Facebook Announces Spaces, VR Hangout App, For Oculus Rift F8 Conference

Facebook is bringing the future closer with its new virtual reality app. During Facebook’s F8 conference, the company announced the beta launch of Facebook Spaces, which lets you interact with friends as if they were right next to you.

Facebook Spaces, introduced by social VR chief Rachel Rubin Franklin on the first day of the F8 conference, is now available for the Oculus Rift and Touch.

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The avatars on Facebook Spaces are floating upper bodies with the name of the person on the top. With Facebook Spaces, you can get an avatar that looks like you by choosing one of your Facebook photos and getting various VR appearance options. After picking the one you want, you can customize it by changing your eye color, hairstyle and other features. Facebook said having an avatar look like you helps “people recognize you and makes VR feel more like hanging out in person.”

“Facebook Spaces is all about connecting with friends and family that you know and trust, and we’re committed to making VR a positive place for all,” Facebook said in a post Tuesday. “Whether you want to show off your latest 3D drawing masterpiece, play an amazing 360 video your friend would love, or just spend time chatting, it’s one of the best ways to be in the moment together, from anywhere.”

Facebook Spaces includes a virtual marker “to create anything you can dream up,” for example a tic-tac-toe board, glasses or a hat.

Here’s how that looks:

You can also see Facebook content, such as 360 videos and photos, which can take you to the scene virtually. The app also has a virtual selfie stick to take pictures of your VR moments and share them on your timeline.

For those who don't have a VR headset and still want to see the virtual reality experience, Facebook Spaces allows video calls with Messenger to invite friends who can't be with you in VR. When they answer the call the window showing the VR session will automatically open up.

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You can also remove your friends from your space, and pause or mute if you need to take a break from the virtual world.

Facebook said it will add more features depending on feedback from the beta version. The company also said it plans to bring the experience to more platforms.

Facebook and Oculus released a video showing how the VR app works: