AltspaceVR might be coming to a close, but new social VR app Sansar is pushing on with the launch of a creator beta today.
While Sansar, developed by Second Life creator Linden Lab, is billed as a social experience just like AltspaceVR and others, it’s got a unique hook that it hopes will turn into the app into a platform for plenty of new VR content. Users won’t just be able to meet up and hang out in virtual spaces but also build their own worlds using assets from an online store. It’s that creation element that Sanser is opening up for others to test today.
Sansar wants everyone to be able to build their own worlds, not just those with development experience. In its limited preview, the beta saw more than 1,700 creations from its 2,000 users making the virtual worlds they’ve dreamed of exploring. Over 50 users, represented as virtual avatars, can explore these worlds together. Earlier this month Linden Lab announced that it was integrating IKinema technology for natural avatar movement within these worlds.
People that make their own assets will be able to sell them on a digital storefront for Sansar Dollars — which can then be cashed out on PayPal — with the ability to monetize entire worlds coming later down the line. Building worlds is done outside of VR, but then you’ll be able to head into them using your Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
Take a look at the video below showing how just one of many creators is already using the platform.
This beta will be free for all, though users can get additional creation capacity and customer support for a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. We’ll be eager to see how Sansar performs in its early days, especially in light of last week’s unfortunate AltspaceVR news.
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Update: A previous version of this story mentioned events that would be happening all week in Sansar. Linden Labs reached out to clarify that the previously mentioned events are not happening this week, so the story has been updated.
