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SideQuest has acquired the rights to AltspaceVR and plans to relaunch it this fall. The platform will feature familiar features from its original version, with new updates and a focus on community-building. The development involves former staff and aims to attract both original users and new audiences.
SideQuest, the team behind Quest’s alternative app library, is reviving Microsoft’s social VR platform AltspaceVR, with a planned relaunch set for this fall. The company acquired the rights to the platform after Microsoft shut it down in early 2023. This move aims to bring back a platform once popular for social VR experiences, with a focus on familiar features and community engagement, making it relevant for both original users and new audiences.
According to Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest, the company has acquired the rights to the AltspaceVR name and plans to launch a “brand new Altspace” that acts as a spiritual successor to the original platform. Harris revealed that the relaunch will include many of the features from the 2016-2017 era, such as social events, avatar customization, and community spaces, aiming to recapture the platform’s former appeal.
Harris also stated that he has assembled a team comprising former Altspace staffers and key contributors to help shape the new platform. Notably, Christian Boe, the original concept designer behind Altspace’s robots, will return, indicating the platform may feature robot avatars alongside traditional ones. Harris emphasized that the platform will feature regular updates and insights in the coming weeks and months.
While the original Altspace struggled to monetize during its lifetime, the relaunch aims to address this by exploring new economic models, potentially including creator monetization and event-driven revenue. The platform’s revival could appeal to VR users seeking a social space distinct from VRChat or Rec Room, especially those nostalgic for its earlier days or seeking a more socially tame environment.
The revival of AltspaceVR could influence the social VR landscape by providing a platform that emphasizes community, events, and social interaction, filling a niche between more open-ended platforms like VRChat and more casual environments like Rec Room. Its focus on relaunching with familiar features and former staff suggests an effort to recapture the platform’s original appeal, which could attract both nostalgic OG users and new VR audiences. Additionally, integrating new avatar options and community-driven features might help address past monetization challenges, potentially setting a new standard for social VR platforms.
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Historical Background and Previous Developments
Originally launched in 2015, AltspaceVR became one of the first successful social VR platforms, available across PC VR headsets, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go, and Oculus Quest devices. Microsoft acquired the platform in 2017, aiming to integrate it into its mixed reality ecosystem. However, in early 2023, Microsoft announced the shutdown of AltspaceVR to allocate resources to its cloud-based collaboration platform, Microsoft Mesh, which was later deprecated in 2025 and integrated into Microsoft Teams. Despite its decline, Altspace maintained a dedicated user base and was remembered for its social events, avatar customization, and community spaces. The platform’s inability to monetize effectively was a key factor in its shutdown, as it lacked a robust creator economy or marketplace.
The announcement by SideQuest marks a significant shift, with the company acquiring rights and aiming to relaunch the platform, potentially revitalizing its social VR experience for a new generation.
“We’ve acquired the rights to AltspaceVR and are committed to building a new version that respects its roots while adapting for today’s VR audience.”
— Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest
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Unanswered Questions About the Platform’s Future
It is not yet clear how extensively SideQuest will develop the new AltspaceVR, including details about its monetization model, avatar customization capabilities, or how it will differentiate itself from competitors. The timeline for the full rollout remains tentative, and the extent of community involvement in shaping the platform is still to be announced. Additionally, whether the platform will attract a significant user base or how it will compete with existing social VR environments remains uncertain.
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Upcoming Steps and Development Timeline
SideQuest plans to provide regular updates on the platform’s development in the coming weeks and months, including beta testing phases, feature announcements, and community engagement initiatives. The official relaunch is targeted for fall 2024, with more detailed information to be shared as the project progresses. The company also intends to involve former Altspace staff and community members in shaping the new platform to ensure it meets user expectations.
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Key Questions
When will AltspaceVR relaunch?
SideQuest has announced plans for a relaunch in fall 2024.
Will the new AltspaceVR be similar to the original?
Yes, the platform will feature many of the same features from the 2016-2017 era, including social events and avatar customization, with updates based on community feedback.
Who is involved in the relaunch?
SideQuest has assembled a team including former Altspace staffers and contributors like Christian Boe, the original robot concept designer.
Will AltspaceVR be monetized or have a creator economy?
The relaunch aims to explore new economic models, but specific details about monetization are still to be announced.
How will AltspaceVR differentiate itself from platforms like VRChat?
It will focus on a socially tame environment, community events, and familiar features that appeal to nostalgic and new users seeking a different social VR experience.
Source: Road to VR
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