Spear Interactive and Pyramid Lake Games have been developing their Varsity High School Football video game full time since February 2022. While no release date has been given they do plan on releasing for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Varsity High School Football will feature a realistic on-field simulation experience with cutting-edge graphics, officially licensed equipment and a dynasty mode that allows you to step into the roles of either a Coach or Player as you strive to guide your local team to a state championship across several seasons.
The goal is to establish an expansive, customizable football universe that offers diverse experiences, depending on team location. It will be your responsibility to handle the team’s relationships and meet their expectations by engaging with the players and their parents, coaching staff, boosters, other regional teams and much more.
Achieving success could elevate someone to hometown hero status, while inadequate management might result in season-altering scandals that could prompt the most sweeping coaching changes ever witnessed in a video game.
Below is all of the current information we received from Spear, a well-known figure in the community due to contributions to various football titles. You can stay updated on their progress through Twitter , in our Forum thread (where Spear pokes his head in occasionally) and on this page, as we will continue to add new updates from Spear whenever he has the time to provide them.
Varsity: Quarterly Highlights
Q1 2022 (Jan – Mar)
- Loaded 39,000 cities with real world demographic and weather data into our game.
- Developed team generation system for districts/groups based on location.
- Interviewed high school coaches for Dynasty/Career mode insights.
- Began player name generation.
- Development team expansion.
Q2 2022 (Apr – Jun)
- Developed core data infrastructure for Coaches including various attributes.
- Began Coach contract generation and tracking.
- On-field gameplay development started with players being controller-operated.
- Introduced brand/mascot generation system for schools to improve team naming.
- Advanced the IK system for football-based movements.
- Established systems for generating Athletic Directors, Head Coaches, and Assistant Coaches.
- Started 3D modeling for stadium environments.
- Secured approval as a game development partner with Sony for PlayStation.
Q3 2022 (Jul – Sep)
- Purchased the Xsens MVN Link motion capture suit.
- Developed dynamic state league structures (1A-6A) for different state sizes.
- Announced dynamic body customization for player models.
- Introduced dynamic playoff systems for each state based on size.
- Began capturing QB animations using the Xsens motion capture suit.
- Roster generation enhanced with factors like school/county/city size.
- Laid groundwork for field customization.
- Started the UI/UX design and development for Dynasty Mode’s off-season.
Q4 2022 (Oct – Dec)
- Produced 3D assets for the sidelines (e.g., heaters, fans, ice chests).
- Created 3D assets for stadiums (press boxes, concession stands).
- Added functionalities in Dynasty Mode for team management and gameplay experience.
- Advanced 11v11 offensive gameplay prototyping.
- Established positional training programs in Dynasty Mode.
- Developed a system for player activities outside of their high school team.
- Introduced a new lighting system “Friday Night Lights.”
- Created new rural and suburban options for school fields.
- Improved quarterback gameplay with a focus on pocket movement.
Q1 2023 (Jan – Mar)
- Introduced urban environment backdrops.
- Enhanced saving and loading for dynasties.
- Added lifelike motion for receivers adjusting to ball throws.
- Built summer off-season in Dynasty Mode.
- Schools now manage facility maintenance affecting game day experience.
- Implemented player details like speed, height, and weight into gameplay.
- Introduced “TheBleedingRed21” as a new full-time developer.
- Enabled setting of positional depth charts using available players.
Q2 2023 (Apr – Jun)
- 3D modeled customizable helmets with various options.
- Enhanced QB gameplay with the scramble feature.
- Expanded Dynasty Mode with better UI/UX design and player data management.
- Partnered with Xenith for helmet inclusion.
- Introduced in-depth player customization options.
- Added system for training players in specific positions.
- Initiated in-game practice/scrimmages in the off-season.
- Improved the game’s artwork and customization features.
Q3 2023 (Jul – Sep)
- Introduced playable mini-camps, focusing on QB passing drills.
- Enhanced player customization with diverse body types and features.
- Coaches can now start as OC or DC and influence player training.
- Implemented a fundraising feature with boosters.
- Integrated nearly 300 new animations from motion capture sessions.
- Added new community requested equipment options like scrunched socks.
- Significantly enhanced Dynasty mode’s UI/UX, with improved job search experience.
Varsity: Monthly Development Updates
March 2022 Updates
Real World Data
“Loading in all cities, counties, and states to start letting the player select any location they want to start their career in. We are still very much in the testing stage and could potentially trim down this number but we loaded in over 39,000 different cities. This means your Coaching Carousel journey could potentially take you to any one of those cities.”
Team Generation
“We have developed a team generation system that will create districts/groups/conferences based on location and surrounding areas. This would also be used to generate statewide conferences and playoffs. There is a bit of under the hood magic happening here.”
Research
“Interviews with high school coaches to validate our off-season experience roadmap for a Dynasty/Career mode.”
Player Generation
“Started the process to generate first and last names for players. FWIW, James West and Jermaine Marshall were the first players ever generated. Of course, this is all test data so don’t expect them to be in the game unless the algorithm creates their names again!”
Expansion
“We have engaged in discussions with new potential team members and expect to grow our team further in April.”
April 2022 Updates
Coach Creation
“We have created the core data infrastructures for Coaches. This includes data points for their name, appearance, hometown, daytime job, coaching staff position, playbooks, impact on each player position, personality, ambition, development, scouting, charisma, discipline, etc. Each coach will feel unique and add to the team dynamic.”
Coach Contracts
“In our quest to create the largest coaching carousel in video game history, we have started the process to generate Coach contracts. This includes generating and tracking various goals and overall job ootsecurity.”
On-field Gameplay
“With our team size currently at 5, we have started on-field gameplay development. We are happy to report we have players running around on the field with use of a controller. We are currently using prototype assets, so there is nothing definitive to show at this time. But we are excited to start the gameplay process and recognize how important it is to provide you with a realistic, responsive and smooth experience on the field.”
Team Generation
“We have developed a mascot generation system that will assist in naming school’s mascots, branding, colors, jerseys, etc. We have also improved the process to name actual schools. Of course, you will still be able to edit everything!”
May 2022 Updates
Gameplay
“During the past month we have focused on our IK system and implementing football based movements (juke, spin, ball carrying). We have also conducted some early performance tests to ensure we are laying the framework for a smooth 60 FPS experience.”
Dynasty
“We’ve built systems in place to generate Athletic Directors, Head Coach and Assistant Coaches. Each one having their own unique personality and goals. We are presently working on school generation and the factors that will impact your football team. This would include things like the local city population for student enrollment, other sports being played at the school and of course the school’s budget.”
Artwork
“Towards the end of May, we have started the artwork process for stadium environments and accompanying 3D assets. We will be sharing the progress on our Patreon and with the public in the coming months.”
PlayStation
“The first step in releasing a game is to get approved as a company to publish and develop games on the game consoles. Sony has approved our application and we are officially a game developer partner with them. We are working with Microsoft to secure the same type of approval.”
June 2022 Updates
Artwork
“We continued the artwork process for different assets that would appear within a stadium (different types of scoreboards, uprights, pilons, first down markers, etc.).”
Personality Archetypes
“We’ve started work on a personality archetype system for parents, players and coaches. Personalities will drive the game experience on and off the field. We plan to create a game universe that feels alive and is capable of creating some of your best sports video game memories.”
Gameplay
“We now have a working prototype of a passing skeleton with QB, WRs and DBs. Although we are still using placeholder assets, we can say the base foundation is there to call and execute a passing play. Big milestone for our team this early.”
School Depth
“It’s important that each school has a distinct feeling. Schools now have a ‘claim to fame’, mottos, real weather patterns and other school sports. Athletic Directors will also have different expectations, personalities and financial priorities. Each one having different tolerance levels for the football program.”
July 2022 Updates
Motion Capture
“We have purchased the Xsens MVN Link motion capture suit. This is the most high-performance motion capture suit on the market and will allow us to capture our own football animations. We plan to significantly invest into motion capture to provide a cutting-edge physics-based animation system. More news to come on this!”
State Structures
“We’ve developed a system to provide dynamic divisional state league structures with 1A-5A for small and medium sized states, and full 6A for larger states like Texas.”
