Decentraland and VR: The Long-Awaited Integration and the Challenges Ahead

The Metaverse and Virtual Reality (VR) often feel like two sides of the same digital coin. You picture stepping into immersive worlds, exploring with friends, and experiencing the internet in a whole new dimension. Platforms like Somnium Space, CryptoVoxels, and even Meta’s Horizon Worlds have already embraced this vision, offering users a VR gateway to their digital realms. But what about Decentraland, a platform that boldly describes itself as a “decentralized virtual reality platform”? Surprisingly, this popular metaverse remains primarily a browser-based experience, leaving many wondering: where’s the VR?

Decentraland’s VR Delay: A Matter of Priorities?

It’s not that VR isn’t on Decentraland’s radar. As one developer involved in the platform’s VR client put it, “VR has always been part of Decentraland’s vision.” So, what’s the hold-up? According to Sean Ong, founder of XR Dev Studio and a key player in the community’s VR efforts, the Decentraland Foundation has been heavily focused on building out the core functionalities of the platform first.

Think of it like building a house. You need a solid foundation and the essential rooms before you start adding the fancy extras. Ong, a Decentraland DAO member whose team received grants to develop a VR client, explains, “The team primarily responsible for developing Decentraland has been super busy implementing so many features, the core features, building it out, that VR hasn’t made it very far on the priority list.”

The Community Steps Up: A Glimmer of VR Hope

Despite the Foundation’s focus, the Decentraland community hasn’t been idle. Ong and his team took the initiative, securing funding through a DAO proposal to create an “alpha” version of a VR platform. This initial version, however, was more of a “VR port,” meaning it adapted existing code for VR rather than being built from the ground up specifically for it. While a quicker initial solution, this approach presented its own set of challenges.

VR Port vs. Dedicated Client: A Fundamental Incompatibility?

Ong highlights a crucial issue: Decentraland’s underlying structure might be “fundamentally incompatible with VR.” Imagine trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. While porting can offer a temporary fix, it creates ongoing maintenance headaches. Every time the main Decentraland platform updates, the VR port needs to be adjusted to keep up.

The alternative? Building a dedicated VR client. This would be a longer and more resource-intensive process initially, but Ong argues it would create a more stable and resilient VR experience in the long run. A dedicated client would be insulated from the main project’s updates, offering greater independence and potentially better performance.

The Funding Hurdle: Why the VR Proposal Failed

To bring this dedicated VR client to life, Ong and his team requested an additional $240,000 in funding through a Decentraland DAO proposal. Unfortunately, the proposal didn’t pass, with over three-quarters of voters rejecting it. This raises questions about the community’s immediate priorities and the perceived value of VR integration at this stage.

The Sandbox’s Perspective: Mobile First, VR Later (Maybe)

Interestingly, Decentraland isn’t the only metaverse grappling with the VR question. Cointelegraph spoke with Sébastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox, another prominent blockchain-based metaverse. While Borget acknowledges that metaverses will likely exist in VR in the future, their focus for 2023 is firmly on mobile accessibility. “Because we believe VR technology is not mature or mainstream enough, we are focusing on making the Metaverse more mainstream and accessible to all,” he explained. For The Sandbox, VR is not an immediate priority.

The User Count Conundrum: Can VR Be the Answer?

Decentraland has faced recent criticism regarding its daily active user numbers, hovering around 8,000. Ong believes that incorporating VR could be a game-changer in attracting a larger audience. He points out that for many, “Metaverse these days is synonymous with VR.” Adding VR support could be the key to onboarding millions of new users, making it a “major component” of a truly feature-rich metaverse.

The Future of Decentraland’s VR: Community-Driven?

Agustin Ferreira, Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation, suggests a potential shift in platform development. In an emailed response, he mentioned the possibility of the DAO eventually taking over platform development, with the Foundation focusing on supporting community initiatives and incentivizing developers to contribute to the ecosystem. This could open doors for future community-led VR development efforts.

Key Takeaways: The VR Journey for Decentraland

• VR is a long-held vision for Decentraland, but core feature development has taken precedence.
• Community efforts, like those led by Sean Ong, are actively pushing for VR integration.
• Technical challenges exist, particularly the debate between VR ports and dedicated clients.
• Funding for dedicated VR development has been a hurdle, as evidenced by the failed DAO proposal.
• Other metaverses like The Sandbox are prioritizing mobile accessibility over immediate VR integration.
• VR could be a key to attracting more users to Decentraland, aligning with many people’s perception of the metaverse.
• The future of Decentraland’s VR development might be community-led, with the Foundation providing support.

Will Decentraland Finally Embrace VR?

The path to VR integration in Decentraland isn’t straightforward. While the desire is there, technical hurdles and funding limitations remain significant challenges. The community’s passion for VR is evident, but whether that translates into a fully realized VR experience remains to be seen. As the metaverse landscape continues to evolve, the interplay between community initiatives, technological advancements, and platform priorities will ultimately determine if and when Decentraland truly steps into the realm of virtual reality.