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AltspaceVR is going out in March as part of parent company Microsoft’s recent restructuring. According to a recent post on its website, the VR-based social space will officially disappear on March 10 in favor of Microsoft Mesh. It offers users a chance to say goodbye to the platform and download their content before it goes offline.
Microsoft acquired AltspaceVR in 2017, shortly after the startup company ran out of money. The team said it plans “to shift our focus to supporting immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh.” Rather than focusing on consumer experiences, Mesh is a new platform aimed at bringing social VR to the workplace.
This week, Microsoft began a series of layoffs across its portfolio to cut costs. These layoffs include employees at Xbox, Bethesda Game Studios and 343 Industries. It’s not clear if AltspaceVR’s closure is part of the general discounts, but Satya Nadella said in a recent blog post that the company “will continue to invest in strategic areas for our future, meaning we allocate both our capital and talent to areas of sustained growth and long-term competitiveness for the company, while disinvesting in other areas.”
Microsoft has provided instructions on how users can download their content and organize farewell events. It also acknowledged the users who have logged a significant amount of time in Altspace saying, “It has been a privilege to help unlock passions among users, from educational opportunities for personal growth to the development of unique and wonderful events, groundbreaking art and immersive experiences — enabling this community to achieve more.”
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