Customization Suite
“We know how important customization is and that’s why we are happy to announce that each player model will have body morphing customization. This will give an accurate representation of HS athletes, from undersized to oversized and everything in-between! We will have more news on equipment customization in the coming months.”
Playoff Systems
“We have added dynamic playoff systems for each state featuring options like divisional champions and one true state champion. Players can adjust the number of teams that make it to the playoffs when starting a dynasty for their state.”
September 2022 Updates
QB Animations
“We have started capturing various QB animations to be used within our gameplay prototype. All animations are being captured using our brand new Xsens motion capture suit. Although these are still prototype animations, we have been very pleased with the results of the suit thus far.”
Roster Generation
“We have further built our roster generation to take into consideration school/county/city size. This includes a dynamic progression logic from year to year focusing on player height, weight and ratings. We have also added in a boom/bust system.”
Customizable Fields
“We have begun to lay foundation for field customization. We are working on the ability for you to customize your field’s endzone, logos and even the color of the grass/turf. We plan on adding multiple types of grass and turf. Represent your school by customizing your field!”
UI/UX Development
“We have started the UI/UX design and development of the Dynasty Mode’s offseason. This includes a fully functional US map that players can navigate by region and state in order to look at jobs and other data within the Dynasty. Where will your Coaching career take you across the country?”
October 2022 Updates
3D Assets – Sidelines
“We want our sidelines to feel full of life and that’s why we’ve spent the past month producing 3D assets that will populate the sidelines. Things like heaters, fans, ice chests, stationary bikes and more. We will explore the ability to add physics to these objects at some point. To check out some of these development screenshots, join us on Patreon!”
3D Assets – Stadium
“We have created additional 3D assets for our stadiums. This includes new press boxes, concession stands and box offices. These assets have been designed to be modular in order to maximize stadium customization.”
Dynasty Mode
“Players can now start a new Dynasty, create their coach, navigate to a map of the United States to view open jobs, team information, and accept the job to begin the winter portion of the off-season. This process involves connecting various functions across the game and begins to tackle the full game loop of Dynasty Mode.”
11 on 11 Gameplay
“We have continued to advance the 11v11 offensive gameplay experience by adding linemen, scorebug to track points, downs and timeouts. Advancing our gameplay prototype to a full experience of marching down the field to score a touchdown is another giant leap forward for our team.”
November 2022 Updates
Training Programs
“Coaching Staff in Dynasty will now set positional training programs to help with things like strength, speed and nutrition depending on the position group.”
Dynasty Budgets
“Players can now set goals for the annual budget usage and make decisions to invest in off season upgrades like a new field, new equipment, bleachers, scoreboard, etc. Boosters are now dynamically contributing to team budgets.”
Animations
“We have recorded and imported more animations into the game – including QB pocket specific animations, WR stances and general player walking, jogging and running animations.”
Dynasty Logic
“We have developed a system for players to inform their Coaches of their plans outside of their HS team. This includes whether or not a player intends to play another sport at school, 7on7, applying for jobs, or if they will be available for additional training programs.”
December 2022 Updates
Friday Night Lights
“New lighting system with sunset and evening showcasing the high school football atmosphere that you know and love.”
Data Management
“Data management and dynasty save system in place to manage the thousands of custom teams we will ship with the game, players, parents, and more. We are close to defining the final number of custom teams you can have in a dynasty to replace existing ones.”
School/Field Models
“New rural and suburban location options for school field. Rural is surrounded by farmland and suburban is surrounded by homes and small commercial buildings.”
Gameplay
“Implemented system for true-to-life quarterback pocket play with camera movements, looking off defenders, and ability to play a rough series of four down football.”
January 2023 Updates
Environment Backdrops
“We have added new urban environment backdrops inspired by real cities like Chicago and New York City.”
Data Management
“We are now successfully loading and saving up to 5 dynasties including all teams from your conference, division, state, and country. We are still working to define the final number of teams we will include with the game but we are currently generating between 150-1,500 teams per state depending on size for development purposes. All with their own schools, teams, players, parents, coaches, and boosters.”
Receiver Movements
“We have implemented a new system to get the most lifelike motion on the field blending between high quality motion capture animation and ball trajectory logic to allow WRs to adjust to balls thrown above, behind and below them naturally.”
