Designing handcrafted immersive experiences.
We are an award-winning boutique studio based in Vancouver, making virtual reality more social and pushing the boundaries of immersive technologies.
XR (VR/AR)

Explore immersive new worlds in virtual reality or blend the digital and physical in augmented reality to unlock new ways of interacting with the world around you.

Game Design

Games are meant to be social. We use new technologies to create shared, engaging experiences that bring people together in unexpected ways.

Tech Ideation

We collaborate with forward-thinking companies to validate concepts, build prototypes, and assess technological feasibility, ensuring innovative ideas can become successful products.

Our mission is to make virtual reality more accessible and social.
Crafting immersive, shared experiences in VR and AR.

A studio focused on innovation and shared play.

Founded by two brothers, we know that virtual reality can be so much more than a single-player experience.

We believe the future of VR will be social. Virtual reality doesn’t have to be isolating. VR is awesome, and we want to create a safe and accessible space to enjoy it with friends and family. Using innovative, leading-edge technologies and gameplay mechanics, we will shatter preconceptions around virtual reality and bring the joy of couch co-op back into mainstream gaming culture.

Turn your dreams into reality.
Our Services
XR Development

We specialize in creating engaging interactive experiences for gaming, education, enterprise, and brand activations. Our cross-platform XR solutions unlock new dimensions of interaction, seamlessly blending the digital and physical worlds.

Technological Prototyping

As your dedicated R&D partner, we validate forward-thinking concepts and create working prototypes to test ideas in action. We ensure every aspect is thoroughly examined, so your solutions are innovative and robust.

Game Development

We specialize in crafting social gaming experiences that bring people together in creative and unexpected ways. Our team helps you realize your vision from concept to completion.

Consultation & Ideation

Want to take your brilliant idea or existing game into VR/AR? Our experienced team will help validate concepts, assess technological feasibility, and solve tough challenges, guiding you toward innovative solutions.

We're small but impressive. Bringing ideas to life through creativity and collaboration.
01 Creative Vision
We pride ourselves on understanding both the needs of our clients and the expectations of their audience. Whether it's creating unique gaming experiences or blending physical and digital worlds, every project begins with a clear and collaborative creative vision.
02 Technical Expertise
Our team excels at solving complex challenges with technical precision. Leveraging our experience across multiple disciplines, we deliver immersive experiences that are built to be scalable, flexible, and sustainable.
03 Collaborative Process
We believe in partnership and collaboration. We work closely with clients at every stage—taking feedback, adapting to changes, and ensuring a shared sense of ownership over the final product. Together, we bring ideas to life.
Our Team

We are a small, award-winning team passionate about immersive media. With a focus on crafting memorable experiences, our team of experienced designers and developers are prepared to make your dreams a reality.

Shane Nilsson
Director and Co-Founder
Shane co-founded Coal Car Studio. He brings a unique blend of creative direction and technical insight to all of the studio's projects, with years of experience mentoring young developers.
Tyler Nilsson
Technical Director and Co-Founder
Tyler is an award-winning developer, fluent in multiple programming languages, with a passion for creating seamless social experiences in VR.
Kevin Gamble
Producer
Kevin excels in managing creative teams, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality content, and has a passion for building cohesive, efficient workflows.
Christian Ferreira
Senior Gameplay Programmer
Christian is a skilled game developer with a passion for gameplay mechanics and problem-solving, bringing years of experience in Unity and AR/VR development.
Abel Waller
XR Developer
Abel specializes in developing XR tools and gameplay systems, with a passion for educational and training experiences.
Brianna Drew
XR Developer
Brianna is a software developer who loves building immersive XR systems and mechanics, contributing to creative and technical aspects of our projects.
Bruno Costa
XR Developer
Bruno works on developing XR systems for entertainment and educational experiences, bringing his passion for innovative problem-solving to every project.
Jarjay Chen
XR Developer
Jarjay brings extensive knowledge of VR system architecture and UI development to enhance the user experience in our projects.
James Fraser
Principal 3D Artist
James is a veteran artist with over 25 years of experience, specializing in bringing creative ideas to life through collaboration and innovation.
Carlos Fernandez
3D Artist
Carlos creates 3D models with a focus on realism and innovation, specializing in both hard surface and organic modeling for various projects.
Liana Russell
Art Director & Concept Artist
Liana leads the art direction at Coal Car Studio, combining conceptual design with industrial skills to create visually stunning experiences.
Jenny Bilotserkivska
Graphic Artist / 3D
Jenny focuses on building high-quality 3D models and assets, bringing creative flair and attention to detail to every design she creates.
Our Portfolio

We have developed numerous virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. Our work ranges from an educational interactive documentary on electronics waste to work on a cooperative arcade experience. Below are some examples of our work.

Our Clients

Coal Car Studio is experienced in working with global brands to small independent artists. Whether you need consulting on how to approach a problem or want to build an entire new experience, we've got you covered.

If you have a project that you would like to make a (virtual) reality, let's chat!

VIFF Signals Showcase
Siggraph Immersive Pavilion Showcase
Proto Award 2016
Indie Prize Finalist 2016
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Contact Us