Martin Rumenov NC Play, the social gaming division of the acclaimed XR studio New Canvas, has unveiled its debut cross-platform title, Pop & Drop. This lively multiplayer party game is now accessible on Meta Horizon, as well as via web browsers and mobile devices.
Pop & Drop immerses players in a thrilling balloon-based survival challenge set high above a shark-infested tank. Players must float, strategize, and outwit opponents to avoid plunging into the waters below. The game’s core mechanic revolves around spinning the Wheel of Fate to determine actions such as sabotaging rivals by popping their balloons or forging temporary alliances. The gameplay supports 1 to 6 players, combining fast-paced, unpredictable rounds with social negotiation and betrayal, making every 5–10 minute match a chaotic test of wit and luck.
Key gameplay elements include:
- A simple turn structure: spin the wheel, perform an action, then engage with other players.
- The Wheel of Fate, which randomly assigns one of ten possible actions each turn.
- Multiple modes: solo practice, matches against AI opponents, or multiplayer lobbies with friends.
- An in-game currency system rewarding players with gold to unlock special balloon customizations.
NC Play plans to introduce further features and personalization options over time.
Pop & Drop is available now for free on Meta Quest VR headsets, web platforms, and mobile devices, making it accessible to a broad audience eager for social, strategic fun across devices.
Looking ahead, NC Play also teased its upcoming project: Lustration: The Game. This narrative-driven PC and web title expands the universe of the award-winning VR series Lustration, created by First Nations writer-director Ryan Griffen. Based on Griffen’s graphic novel published by Gestalt Comics, the game invites players into a noir-inspired afterlife setting where they explore themes of truth, memory, and misinformation through immersive storytelling and branching perspectives.
Griffen expressed enthusiasm about the transition from VR to interactive storytelling: “Seeing Lustration come to life as a game has been a longtime dream. This world was always meant to be explored, not just watched, and now players can experience the Between firsthand.”
Further details and a release timeline for Lustration: The Game will be shared later this summer.
For the latest updates on NC Play’s titles and community events, players can visit the NC Play website and join their Discord server.
About NC Play
NC Play is New Canvas’s dedicated label for social and interactive gaming experiences. Building on New Canvas’s expertise in immersive storytelling, NC Play creates accessible, emotionally engaging games designed for connection across VR, web, and mobile platforms.
About New Canvas
New Canvas is an innovative XR media company that merges cutting-edge technology with deep narrative experiences. Recognized for award-winning VR content and genre-defying games, New Canvas is a founding member of the Byron Bay XR Collective and acknowledges the Arakwal people, traditional custodians of the Bundjalung Country where the company is based.
This launch marks a significant step for NC Play as it broadens its reach into social multiplayer gaming while continuing to develop rich, story-driven experiences.
