TL;DR
Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest, has acquired the rights to AltspaceVR and plans to relaunch the social platform this fall. The new version aims to restore key features and modernize avatars, with involvement from original team members.
Shane Harris, CEO of SideQuest, has acquired the rights to the defunct social VR platform AltspaceVR and announced a relaunch scheduled for this fall. The revival aims to bring back the platform with features similar to its peak years, supported by a team of former Altspace staff and community members. This development marks a significant effort to revive a once-popular social VR space after its shutdown in March 2023.
Harris revealed on Reddit that he has secured the rights to the AltspaceVR name and is leading a team to rebuild the platform with a focus on community engagement and nostalgia. The new Altspace will incorporate features from its 2016-2017 era, including support for custom avatars and modernized robot avatars, with input from original designers.
Harris’s team includes former Altspace staff and influential community members, working to determine the platform’s core features and user experience. Harris also mentioned his previous work on Shane’s Editor, a space-making tool for Altspace, which he plans to adapt to the new platform.
This effort follows Harris’s history of developing SideQuest, an alternative app store for Quest devices, and his involvement in broader VR community projects. The relaunch aims to restore Altspace’s community-driven spirit, which was a hallmark of its earlier success.
This relaunch could reintroduce a well-loved social VR space to current and future users, filling a gap left by its 2023 shutdown. It signals renewed interest in community-centric VR environments and the potential for legacy platforms to adapt to modern VR landscapes. The project also highlights the ongoing importance of community involvement and nostalgia in VR platform development, which could influence future social VR initiatives.
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Background of AltspaceVR and Its Closure
AltspaceVR was founded by developer Eric Romo in 2015 and acquired by Microsoft in 2017, becoming part of its Mixed Reality efforts. It gained popularity as a social platform where users could meet, attend events, and create spaces. Its shutdown in March 2023 was part of Microsoft’s broader restructuring and layoffs, leaving many users and community members without a dedicated social VR space.
Meanwhile, SideQuest, founded by Shane Harris, grew into a major platform for Quest users, hosting millions of users and supporting alternative app distribution. Despite its success, SideQuest faced layoffs in February 2025 amid shifts in the VR industry and platform policies. Harris’s acquisition of AltspaceVR suggests a renewed focus on community-building and legacy platform revival in VR.
“We recently acquired the rights to the Altspace name and we have the motivation, experience and backing to bring it back in all its glory.”
— Shane Harris
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Details of the Platform’s New Features and Timeline
While Harris has outlined plans to restore features from 2016-2017 and involve original team members, specific details about the platform’s final feature set, user interface, and launch date remain unconfirmed. It is also unclear how the platform will integrate with current VR hardware and ecosystems, or how it will compete with existing social VR spaces.
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Upcoming Milestones for AltspaceVR Relaunch
Harris and his team plan to share regular updates over the coming weeks, including development progress and feature announcements. The platform’s beta testing phase, community feedback sessions, and official launch are expected before the end of this year. Monitoring these developments will be key to understanding the platform’s final form and reception.
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Key Questions
Will AltspaceVR support current VR headsets?
It is not yet confirmed, but the relaunch aims to support modern VR hardware, including Oculus Quest and PC-based VR systems.
What features will the new AltspaceVR have?
Details are still emerging, but Harris has indicated support for custom avatars and features similar to those from 2016-2017.
When will the new AltspaceVR be available?
The platform is planned to relaunch this fall, with more specific timelines to be announced soon.
Will the platform be free to use?
While not officially confirmed, previous versions of AltspaceVR were free, and the new platform is expected to follow a similar model.
How will this affect the VR social space landscape?
If successful, the relaunch could revive a major community hub and influence how legacy platforms are integrated into the current VR ecosystem.
Source: UploadVR
