AltspaceVR is being prepared for a return. In a Reddit announcement, SideQuest co-founder and CEO Shane Harris said his team has acquired the rights to the Altspace name and intends to launch a new version later this year.
This is not Microsoft switching the old service back on. Harris describes the project as a brand-new Altspace and a spiritual successor designed to recapture the character of the platform in its earlier years.
The announcement is an important commitment, but many product details and the exact release date are still to come.
What was announced
Harris says the team is aiming to relaunch Altspace in the fall with features and functionality inspired by the platform’s 2016–2017 era.
The project reportedly includes former Altspace staff alongside experienced original players. According to the post, that group is currently deciding how the service will work, which features should be prioritised and what is essential to make the return feel authentic.
The announcement also promises more frequent development updates over the coming weeks and months, including behind-the-scenes reels, design-process videos and further product details.
The robots are returning
One of the clearest creative commitments is the return of Altspace’s robot identity.
Harris says he has been working with Christian Boe, the concept designer behind the original robots. The new designs are expected to modernise that familiar look while still acknowledging the originals.
Planned avatar work mentioned in the announcement includes:
- Multiple robot variations
- Accessories
- Support for creating custom avatars
- A visual direction connected to classic Altspace
No final avatar system or creator workflow has been demonstrated yet.
Events and platform availability
Community events were central to the original Altspace experience. In a reply beneath the announcement, Harris said an events system has already been built.
He also said the team intends to make the new Altspace available through:
- Meta
- Steam
- SideQuest
Store approval, supported headsets, PC requirements and launch-day availability have not yet been detailed.
Why SideQuest is involved
Harris connected the announcement to his own history with Altspace. Before SideQuest, he built web-based Altspace spaces and a creation tool known as Shane’s Editor.
When Altspace moved away from its earlier web-development approach, that work eventually led him toward a separate application. After Meta declined its original Quest store submission, he created SideQuest as another route for developers to distribute VR software.
The new project therefore brings that story back to where it began: community spaces, browser-influenced creation and Altspace.
What remains unknown
The announcement establishes a direction, but it is not a complete product reveal. Important unanswered questions include:
- The exact release date
- Supported headsets and minimum requirements
- Account, moderation and safety systems
- World-building tools and content portability
- Pricing or funding model
- Accessibility features
- How much original Altspace content can legally or technically return
AussieGuy92 will keep confirmed information separate from community expectations as more development updates arrive.
Read the original announcement
The full post and discussion are available on Reddit. Independent coverage is also available from Road to VR.
