UPDATED: Why I Am Giving Up On AltspaceVR

I’ve explored quite a few social VR/virtual world platforms on this blog, both old and new, but (so far) I have only completely given up on one product: SurrealVR, which was such a spectacular fail, after multiple attempts, that I simply gave up in frustration.

Today, I am reluctantly adding a second metaverse product to the list: AltspaceVR. It’s not because the company behind it has failed, or the platform has been shut down. I’m giving up on AltspaceVR because, since mid-May, when I upgraded to the latest version of the client software (where you get to choose your new “home” location), I have been unable to get the software to run at all on my high-end Windows PC.

Every time I try, the AltspaceVR client software locks up my computer so badly that I need to do a hard reboot by pressing the power button on my PC to turn it off and on again. I was hoping that one of their regular client updates via Oculus would fix the problem; no dice. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the software, and the problem remains. I have gone through this cycle multiple times now, and I have given up.

I have kicked the tires on a lot of social VR/virtual world client software, and this is the most serious recurring software problem I have come across since I first bought my Oculus Rift and Touch in January 2017. I’ve pretty much been able to get every other piece of software I’ve tried on this computer to run, except for SurrealVR, so I know it’s not a hardware problem.

The last time I was actually able to get into AltspaceVR, it crashed on me when I was trying to set my home. Maybe that’s the problem now, that it can’t find any home for me and it locks? But then a clean reinstall would fix the issue, and it hasn’t.

If Microsoft had bothered to create some official AltspaceVR user forums like most other virtual world platforms, I could at least post the problem and ask the group for a solution. (There’s an unofficial AltspaceVR Discord server, which has about 300 users.) The only option is to submit a support ticket from their support page.

So, until I can get some assurance from AltspaceVR’s tech support that it won’t continue to do this, I’m dropping AltspaceVR from the list of virtual worlds I pop into regularly. I mean, it’s not like there’s nowhere else to go! 😉

UPDATE June 25th: I have heard back from someone on the unofficial AltspaceVR Discord channel, who tells me:

Hey Ryan, you’re not alone. There is a workaround, if you’re willing, and they are aware of the problem. They should have fixed it by now, but it’s got something to do with the 2D screen mirror on your desktop while in VR. It only happens when you first enter a space. The consistently working solution is to minimize the app until it is loaded into a space and then leave it minimized while you play. Another option is to cover it with another window on your desktop, that has the same effect.

So, if Microsoft is aware of the problem, then why the hell haven’t they informed the userbase? Why is there no mention of it on their FAQs on their support page?!??

Not impressed.

2nd UPDATE June 25th: I have received an email message from the AltspaceVR community team in response to my bug report:

Hello Ryan,

This is a bug that we’re currently aware of. It is affecting a number of users, many of which are on high-end PCs. We’re currently investigating possible solutions.

I will be sure to let you know when we push an update targeting these issues.

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