Interest
pixiv Launches VRoid Hub Platform for Sharing 3D Characters
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
pixiv announced on Friday that it will release the VRoid Hub platform for sharing 3D character models in December 2018. Users will be able to use the shared models as avatars across various virtual reality and augmented reality platforms. The company will simultaneously launch the software development kit VRoid SDK, which will let developers use the model data of characters posted on VRoid Hub on various platforms.
VRoid Hub will be a collaboration with the live video-streaming platform SHOWROOM, video distribution platform OPENREC, live-streaming app 17 Live, smartphone game-streaming app Mirrativ, and the virtual world-creating game VWorld. Users of any of the platforms will be able to use VRoid Hub's 3D characters through VRoid SDK. pixiv is continuing to seek developers interested in using VRoid Hub and VRoid SDK.
pixiv describes the VRoid project:
Through the VRoid project, pixiv aims to give life to a world where everyone has their own character rich in personality that can be used for communication and creative activities together with other users. pixiv will continue to provide various services in cooperation with developers around the world so that more people can enjoy new contents using 3D characters.
VRoid Hub will be available in Japanese and English at launch. pixiv users will be able to post and share 3D characters for free through VRoid Hub by using their pixiv IDs. Shared character models (in VRM format) will include a character name and profile in addition to model data.
Creators will be able to decide whether they want to share characters' model data or just their profile information. The copyrights for the characters will remain with creators, so they will be able to set their own usage conditions.
pixiv released a beta version of VRoid Studio, the "first 3D character design software for illustrators," for Windows and Mac on August 3. The promotional video below previews the software and its easy-to-use controls. Users will be able to post their characters directly on VRoid Hub.
VRoid Studio has already surpassed 200,000 downloads.
Source: Press Release
