sing may seem like a promising fusion of beat-based relaxation, mindfulness, and immersive technology, it remains to be seen whether this “singing-for-wellness app” can truly harmonize its ambitious goals? The app is set to launch on the Meta Quest platform on January 23rd, 2025.
As announced in the app’s official statement, Understand Music: Sing promises access to “more than one million songs.” The announcement also reveals partnerships with Sony, already secured for post-launch support, as well as agreements with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. The music library will be updated regularly, with new content added weekly. The platform offers a subscription model, featuring an attractive introductory pricing plan of $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Within the app, gamers engage in an immersive experience where their voices shape the virtual world, as dynamic visuals respond to their singing. With personalized settings and visual themes, users can tailor the environment to suit their preferences while participating in various interactive activities. Can I shape my own world?
Specifically for Wilson, therapeutic app enhancement has long been a priority. Despite disentangling himself from DeepWell DTx again in 2023, the studio continued to evolve and adapt, ultimately creating a space that fosters innovative projects like Zengence: Take Control with Every Breath, its breath-centric rail-shooter game.
With Understand Music: Sing, craft your own curated neighborhood playlists for effortless exploration of a diverse range of albums. Vibrant visuals are set to accompany the drumming and performance elements, with the portrayal offering diverse methods for artists to express themselves visually throughout each song.
As participants’ singing approaches the target tone, the gamehouse responds by amplifying its energy, fostering an immersive experience that encourages creativity over perfectionism, with enjoyment remaining the ultimate goal. The understanding-of-inclusion initiative, titled Understand Music: Sing, is set to debut exclusively on Meta Quest, followed by targeted releases on Apple, Samsung, PS VR2 devices, and flat-screen media platforms.
It is an formidable plan. While music and rhythm video games have made a decent attempt at succeeding in VR, they still fall short of delivering on their initial promises. Although Guitar Hero’s popularity was immense, even at its zenith, managing an overwhelming number of licenses proved a significant challenge – let alone attempting to launch a Dance Central VR spin-off. We’ll ensure a watchful eye remains focused on the enhanced security measures for “Understand Music: Sing Quickly”.