Dynasty Summer Offseason
“We’ve progressed into building out the summer off-season that includes a breakdown of new incoming players that have enrolled in your school, winter/spring training results, setting your starters, organizing the depth chart, and an opportunity to use new booster funds to upgrade your stadium.”
February 2023 Updates
Player Jerseys
“We have completed the 3D modeling and texturing for player jerseys. This includes options for base jerseys, jerseys with a t-shirt underneath, and a jersey with a QB protector underneath. These jerseys will be fully customizable with colors, logos, fonts, and patterns to match common styles seen in High School football.”
Replay System
“We began work on our replay system. This will power both the player-driven replay system found in the pause menu as well as the automated replay system that will trigger after big plays.”
In-Depth Training
“Coaches now have the ability to set training budgets for the team in the off-season between weight room, speed and agility, conditioning, film study, and positional focus areas like “QB Room”. Each can increase the player’s ratings and is directly influenced by their individual potential, personalities, and the coach’s focus. For example, the Offensive Coordinator may have a running back focus. While the offense will benefit from training programs, the running backs on the team will see an added boost. This adds to the importance of hiring the right staff for your vision of the team. Some players may have higher potential, or none at all, and that also influences the speed in which they improve.”
March 2023 Updates
Facilities
“Schools now manage the maintenance of their field, lights, press box, scoreboards, and stands/bleachers. The quality of these items will not only impact attendance and revenue generated from games, but also the likelihood of injuries for a poorly kept field. Players may also upgrade items to increase the game day experience for fans with more seating, better lighting, nicer scoreboards, etc.”
Gameplay
“Player details like individual speed, height, and weight now dynamically adjust catching behavior animations. Short players may need to reach up for a catch where taller players can catch the same pass in their chest for example. New plays have been added.”
New Developer
“TheBleedingRed21 has joined the Varsity team as a full-time developer and has been assisting in our Dynasty and UI/UX Development. TheBleedingRed is known for his work on the College Revamped mod.”
Depth Charts
“Players can now set positional depth charts using any available players. Small rural teams in the Midwest may only have 20 players on the roster or no true QB, so it will be important to slot players in that can give you a chance to win. Maybe your starting MLB has the most accurate arm but can only throw short routes, but you have a DB that is lightning fast. Do you start the MLB or DB at QB and what style of football with you play? The choice is yours.”
April 2023 Updates
3D Modeling
“We’ve modeled customizable helmets featuring different options for matte, metallic, colors, and various logo placements. You can also customize your facemask, chinstrap, and visor colors. Progress of helmet assets is showcased.”
Gameplay (April)
“Players can now scramble with their QB. Triggering a scramble dynamically switches between pocket movement and running animations. Varsity now includes formation and package player location visualization in the UI during play calling, as well as some new formations and plays. Plays can be run out of various formations and packages allowing dynamic play calling.”
Dynasty
“We’ve been hard at work continually refining the Dynasty off-season experience, improving flow, making new data available to players when choosing their job – like seeing local and state popularity, or the facility maintenance quality – along with adding filtering and sorting to the depth chart management system.”
May 2023 Updates
Xenith
“We have officially partnered with Xenith to include their helmets in Varsity!”
Coach & Player Customization
“We have begun building a dedicated player customization menu that will allow you to see the difference in not only the player’s height and weight but also their muscle tone. You will be able to see the size difference in many ways with incoming Freshmen and Seniors. We don’t simply scale up the player models. Each player is truly different. Right down to their facial features.”
Position Training
“All players in high school football are athletes without predefined positions. Some let their ego get in their way and want to be a star receiver, but they have terrible hands. As the coach, you can put each player through position-specific training camps to increase specific ratings. Maybe your backup QB would be a better MLB. Put him in the Linebacker camp in the Spring and see if he takes to it and make positional changes going into the new season. Different players have different potential, can hit their ceiling quickly, and even have different ratings for each position. This is your opportunity to prove you can make it as a coach and build a team around your vision.”
Gameplay (May)
“You can now load your team into practice/scrimmage during the off-season to help you get a feel for each player’s abilities. We’ve begun refining the camera system for visualizing your play art on the field.”
