TL;DR
Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest, has acquired the rights to AltspaceVR and plans to relaunch it this fall as a modernized social VR platform. The revival aims to bring back key features from its 2016-2017 era, supported by a team of former staff and community members.
Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest, has acquired the rights to the AltspaceVR name and announced plans to relaunch the social platform this fall. The revival aims to restore the platform’s core features and community experience, making it a significant development for social VR users and the industry.
Harris revealed on Reddit that he has been working with a team of former AltspaceVR staff and community members to rebuild the platform. The new Altspace will support features similar to those from 2016-2017, including customizable avatars and a social space designed for community engagement.
Harris also stated he has been collaborating with the original concept designer to modernize avatar design, including the reintroduction of the platform’s robot avatars. The relaunch will be a fresh version, but one that aims to capture what made AltspaceVR popular among users.
Prior to this, Harris developed Shane’s Editor, a space-making tool for AltspaceVR, which gained popularity before the platform shifted away from web-based development. Harris later created SideQuest, an alternative app store for Quest devices, which has played a significant role in the VR ecosystem despite facing its own challenges.
The relaunch of AltspaceVR could impact the social VR landscape by reintroducing a platform with a strong community focus, potentially attracting former users and new audiences. It also signals renewed interest from industry figures in reviving legacy platforms with modern updates, which could influence future development trends in social VR and the metaverse.
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Legacy and Revival of AltspaceVR
AltspaceVR was launched in May 2015 by developer Eric Romo and acquired by Microsoft in 2017, integrating it into its Mixed Reality efforts. The platform was popular for virtual meetups, events, and social gatherings until Microsoft shut it down in March 2023 amid layoffs and restructuring.
Shane Harris, known for his work with SideQuest and community tools, announced his acquisition of the AltspaceVR name earlier this year. His plan is to bring back the platform with a focus on community-driven features and modern avatar customization, aiming to recapture its original appeal.
“We recently acquired the rights to the Altspace name and have the motivation, experience and backing to bring it back in all its glory.”
— Shane Harris
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Remaining Unknowns About the Relaunch
Details about the specific features, user experience, and release date are still emerging. It is unclear how closely the new platform will resemble the original AltspaceVR or how it will address previous limitations and community feedback. The timeline for the full launch and the platform’s final feature set have not been confirmed.
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Next Steps for AltspaceVR’s Revival
Harris and his team plan to share regular updates over the coming weeks and months. The focus will be on finalizing development, testing features with community input, and establishing a launch timeline. Industry observers will be watching for early access opportunities and platform demonstrations.
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Key Questions
When is AltspaceVR expected to relaunch?
The platform is planned to relaunch this fall, but an exact date has not yet been announced.
Will the new AltspaceVR support custom avatars?
Yes, Harris confirmed that the relaunch will support custom avatars, including modernized versions of the original robot avatars.
What features will the new AltspaceVR have?
It will aim to include features from the 2016-2017 era, focusing on social spaces, events, and community engagement, though specific details are still being finalized.
How is this different from other social VR platforms?
This revival intends to bring back the community-driven focus of AltspaceVR, with an emphasis on nostalgia and improved customization, potentially filling a niche in the social VR space.
Will Microsoft be involved in the relaunch?
There has been no indication that Microsoft is involved; the project is led by Shane Harris and his team at SideQuest.
Source: UploadVR
