Meta Invested Billions, Only to Be Surpassed by a Four-Person Steam Game

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has poured an astonishing amount of cash into creating a digital universe over the past few years—around a billion dollars each month. One of the standout features of Meta’s VR vision was a virtual office space where users, regardless of their physical location, could come together in a shared environment to boost productivity. However, these concepts struggled to gain traction. While Meta seems to be stepping back from this ambitious dream, a small team on Steam is gaining traction with a similar concept.

Currently, On-Together: Virtual Coworking is making waves in Steam’s Popular New Releases section. The key difference? You don’t need to invest in pricey VR gear. Instead of shelling out thousands to manage a spreadsheet, you can dive into this experience for just $9.99. Importantly, On-Together doesn’t feel like a bland platform focused solely on metrics. It’s more like stepping into an anime world: imagine a blend of Animal Crossing and Studio Ghibli, with a dash of whimsical charm. And yes, it includes games.

Players can create adorable avatars to hang out in various third spaces, from cozy libraries and parks to enchanting forests and lily pads. These areas are populated by real users, allowing for interaction at your own pace. If you’re racing against a deadline, you can easily minimize distractions by moving other avatars to the side while you focus on your tasks. On-Together comes equipped with handy tools like timers, to-do lists, and desktop recreations for easy file access, making it simple to get down to business.

What truly sets On-Together apart is the vibrant life beyond work. The customization options are impressively broad, letting you tweak everything from idle animations to adding pets like cats and capybaras. When you need a break, you can jump into fun mini-games such as races, fishing, basketball, and even music creation. Your break room can transform into anything from a beach getaway to a stylish lighthouse. You can chat with strangers or create private servers for friends. While there are plenty of distractions, On-Together encourages focus through a ticket system that unlocks even cooler outfits and accessories.

Since its launch on January 19, On-Together has peaked at around 2,000 concurrent users, with its creators noting that the game and its previous demo have attracted about 60,000 players. While these numbers may not rival blockbuster titles, they shine in comparison to Meta’s similar venture, which reportedly had only about 900 users in a week before plans to shut it down. On-Together’s peak user count also surpasses that of live-service games with substantial backing, like Concord and Anthem, exceeding the expectations of its developers.

Developer Ilgın S. attributes their success to the absence of pressure typically associated with a formal workplace. Users aren’t required to be productive; instead, On-Together can be approached as a social gathering, filled with opportunities to meet new people. There’s no tracking of your work, and you won’t face repercussions for taking a break.

Ilgın recalls that the idea for On-Together emerged in early 2025, during a time when GigaPuff was already working remotely. “We genuinely love that early-2000s chatroom and online game culture,” Ilgın explains. “As we got older and more involved in work life, we felt the need for that kind of space again.”

The team gravitated toward elements that made them feel less isolated while working, such as Discord calls or running a life simulation game in the background. Unlike a corporate pitch that insists productivity comes from long commutes and mundane routines, Ilgın sees On-Together as a way to lighten the work experience. “It’s about making the experience of working feel a little less heavy, and a little more human,” he says. “Work itself can be a form of suffering. We’re not glorifying it. We’re just trying to get through it together.”

Feedback on Steam indicates that On-Together is fulfilling this vision. One standout review comes from a student who credits the game and its supportive community with helping them navigate college. While many reviews suggest areas for improvement, the overall enthusiasm has led to an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on the platform.

For GigaPuff, Meta’s version of the metaverse was largely overhyped. The team is now focused on scaling an experience that has exceeded their expectations. Ilgın shares that hearing stories from users who have passed exams, survived tough workdays, or even formed new D&D groups has inspired the team to keep enhancing the experience. However, their goal isn’t about optimizing work; it’s about ensuring On-Together remains a lively playground for its users.

“I don’t know what they put in this game, but in the three hours I’ve had it open, I cleaned my two-month depression room, washed all my clothes and dishes, vacuumed everything, and got a ton of writing and voice training done,” one enthusiastic Steam review states. “I love this so much.”