VR’s Most Unique Locomotion Device ‘Cybershoes’ Closes Permanently

Oh man, where do I even start with Cybershoes? This whole VR story has been a rollercoaster—like, literally. So, picture this: the company behind these wild VR shoes just closed up shop. Yeah, it’s like the end of an era for these funky VR gadgets.

So, here’s the scoop. Antony ‘Skarred Ghost’ Vitillo broke the news that they actually stopped making these things two years ago. Fast forward to 2024, one of their branches shut down, and then bam, by April 2025, the whole thing folded. It’s kind of sad, you know? Like watching your favorite quirky band break up.

Found this fun tidbit on LinkedIn from one of the co-founders, Igor Mitric Lavovski. He confirmed the shutdown—pretty straightforward guy, I guess. And you know, Austrian companies have to file for insolvency if they start sinking financially. Legal stuff, yada yada, but it might explain more soon.

Here’s the thing about Cybershoes—they weren’t like those VR treadmills that make you feel like you’re in some sci-fi movie. Nah, these were meant for chilling. You sit, strap on these rollers, and off you go, running in the game while seated. It’s a funny mental image, right? Feet rolling like you’re on some ride.

They kicked off in 2018 and got pretty good at crowdfunding. I mean, they raised over €200,000 on Kickstarter! That was just the beginning. Then there was another round on IndieGogo—pulled in €140,000. The hype was real back then.

But their 2020 campaign for a new Quest-compatible version didn’t do as hot—made about $98,000. Maybe the excitement fizzled, who knows? As of now, their store shelves are bare, and even Amazon ran dry by late 2024. It’s like they just vanished.

Feel like diving deeper? Vitillo’s got a review on the Quest version that’s worth checking out. It’s a wild world out there for VR gadgets. Who knew?