HTC has introduced VIVERSE Worlds, a groundbreaking 3D content platform designed for easy integration into any website and accessible from any device. This new tool offers a streamlined, adaptable way to host and browse 3D content online, setting itself apart from similar platforms by focusing on seamless content distribution.
Unlike its predecessor, the Viverse metaverse platform, or even Meta’s Horizon Worlds, VIVERSE Worlds does not require an app download. Instead, it provides a user-friendly, web-based interface that supports both XR headsets and traditional screens. This makes diving into 3D experiences as simple as navigating a webpage.
HTC ambitiously likens VIVERSE Worlds to what YouTube has done for video, imagining it as an “open, accessible, and immersive online home” where creators can develop, share, and explore the next wave of 3D experiences. The platform aims to stand out with its high-quality content, made possible by HTC’s Polygon Streaming technology. This tech, unveiled in 2024, allows for the efficient streaming of detailed, high-polygon models across different platforms without compromising performance. Traditionally, web-based 3D content has been somewhat limited in visual fidelity due to rendering constraints, but Polygon Streaming tackles this by focusing on rendering only the visible elements in real-time.
Initially meant for Viverse for Business, this technology is now central to VIVERSE Worlds. By only processing and displaying the elements users are currently viewing, HTC achieves impressive 3D content quality without needing custom executables.
VIVERSE Worlds aims to cater to both enterprise clients and consumers. Businesses can utilize it for immersive shopping, virtual manuals, and product showcases, while consumers can explore and share the expansive XR environments. Users can keep up with their favorite creators by subscribing for updates and effortlessly adding 3D content to their websites using simple IFrame embeds—free of charge.
The platform seamlessly integrates with Sketchfab, a popular marketplace and hosting service for millions of 3D models. It supports content created with Viverse Create’s no-code web builder and uses the PlayCanvas browser extension, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Despite the promise of HTC’s Polygon Streaming and its straightforward embedding process, VIVERSE Worlds enters a challenging and competitive market. Other platforms like FrameVR, Matterport, and Spatial.io focus on niche markets due to the hurdles of wide-scale monetization. Mozilla’s WebXR-based Hubs, which faced financial difficulties and was discontinued in 2024, serves as a cautionary tale.
HTC has yet to reveal its long-term monetization plans for VIVERSE Worlds. However, the company plans to showcase public demos at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona from March 3rd to 6th, where hopefully more details will emerge.
The tech landscape is shifting for HTC. Google recently acquired several of HTC’s XR engineers for $250 million, stating it would help expedite Android XR platform development across a variety of devices. The future path for HTC remains uncertain, but the innovations such as VIVERSE Worlds suggest they are not yet out of the game.
