Microsoft is closing down its metaverse platform AltspaceVR and has has announced that as of the 10th of March, AltspaceVR will no longer be operational.
This isn’t the first time the plug was almost pulled on AltspaceVR. A few years ago, the developers announced they needed more funding to keep their servers running, only to have Microsoft step in and save AltspaceVR by acquiring the company.
From the information supplied, it appears that the decision to sunset the platform is so Microsoft can shift their focus towards the Mesh platform. For those who don’t know, Mesh is a platform that allows developers to build mixed-reality applications to enable users to interact with each other and their surroundings in a shared digital space.
According to a statement from the team at AltspaceVR,
“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 made the difficult decision to sunset the AltpaceVR platform on March 10, 2023, and shift our focus to support immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh… With Mesh, we aspire to build a platform that offers the widest opportunity to all involved, including creators, partners and customers.”
While announcing the company’s closure, The AltspaceVR team has encouraged creators and developers from their community to host final events and download their content before the March shutdown.