June 2023 Updates
Player Sports Updates
“At the start of each stage of the season (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall), you receive updates on the player’s availability for training and games. We now only show proper sports for the time of year in combination with what sports the school offers. For instance, hockey and basketball occur in the winter, while Track & Field is in the Spring.”
Gameplay Updates
“We’ve initiated the integration of on-field gameplay with our dynasty mode. During any off-season phase, you can test players on the field in various positions before deciding their training or placement in the depth chart.”
New Texas Style High School
“We’ve introduced a Texas-style high school field that represents larger programs, designed to host hundreds of fans during Friday night games.”
Equipment Customization
“New game features include modeled arm braces, knee braces, and Quarterback playbook wristbands. Additionally, jersey and pants setups have been enhanced for optimal customization, from color to stripe styles, shoulder layouts, and stitching details.”
Dynasty Mode
“Roster screens have been redesigned to offer detailed player information including their name, photo, overall rating, height, weight, and emotional state. Furthermore, the off-season now incorporates updates on other sports a player might be participating in. Boosters’ donation capacities are categorized into small, medium, and large, with the amount depending on the size of the community and the program.”
User Experience
“For an improved user experience, dynasty screens have been revamped to ensure consistent sorting in all roster and data tables. Sticky columns have been implemented to keep a player’s name and position visible when scrolling through ratings or stats. Depth charts and training programs also now offer auto-fill capabilities.”
July 2023 Updates
Mini Camps
“To help understand player strengths and weaknesses, the game has introduced playable mini camps. The focus this month was on the QB passing skeleton, particularly pocket movement and passing to dummy targets. This effort will feed into the upcoming motion capture session for QBs in August.”
Customization
“The game now offers comprehensive jersey customization, including logo sizing and placement on various gear. There are over 1,000 combination possibilities for helmet, jersey, and pant styles. Additionally, players’ models have been refined for diverse body types and features, from height and muscle mass to facial structures.”
Dynasty Mode
“Wrapping up the in-depth off-season development, the team has shifted towards UI design implementation, incorporating designs from June. Features like auto-filling depth charts for spring and summer positions have been added. The game also introduces female coaching staff and includes business entities for booster programs.”
Incoming Players
“In dynasty mode, new players may join your football program either through other sports or school transfers. Coaches have the autonomy to decide a player’s position based on their potential and the team’s needs.”
August 2023 Updates
Mini Camp Drills
“Significant time has been invested in perfecting player footwork to make it more realistic, particularly when a player changes direction. To stay focused on this, mini camp drills have been expanded, especially for capturing QB pocket movement and various throwing motions.”
Incoming Players
“While prioritizing gameplay, the team acknowledges the importance of aesthetics. Hence, improvements have been made to player models, equipment quality, and rigging to achieve a more realistic look. Players can now fully customize their gear, from jerseys and pants to gloves and shoes.”
Coaching Jobs
“For those who aspire to coach, the game offers the chance to start as an OC or DC, allowing them to gain experience and influence player training results. Job opportunities can be influenced by the head coach’s personality, and coaches might need to adapt or find new jobs based on the head coach’s preferences.”
Fundraising
“The game has gamified the fundraising aspect. Boosters, based on their historical support and sentiment towards the program, can donate funds. The amount can be influenced by the coach’s approach – whether they take risks in asking for more money or play it safe.”
September 2023
Motion Capture Sessions
“This month saw the integration of nearly 300 new animations for the game, thanks to a motion capture session with Quarterback Michael Scarfing. The session focused on various gameplay elements, such as evading in the pocket, huddles, and different types of throws. These new animations are set to replace the temporary ones previously in the game, promising a more refined gaming experience.”
Player Model Updates
“Feedback-driven updates have been implemented, especially concerning player equipment. Among the top requested items were scrunched socks, which have now been added to the game. Furthermore, the game continues to expand its customization options by offering varied sock lengths and compressions.”
Dynasty UI/UX
“Significant effort has been directed towards enhancing the user experience, specifically in the dynasty mode. Improvements span across fundraising, depth chart management, and off-season navigation. A highlight of the update is the revamped coaching job search experience, designed to be more intuitive for new players. The team is also rolling out a comprehensive team field customization suite.”
