Developer Update - 5 September 2024

Official Dev Updates
43

Sorry, but as a VRC+ user, I’d rather see meaningful QoL updates than something like this. To me, it feels like you’ve “wasted” your time on this.

We’ve pushed out QoL features with every patch for as long as I can remember, often addressing the most upvoted feedback topics! We’ll also very much continue to do so, but I think one thing to get clear is what is “QoL” and what is actually the development of a new, large, and complicated system.

Like, for example:

Where’s a DM system?

This is a massive topic. What does a “DM” system look like in VRChat? What about the additional moderation cost? Where does it go? What does it look like? Most of all: philosophically, is this something we want in VRChat? Part of the magic of VRChat – in contrast to other platforms – is the person-to-person contact. Does this risk putting that in jeopardy?

I am not the decision maker on things like this, nor am I a designer, but if I can come up with those questions, you can imagine how something like this can get complicated, fast.

Where are permissions for individual friend lists?

Same as the above! This is a lot of design work and complexity.

I’d probably list the last two as Quality of Life changes, but they also both impact infrastructure questions, which means they’re probably more complex than I can imagine.

Of course, this isn’t me replying to outright say no, but rather to help folks understand why some things that are seemingly simply (or are things that folks want badly) might be more complicated than they seem.

Finally, though – I just want to thank everyone for all the suggestions so far! We’ve been getting a ton of feedback on what folks want as part of VRC+, which is awesome!

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44

You can disable Custom User Icons and Emoji in the VRChat safety settings i think its likely stickers will also be hidden by this.

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45

Some retail SSDs come with a kit, so like a usb to drive adaptor and a license to some drive cloning software. Reddit - Dive into anything

Found a comment that samsung has some drive migration software for sata SSDs on thier site still. Not sure if the 860 evo SSDs are still sold.

Other brands are I available,I just recall using the Samsung stuff and while it may have said a bunch of technical stuff at me, it was more of a next next next situation.

Most technical people used the ssd upgrade as an opportunity to do a fresh install of windows

46

I’ve generally been a pretty big defender of why DMs in VRChat are a complicated topic and I empathize with it being a complex discussion, but I thought I’d just pitch my 2 cents in that I genuinely thought that the Boops feature was pretty close to what I think people want from a DM system. People just didn’t like it because it was sending emoji instead of short messages, rendering it an annoyance more than a tool.

I really firmly believe that if we were given the ability to essentially “send invite messages without actually sending the invite” people would be satisfied with that as a sort of ‘pseudo-DM’ system.

If Boops were re-released with the ability to attach messages to them, I feel like the reaction would be vastly different and people would be satisfied with it as a communication tool that doesn’t detract from VRChat’s social elements.

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47

Can we have this adorable VRCat sticker shared in full res please :point_right::point_left:

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48

This is the “All developers are useful for all problems” trope of game development in action.

I will be opting out of this feature as soon as I’m able to log in the day the opt out is available. I might even avoid VRC until I can opt out in the event DMing is added :rofl:

For QoL I wouild like to see Quest Avatar stats available to PC users, I have a suspicion that come Nov 1st I’m going to have some favorited avatars that show Quest compatibility, but might not actually be quest compatible any more due to enforcement of the 40MB uncompressed limit.

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49

I understand how difficult the topic of DMs is, especially considering moderation. Unfortunately, part of the magic of VRChat is also that people meet up less often than they could.

The “friend list” is filled with people who would normally just be considered acquaintances because there’s no way to organize it with permissions.

As a result, many people are set to “Ask me,” but how many actually go through the trouble of asking? There’s no practical in-game option for this. You have to send a request, awkwardly adjust the (too short) text, and hope you’re not bothering them.

The people I know often hesitate to message others in this status.

Or, if they even know each other well enough, they end up using Discord.

50

all of these can already be done by avatar creators, if they wanted they could add trail renderers particles or better animations.

As I mentioned, these features can indeed be created by avatar creators; I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. However, linking them to an account rather than to individual avatars could be more beneficial. For example, VRChat could manage particle effects through the hand bones of the VRChat Skeleton and make them accessible via the menu, rather than requiring manual addition to each avatar. Not everyone is familiar with Unity, has access to high-end computers, or is particularly tech-savvy. This approach would benefit not only PCVR users but also Quest users who might not even own a PC, which is a considerable group.

