TECH NEWS – It’s no coincidence that we should have a déjà vu feeling because Microsoft almost did something like it once before.

In 2017, the developers of AltspaceVR announced that they would have to shut down the servers because they didn’t have the funds to keep them running. Shortly after that, Microsoft knocked on their door with a takeover offer, and it looked like the Redmond-based company was looking to compete with Facebook, who was starting to turn to VR (which is why they bought Oculus, but now their VR headsets’ branding are under the parent company Meta).

AltspaceVR has been saved, but we have to say goodbye to it, as the game over happens on March 10: “As we look to the future, we see the opportunity for VR expanding beyond consumer into business and now have an even greater goal: a more open, accessible, and secure version of immersive experiences in the metaverse. To achieve that, we have decided to sunset the AltspaceVR platform on March 10, 2023, and shift our focus to support immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh. Over the coming weeks, we encourage the many creators and developers of the AltspaceVR community to host final events and download their content,” reads their announcement.

Microsoft Mesh is an MR (mixed reality – AR+VR, a combination of virtual and augmented) communications platform based on holograms that use 3D captures of people to make it look like they are in the same space. A joint effort between Microsoft and OceanX has created a hologram lab on board the OceanXplorer vessel. The scientists wearing HoloLens headsets on board can work together on the shore to process data from submersibles.

While AltspaceVR is focused on social experiences (club nights with DJs, book launches, fashion shows, church meetings, language classes, and stand-up comedy nights…), Microsoft Mesh is more business-oriented. VRChat has a more meme-like approach than AltspaceVR, so it cannot be called a suitable alternative.

The Q&A on data downloads can be found here.

Source: PCGamer