Welcome to the Developer Update for 2 February 2023! This is the third Developer Update of 2023.
If you’d like to catch up, you can read our previous Developer Update from January 26.
VRChat 2023.1.1 Release
We’ve just released VRChat 2023.1.1, which has a ton of quality of life features, improvements, and some nice bug fixes to boot. You can check out the release notes here, oooooor you could check out our Video Patchnotes!
We’ll be releasing Video Patchnotes with every full release (not for p1, p2, etc.) going forward. They’re meant to be quick to record, quick to create rough summaries of features. It turns out that some people don’t like reading giant walls of patchnote text!
Creator Companion Reminder
We’re currently planning to wait on the release of the updated VCC with the Web UI (we call it “VCC-Web”) before fully swapping to VCC.
Due to feedback, we are investigating direct downloads of packages. They’ll be VPM-compatible UnityPackages instead of the legacy ones. VCC will continue to be the recommended and primary method to set up the VRChat SDKs and keep them updated.
Once VCC releases, SDK2 will be deprecated simultaneously and SDK2 will no longer be available for download.
Unity Version Upload Blocking
Starting immediately, we will be blocking uploads from Unity versions older than 2018. From our analytics, this should affect an extremely small number of users.
Any users still on a version before 2018 should follow the below upgrade guides, and work their way up to the Currently Supported Unity Version.
In the near future, we will begin blocking uploads from Unity 2018 as well. This will impact more users, but still a very small amount.
As noted in previous Developer Updates, at a future date (within 1-3 months, if I had to guess), SDK2 worlds and avatars will no longer be permitted for uploads. We will support existing SDK2 content within VRChat for as long as possible.
Ongoing Development
Extra-Cozy Earmuffs
In an upcoming update, the Earmuffs feature will be getting a new feature that allows you to morph the shape of the earmuff “area of effect” to more closely match the typical “conversation circles” we often see in social situations:
Of course, it also rotates with you when you turn!
Finally, we’re adding an icon to your nameplate that others can see that indicates when your Earmuffs are on.
Multi Layer Camera
Multi-layer camera mode lets you take layered pictures! This mode saves each “mask” layer to a separate image. If you have Local Player, Remote Players, UI, and Environment enabled, each will be saved to their own image, with transparency enabled for applicable layers (usually players and UI). You can re-combine these layers later on in image editing software.
Notably, remote and local players are merged into the same layer if they’re both on.
This feature was released with VRChat 2023.1.1! Find this new mode in the Camera tab of the Quick Menu or the Camera Mode UI on the camera itself.
Grab-To-Adjust FBT Calibration
This feature adds a few modes to the Tracking & IK section of the Quickmenu for adjusting your full-body calibration on the fly:
That means even when you’re sitting down all comfy in Yet Another World Full of Blanket-Covered Furniture, if you notice that your tracker calibration is a little off, you can fix it without getting up! Here it is in action:
That’s not all! In the Main Menu’s Tracking & IK section, there’s also a new option to set if this adjustment applies per-avatar or globally:
Grab-To-Adjust FBT Calibration is now available in VRChat 2023.1.1!
Udon MIDI Playback
World creators have been able to make amazing musical worlds that respond to MIDI Instruments for years now, but they’ve always required MIDI devices to see the effects. Coming soon, you’ll be able to play back MIDI data along with audio files to make all sorts of AudioVisual Experiences which can be enjoyed at any time!
As a world creator, you can use MIDI files to simply trigger the existing Midi Note On and Off events on UdonBehaviours, with Note, Channel and Velocity sent as usual. You can also inspect the data of the MIDI file in the Unity Editor or right in VRChat to build and modify worlds from the tracks, channels and events in the file before they play.
Cameras in Stations Bugfix
There’s currently a bug where cameras in stations act oddly, and end up getting really jittery with smoothing enabled:
We’ve got a fix on the way!
Not only does it work at 80mph (128kph), it also works when you’re flying at Mach 1!
Portal UI Refresh
We’ve been working on refreshing the Portal UI a little bit, because it’s pretty dated! Here’s a preview of where we’re at so far:
It also includes a nice banner for when the portal you’re dropping goes to a Group instance:
(the text being kinda blocky is gonna get fixed, that’s just weird Editor aliasing)
Coming soon! Let us know what you think, we’re looking for feedback!
Conclusion
That’s all for this week! Whew, a release, video patchnotes, and a Dev Update in the same day. 
We hope you enjoy the new additions and improvements that came with VRChat 2023.1.1! We’ll see you next week!
^-^