As for the UI feature, I wasn’t aware of that update but glad they’re doing that.

Regarding exclusive events, my point was that while event organisers could potentially handle them, they often don’t. I think that meet-and-greets with world builders, avatar creators, and VRChat staff, along with workshops and tutorials, could be quite engaging for many users. These events don’t need to be held weekly or even monthly—just an occasional extra offering could be enjoyable.

From my experience giving workshops, people appreciate them, and there seems to be interest in topics like scripting, 3D modelling, and world-building. It might not interest everyone, but I believe some people would really enjoy it.

For instance, I once built an entire world for a maths teacher so he could teach maths in VRChat. While I’m not suggesting we should do the same, this experience showed me firsthand how VRChat can be used for teaching. Therefore, hosting events on scripting, 3D modelling, and similar topics could be quite beneficial, even if it’s just for an introduction.

Perhaps I wasn’t clear before. What I meant was that VRChat could consider a system where, if they have 10 features they want to add, they could send out a newsletter or poll to VRC+ users to gauge which feature they’d like to see implemented first. While users can vote on which features they want, this system would let them vote on the order of upcoming features. If this approach is not exclusive to VRC+, one option could be to give VRC+ players’ votes more weight, as they are supporting the game financially.

I know what you’re saying. But it’s simply not true that “anyone” can create avatars - while the tools are available, not everyone has the skill, time, or knowledge to use them effectively. The value of exclusive avatars lies in their well-crafted or unique designs, which can be a significant draw for users. Many people actively seek out high-quality avatars and ask where they can find them. Exclusive avatars in VRChat could cater to this demand and offer something special that stands out, enhancing the overall experience for those who appreciate well-designed or fun avatars.

Virtual Pets are another example. While I understand that they already exist, my point is about ease of use. If these pets were linked to your account rather than being tied to individual avatars, they could be easily accessed from your menu and used with any avatar.

This approach would simplify things for users who might not have the technical knowledge or skills.

I create assets and provide tutorials for everything in my store, and I encourage people to dive into these projects themselves. However, many everyday users who are interested in these features might find the process overwhelming, especially if they only use public avatars. For these users, having features like virtual pets, gadgets and VFX that are easy to access and use without additional hassle would be extremely beneficial.

Regarding enhanced voice and audio features, it’s true that similar capabilities exist externally. However, having an option to change voices directly from the in-game menu would streamline the process and improve convenience. It seems like you’re asking why we need something like this when existing methods are available, akin to questioning the need for a microwave when we have an oven. But just as a microwave offers a faster and more efficient way to heat food compared to an oven, having integrated voice and audio features would offer a more efficient and user-friendly solution within VRChat.

Regarding open beta access, I’ve participated in several myself and thought it might be worth considering as a VRC+ feature. While it might not be the best idea, many games and studios offer beta testing as a “members-only” benefit. If VRChat is looking to generate additional revenue, this could be an option.

Cheers!

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51

We can look into sharing the full set of stickers (yes, there’s more :eyes:) in the near future. We will very likely add them to the discord server too!

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52

Have you guys considered creating a Feedback board specifically for VRChat+ feature requests/ideas?

Right now there’s no central place to track what people think would make VRC+ most appealing to them! And that’s one of the most important aspects when deciding what’s worth to spend time on developing for VRC+.

It’d be a good way to greatly incentivize people to comment, come up with ideas and vote on the best ones. It’d also provide you guys with arguments for explaining any new features you decide to add! Overall, just an important bridge in communication/expectations. Especially in a such sensitive topic.

Personally I’m slightly lacking in ideas in the topic of VRC+ and would gladly seek inspirations to back up something and make up my mind about my expectations of any new VRC+ features.

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53

What do you think would encourage others to purchase VRChat Plus? What kind of benefits would you like to see? Let us know!

Um, seriously, no one has mentioned Favorite World Slots? I, and the world-trotting people around me, have always felt that there is a shortage of them, and I hope that VRC+ will increase them like Favorite Avatar Slots do.
Does the number of favorites affect the popularity count algorithm? The additional slots will simply not be included in the favorite count.
This is the only reason I don’t subscribe to VRC+.

UPDATE: Yes, as everyone suspects, I found this request already in feedback, and it’s good to see that its status is tracked.
…except it’s been over a year.

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54

Simple request - but could we get more favorite avatar/world slots and groups?

I am constantly running up into these limits and have been tracking favorites outside vrc for a while now. Also Groups have become like discord servers, now that everyone has one, I gotta keep leaving and joining groups bc of the limit.

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55

Excellent idea, I’m surprised we haven’t done this yet. I’ll see about getting this whipped up.

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56

I agree with a lot of this.

I’ve had VRC+ for the past two years but decided not to renew for another year, mostly because VRChat has been disingenuous on the topic of sexual content on their platform. User safety is my top concern and something that VRChat is severely lacking in, I can’t in good conscience continue to give support in its current state.

We need some moral and prudential sense.

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57

I think it would be cool if we could have a “roommate” feature to where multiple people can share a homeworld. Imagine getting on vrchat and your friend is there waiting for you! I feel like it would make it very immersive!

58

I was recently reading a reddit post about “Why trolls are not afraid of being banned from VRChat” and it dawned on me. What if VRC+ members had access to member worlds? I.e member servers. They’d be no different from non-member worlds, but it’d be paying players only.

The idea of member-only worlds in VRChat for VRC+ subscribers could be an interesting way to create safer, more controlled environments. By requiring a payment to access these exclusive spaces, you inherently create a barrier that discourages casual trolls and toxic behaviour, which is more common in free-to-access platforms.

From a behavioural standpoint, people are often less likely to engage in harassment or bullying if they’ve invested money, as they have something to lose. Introducing real-world accountability, such as credit card information, increases the stakes. This could make it easier to track and identify bad actors and impose meaningful consequences, like account bans tied to personal information, which would be more difficult to bypass with simple account creation tricks.

Additionally, the culture in member worlds would likely be different. Paying for access can foster a more invested community, where people value the experience and might be more respectful. While it wouldn’t completely eliminate bad behaviour, it could significantly reduce it, providing a space where those who seek a more positive and enjoyable environment can thrive.

Having this type of paid member world could naturally filter out a lot of the problematic behaviour. People who are willing to pay are more likely to value their experience and less likely to engage in harassment or trolling and with real-world data like credit card info linked to accounts, it’s easier to hold people accountable if they do break the rules.

It’s a simple solution that could coexist with the existing free-to-play model. It wouldn’t exclude anyone from the core VRChat experience, but would provide an option for those who want a potentially safer and more moderated space. This way, both the general community and those looking for a more premium, troll-free experience can get what they want.

I would pay for that.

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59

Is there an option to globally hide stickers?

I ask this because if a group of trolls join a world and put NSFW stickers everywhere, people shouldn’t have to find those users to block them or focus on the offending images to hide them at the expense of not having a ‘hide all’ function.

Thank you :)

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60

The Sharing Pedestal could be really useful for non-VRC+ purposes too. For example sharing avatars, an alternative to turning on cloning and putting the avatar on, we could just drop a Sharing Pedestal with the avatar. The VRC+ exclusive thing there could be that the Sharing Pedestal could stay indefinitely while you are in the instance.

Could also use it for worlds maybe. Instance of placing a portal an instance to show off a world, we can just share the actual world on a Sharing Pedestal.

One last thought is how much I love the ability to select things like the Sharing Pedestal and portals now. It would be even better if we could do the same with Avatar Pedestals too, checking its details and maybe even adding it to favorites without putting it on first.

61

I have suggestions. All my friends always ask for more favourite slots, some without VRC+ admitted the chances of them buying it if if it was either unlimited or 500 favourite slots. Which I do agree, VRChat has Millions and Millions of avatars but there isn’t enough room to fit a good amount in the favs.

More emojis would be fantastic.

VRChat messaging system would be handy, you can talk to people if you’re busy on dealing with a situation, or you can talk to multiple people while you’re in a world. Just helps with that extra communication!

Age VERIFICATION ASAP please. Everyone is getting tired of dealing with children.

Avatar/World creators - Let them have more control of their creations. Let there be a blacklist so certain people cannot use or access the world. If you want an avatar to be friends only, let that be an option, grant people certain access.

62

Done!

Everyone, please use this board to suggest new features you think would work great for VRChat Plus.

This could include incremental additions to existing features like more Favorite slots, but it could also include ideas for novel features (kinda like Stickers).

We’re very interested in ideas that you think would be valuable and beneficial across all types of users – from new users, to casual users, to fully engaged users.

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