In this article, we will explore all aspects related to AltspaceVR. From its origin to its impact on today's society, through its applications in different areas, AltspaceVR has become a topic of growing interest in recent years. Through a detailed and rigorous analysis, we will examine its evolution over time, as well as its relevance today. Additionally, we will address the opinions of experts in the field, who will offer their perspectives and reflections on AltspaceVR. By comparing different points of view and evaluating empirical evidence, this article aims to provide a comprehensive and complete view of AltspaceVR.
Developer(s) | Microsoft |
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Initial release | May 2015; defunct as of March 10, 2023 |
Operating system | Windows 10, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive, Mac OS Beta |
Type | Virtual reality community |
Website | altvr |
AltspaceVR was a social VR platform that was founded in 2013 by Eric Romo and launched its initial product in May 2015. In 2017 it was acquired by Microsoft and became part of the Mixed Reality division (alongside notable products like HoloLens and HoloLens 2) within the Cloud and AI group. Some elements of the platform appear in Microsoft Mesh.
The platform largely consisted of user-generated spaces called "worlds", which could be visited by other users. Individuals could gather, talk, collaborate, and be co-present in small to large groups.
The platform was regularly home to a wide variety of live virtual events from VR church and LGBTQI+ meetups to large business conferences and magic shows.
In January 2023 it was announced on the AltspaceVR Homepage that the service would be shutting down on March 10, 2023.
AltspaceVR was organised in spaces called "worlds", which could be found and accessed via a floating menu or via in-world "teleporters". Some large worlds, such as the "Campfire", were built and maintained by official developers as places for users to meet and interact. As of May 2022, AltVR removed all developer-maintained worlds.
Altspace's internal menus included a list of "featured" user-defined worlds and a real-time list of the most "popular" worlds, arranged by the number of users currently visiting each world. Other menus listed current and planned "events", which took place inside official or user-generated worlds.
Notable events that took place within AltspaceVR included:
AltspaceVR supported several VR headsets:
The platform was available as a traditional desktop application for Mac and Windows, and had a non-VR Android app until 2019.