How Wildlife Studios Prototyped Real-Time Team Collaboration on SpatialChat

The Context Behind the Exploration

As a global mobile gaming company, Wildlife Studios operates in a highly collaborative environment where teams constantly exchange ideas, iterate quickly, and stay aligned across functions. While tools like Slack, Discord, and Zoom support communication, they often separate conversations into either asynchronous threads or scheduled calls.

In this context, SpatialChat was introduced as an exploratory tool and an opportunity to test whether a more interactive, spatial environment could offer a different way for teams to communicate. Rather than addressing a single defined need, the focus was on understanding how a shared virtual space might influence everyday interactions.

This initial phase was intentionally lightweight, allowing a small group within the organization to experiment with the platform without the constraints of a formal rollout.

Setting Up a Simple Interactive Space

The implementation centered around a single, uncomplicated environment. Instead of building multiple zones or structured layouts, the focus was on enabling quick access and ease of use. This allowed participants to enter the space without onboarding complexity and begin interacting immediately.

The simplicity of the setup made it easier to test core features. Spatial audio and free movement became the primary elements shaping the experience, giving users the ability to approach conversations, listen in, and move between interactions naturally. Without a rigid format or agenda, the space functioned as an open environment where participants could explore how communication felt in a more fluid, proximity-based setting.

How Interaction Unfolded Inside the Space

Within this environment, conversations developed in an informal and unstructured way. Participants engaged in small-group discussions, often forming clusters based on immediate context or shared interest.

Unlike traditional calls, where everyone is part of the same conversation, SpatialChat allowed multiple discussions to take place simultaneously. Users could move between these clusters, join conversations in progress, or step away without disrupting others.

This created a different interaction dynamic. Conversations felt more spontaneous, with participants choosing when and how to engage rather than following a fixed speaking order. The absence of a central moderator or agenda encouraged a more relaxed communication style.

Movement played a key role in shaping this experience. By physically navigating the space, participants controlled their level of engagement, which introduced a sense of autonomy often missing in standard communication tools.

What Participation Looked Like

The sessions involved a small group of users, typically under 20 participants, creating an intimate environment for interaction. This scale allowed conversations to remain manageable while still offering enough diversity for multiple discussion threads.

Participants engaged in short, informal exchanges, often moving between conversations several times during a session. This pattern indicated active exploration, with users testing how the space could support different types of interaction.

Engagement was characterized by flexibility rather than structure. Conversations started and ended naturally, without the need for facilitation. This resulted in a steady flow of interaction, where participation was distributed across the group rather than concentrated around a few voices. The lightweight nature of the sessions also meant that users could enter and exit the space freely, contributing to a low-pressure environment that encouraged experimentation.

Exploring a Different Way to Communicate

One of the most noticeable aspects of the experience was how it contrasted with traditional tools. Instead of switching between chat threads and scheduled meetings, participants interacted within a single, shared space. This reduced the need for coordination and allowed communication to happen more organically. Questions could be asked and answered in real time, and discussions could evolve without the constraints of a predefined format.

The spatial aspect of the platform introduced a sense of presence, making interactions feel more immediate and contextual. Participants were not just exchanging messages—they were sharing a space, which subtly changed how conversations unfolded. For a team exploring new ways to collaborate, this provided valuable insight into how digital environments can influence communication patterns.

A First Step Toward Interactive Collaboration

Wildlife Studios’ use of SpatialChat reflects an early-stage exploration of spatial communication within a team setting. By testing the platform in a low-stakes environment, the team was able to experience a different approach to interaction defined by movement, proximity, and real-time presence.

The sessions demonstrated how even a simple setup can enable more fluid and natural conversations compared to traditional tools. Participants were able to engage on their own terms, move between discussions, and interact in a way that felt less constrained.

This exploration highlighted the potential of spatial environments to reshape how teams communicate. Even at a small scale, the experience offered a glimpse into a more interactive and flexible way of working where conversations are not scheduled or segmented, but shared and continuous.