VRChat Introduces New Facial Expression Tracking Feature

VRChat has debuted a new open beta feature that offers face and upper body tracking for desktop-based players. The new feature may be helpful to those who enjoy using VRChat but don’t have an expensive tracking system to display their movements and facial expressions in-game.

While VRChat is still plenty popular, the platform has undergone some turbulent times recently. The game made waves when it was announced in mid-2024 that a whopping 30% of VR Chat’s staff would be laid off, adding to the burgeoning list of game development layoffs plaguing the industry in recent years.

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While some users expressed sympathy for the game developers who found themselves laid off from the VRChat team, this new feature may please the current playerbase. VRChat is now testing a new feature that, if fully implemented, will allow players who are on PC and not using a VR headset to display their facial expressions, hand movements, and some upper body movement in-game. The feature is called “selfie expression” and works via a webcam. A short video demonstrating the new function by VRChat‘s head of community, Tupper, shows what it’s capable of doing on a virtual model in-game.

Expressiveness is Key in Virtual Reality

When VRChat got its start, players were able to move their heads around, and the game could track a player’s approximate arm and hand movements by tracking their controllers. However, as time has progressed, VR has been moving towards tracking more than simple head and arm movements. Some newer VR headsets offer eye tracking, which, if implemented in a game, allows players to use their avatars to look directly at other players, even if they don’t swivel their head. Motion capture options have also become popular for doing things like dancing in virtual reality, or just providing a stronger sense of movement and realism. In the virtual space, being able to see an avatar actively looking at the player or being able to read their facial expressions adds as much to a conversation as it would in real life.

For now, users who want to try out the new selfie expression functionality will need a VRChat+ subscription in order to do so. VRChat+ costs $9.99 per month, or if purchased for a full year, is discounted to $99.99 total. It will be interesting to see how the feature progresses from here, and if an option is added that allows VR headset users to track their facial expressions as well.

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February 1, 2017

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VRChat

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VRChat