If you’ve got a virtual reality (VR) headset you’ll likely have tried some of the social apps such as vTime and AltspaceVR for example. For those users looking for the latest way to communicate in VR, next month sees the launch of VRChat across a range of headsets.
Set to launch via Steam Early Access on 1st February for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and OSVR, VRChat joins a genre that’s rapidly growing and will face some stiff competition. To that end the company has ensured the app includes a myriad of features, keeping users entertained as well as offering plenty of options to personalise the experience.
Users will be able to create their own full body avatars, with lip sync, eye tracking/blinking, and complete range of motions using its Unity SDK. This can also be utilised to build worlds or even start an event.
Or friends can just hangout for a chat in a wealth of different environments, watch YouTube videos, paint and sculpt. Or for the slightly more active there are video games like Capture the Flag, Battle Discs and Bowling as well as community built games.
Created as a passion project by founders Graham Gaylor and Jesse Joudrey, VRChat first appeared over two years ago via the Oculus VR Share Beta platform that existed at the time. Since then the team has grown to include Chief Creative Officer Ron Millar who worked at Blizzard on Warcraft and Starcraft, whilst picking up investment from HTC, GREE VR Capital and others.
The team hasn’t stated how long VRChat will be in early access, but on the Steam listing they do say that: “We’ve not set a time limit on that yet but as we move forward we’ll keep everyone updated with our progress.” Adding: “Many of our core systems are in place.”
For all the latest updates on VRChat, keep reading VRFocus.