The latest update to the Oculus Home Public Test Channel adds custom environments support. Oculus Home is the Oculus Rift‘s default environment.
This feature was first hinted at two weeks ago when the ‘_CustomHomes’ folder was added along with an example file.
Oculus Home was once a static environment, but recieved a total overhaul in late 2017 adding customization.
Support for user generated objects was added back in June. A subsequent update even added animation support. And later in the month the platform added realtime social, allowing up to 7 friends to visit your home and see those custom objects.
But until now the actual home geometry was the same for all users. The background could be changed between hills, space, a bay, or a future city, but the home itself could not. Valve’s competing SteamVR Home software has supported custom environments since 2017.
The changelog states that there are a range of ambient audio tracks, as well as the ability to customize interior & exterior lighting.
The Potential
User generated environments might take Oculus Home to the next level- especially combined with the recent update adding Public Homes. With bars, museums, parks, and all sorts of interesting environments, the platform could turn into a true attempt at a metaverse- a “VRChat lite”.
The Problem
Of course, the social platform is still severely limited by being exclusive to the Rift. Facebook still hasn’t added official support for different PC headsets on Oculus, despite its own Spaces social app supporting the HTC Vive. In fact, there’s not even any indication it will support the company’s own Oculus Quest.
The company has occasionally hinted at support coming in future, but we’re almost 3 years out from the Rift launch now and there’s no sign. Until then, Oculus Home can’t be a true VRChat competitor, or anything close. But for users with Rift owning friends the platform has made huge strides in the past year.
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via Mint VR