Open source virtual worlds are virtual environments that can be created and accessed by multiple users, and are built using open source software
OpenSimulator, Hubs Foundation, Matrix, Overte, and V-Sekai
OpenSimulator is an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols. It also has an optional facility (the Hypergrid) to allow users to visit other OpenSimulator installations across the web from their 'home' OpenSimulator installation. In this way, it is the basis of a nascent distributed Metaverse.OpenSimulator allows virtual world developers to customize their worlds using the technologies they feel work best - we've designed the framework to be easily extensible. OpenSimulator is written in C#, running both on Windows over the .NET Framework, on Unix-like machines over the Mono framework and now on several platforms on unified .NET. The source code is released under a BSD License, a commercially friendly license to embed OpenSimulator in products. If you want to know about our development history, see History.
Out of the box, OpenSimulator can be used to simulate virtual environments similar to Second Life™, given that it supports the core of SL's messaging protocol. However, OpenSimulator is not just a clone of the Second Life server platform. Rather, the project aims to enable innovative feature development for virtual environments and the Metaverse at large. So only a subset of viewers for Second Life do implement Opensimulator features, see Compatible Viewers. OpenSimulator is getting more stable over time but is still a high complex software system that can suffer various bugs and quirks; handle with care!
Features:
Supports online, multi-user 3D environments as small as 1 simulator or as large as thousands of simulators.
Supports 3D virtual spaces of variable size.
Supports multiple clients and protocols - access the same world at the same time via multiple protocols.
Supports real time Physics Simulation, with multiple engine options.
Supports clients that create 3D content in real time.
Supports inworld scripting using LSL/OSSL.
Provides unlimited ability to customize virtual world applications through the use of scene plugin modules.
Hubs Foundation is the open-source web-based virtual world platform that enables artists, creatives, and you to create 3D spaces and publish them online for anyone to visit. With just a click of a button, anyone around the world can enter and explore your scene, from almost any modern device. Use your scenes to effortlessly host virtual events with dozens of people, with full support for both voice and text chat.
Free & Open Standards Hubs is completely open source. You as a community member are invited to participate in its development. We welcome your contribution! Hubs’ development has always prioritized open standards since its initial creation, making use of A-Frame, Three.js, and other popular open-source libraries. The open-source 3D creation suite, Blender, is fully supported as one of the primary creation tools, along with full support for the open GLTF format.
Community Focus Hubs began its life as a project from Mozilla, and through their stewardship, the project developed into a strong platform for the open web. Now, the community has taken charge of continuing its development. We are a global community of developers, artists, writers, creatives, and educators who believe in the importance of maintaining a platform like Hubs in the otherwise very corporate, profit-focused ecosystem of virtual world platforms.
Matrix is an open protocol for decentralized, secure communications.
Matrix Manifesto We believe:
People should have full control over their own communication.
People should not be locked into centralized communication silos, but instead be free to pick who they choose to host their communication without limiting who they can reach.
The ability to converse securely and privately is a basic human right.
Communication should be available to everyone as a free and open, unencumbered, standard and global network.
Mission The Matrix.org Foundation exists to act as a neutral custodian for Matrix and to nurture it as efficiently as possible as a single unfragmented standard, for the greater benefit of the whole ecosystem, not benefiting or privileging any single player or subset of players.
Matrix Specification Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralized communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control. Uses include Instant Messaging (IM), Voice over IP (VoIP) signaling, Internet of Things (IoT) communication, and bridging together existing communication silos - providing the basis of a new open real-time communication ecosystem.
Additionally, this introduction page contains the key baseline information required to understand the specific APIs, including the section the overall architecture.
Overteis an open source virtual worlds and social VR software which enables you to create and share virtual worlds as virtual reality (VR) and desktop experiences. You can create and host your own virtual world, explore other worlds, meet and connect with other users, attend or host live VR events, and much more.The Overte software provides the following key features:
Collaborative world creation and editing
VR support, including body tracking
Scalability for up to 500 users in a single world
Scripting in JavaScript, which allows creation of games, interactables, UI elements, and custom applications
High quality low latency spatial audio
Powerful physics through Bullet physics engine
Fully open-source under the permissive Apache 2.0 license
No central authority. You can run your own server from home.
V-Sekaiis a community of enthusiasts building a next-generation social and gaming VR platform powered by the Godot Engine 4.0. Please join our Discord server to receive updates and join the community.
We have built a framework for the Godot game engine which makes the distribution of custom avatars and worlds in a networked environment possible. Our current plan is to offer hosting via our own web server, as well as individual server hosting and social functions, and in the future plan to broaden what we can offer. We have already been tackling many of the technical challenges required to make such a project possible on the Godot game engine, including:
Spatialised audio and VOIP support
Native VRM support
Our own custom networking stack
A security-focused sandboxed scripting environment backed by WASM
Customisable servers with their own individual game rules
At the moment, Godot Engine 4.0 is in early beta, and there is nothing usable outside of development purposes. We encourage you to connect with us on Discord, check out the code, or try the Godot Engine 4.0 beta.
The Arrival Space platform also allows for seamlessly jumping through one virtual world to the next. See this and glimpse into the platform in the Virtual Worlds Museum Live XR tour video by renown metaverse author Wagner James Au in conversation with Julian Reyes, Director of the Virtual Worlds Museum: https://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2023/12/virtual-worlds-museum-xr.html
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