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Resonite, a new social VR platform from the principal creator behind metaverse app Neos VR, is set to launch into early access on SteamVR headsets this week.

Update (October 3rd, 2023): Resonite is slated to launch on October 6th at 11:00 AM PT (local time here) on Steam. The developers say the app is now ready to make its first steps into Early Access:

“We reached a point where we are confident that major issues will be sorted out and we’d generally prefer not to make all of you wait longer and delay the launch. There will still probably be some bumps, but we’ll smooth them out as time goes,” the studio announced on its Patreon.

“We’re very excited to open the new platform and experience our work. We have a lot more for store in you as well coming in the future. The launch is just beginning of this new digital universe and with your help and support, we’ll continue shaping and expanding for many years (and hopefully decades) into the future.”

Resonite seems to have already resonated with backers, as the metaverse platform is now garnering over $25,000 per month through Patreon. Check it out on Steam here. The original article follows below:

Original Article (September 25th, 2023): There’s a fair bit of drama surrounding Neos VR, something you can read up on over at Ryan Schulz’s blog, which delves into the cryptocurrency-fueled rift between principal developer Tomáš “Frooxius” Mariančík and Karel Hulec, CEO of the app’s publisher Sorilax. The two have completely parted ways, with Hulec still managing Neos while Mariančík is now heading a new team developing Resonite.

From what by all accounts was a bitter split, Resonite is emerging from the controversy, bringing with it what Mariančík describes as a “novel digital universe with infinite possibilities.”

“Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you’ll find your place here,” the app’s Steam description reads.

Like Neos VR, Resonite heavily focuses on in-app content creation, allowing users to create their own interactive avatars, art, gadgets, and “complex interactive worlds and games.”

There’s no release date yet for Resonite (see update), however the app’s Steam page says it’s launching into early access sometime in October. Whatever the case, Resonite doesn’t appear to have ambitions to launch on Quest, PSVR 2, or mobile hardware currently, essentially setting it up to be a PC-exclusive experience likely appealing mostly to enthusiasts.

We’re curious to learn more about Resonite, and what sets it apart from Neos. Whatever the case, there seems to be a fairly substantial expected migration of Neos users to Resonite, as Resonite’s Patreon page already boasts over $14,000 monthly donations.

According to cached pages, support for Neos VR’s Patreon has decreased significantly in the past two years since the project included its own cryptocurrency and friction arose between its creators; near its all-time high of over $18,000 per-month donations, today Neos garners a little under $5,000 per month from backers.