Cream Soda and Yandex Music Launch Free VR Game Tied to the Internet Friends Album
A collaboration between the tech-forward music group Cream Soda and Yandex Music has produced a free virtual reality game tied to the release of the band’s new album Internet Friends. The project, announced by Yandex Music’s press service, marks a notable moment in Russian music tech collaborations, blending interactive entertainment with a contemporary album rollout. The game invites players into a vivid nightclub setting where the central theme is the nightlife fantasy created by the band’s music and imagery, providing an immersive experience that goes beyond listening to tracks on streaming platforms. The initiative reflects a broader trend of artists experimenting with VR to enhance fan engagement and offer fans a fresh way to interact with a musical release. The collaboration underlines Yandex Music’s role in expanding multi-sensory listening experiences in the region and highlights Cream Soda’s willingness to explore new media formats for their audience.
In the game, players assume the role of a nightclub promoter tasked with building and decorating a dance floor, entertaining virtual guests, and shaping the club’s atmosphere. The experience centers on a club environment fueled by the sonic energy of Internet Friends, while the soundtrack to the VR adventure is drawn directly from the album itself. The development work was led by IThub games, a studio known for crafting interactive experiences that weave music, virtual environments, and social gameplay. A spokesperson from IThub games described the gameplay loop, noting that players can select virtual musicians and club attendees, curate the party, and even eject guests who threaten to ruin the mood. This playful mechanic adds a layer of strategy to the rhythm-centric action, creating a uniquely personal party-planning dynamic within a VR space.
Cream Soda is highlighted as the first Russian band to release a bespoke VR game, a milestone that underscores how fans consume music in the digital age. The project comes at a moment when the band enjoys strong streaming traction, with more than a million listeners tuning into their tracks on Yandex Music. The Internet Friends album, which had been anticipated by fans for three years, officially premiered on May 26 and features eleven tracks created with input from Dima Nova, Ilya Gadaev, and a new vocalist, Alisa Styazhkova. The release not only expands Cream Soda’s catalog but also elevates their presence in the tech-driven storytelling space, where music, visuals, and interactivity converge to offer a richer fan experience and a potential template for future cross-media projects.