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Past, present, and future of Furry Avatars for VRChat
Evolution of Avatars in VRChat
In 2024, we mark a decade since the launch of VRChat. A virtual reality platform that, over the past few years, has transitioned from a niche space to one where millions of users from all around the world interact and socialize every day.
The evolution of virtual reality has created a market worth $67 billion this year. With an annual growth rate of 25%, it is projected to surpass $200 billion by the end of this decade. This opens up more opportunities for artists, designers, and developers to work in the sector, as has been my case.
Companies and enthusiasts continue to mature the concept of the metaverse, progressively turning it into a reality.
The MMO Second Life pioneered the popularization of avatars and virtual worlds. And after more than a quarter of a century, it still retains active users.
The growing number of users opened up new niches, such as that of personalized avatars, which allow users to embody characters with infinite aesthetics and diversity.
Generally, furries tend to have either a single fursona or multiple characters that represent them.
This is why the furry fandom was quick to take advantage of this space to create the first-ever ecosystem of furry avatars.
Now VRChat picks up that legacy with virtual reality, the most immersive digital format to date. This format allows users to express themselves in greater detail and connect with others more intimately.
The VRChat boom during the lockdown was a key moment for many people to buy their first VR headsets and begin to explore the potential of virtual reality while enjoying their favorite anthropomorphic characters. Just like in Second Life, demand drives creativity.
The rise of Furry Avatars
Among the growing general interest in custom furry avatars, we can find animators, 3D generalists, game developers, and content creators of various kinds—especially vtubbers and VR gamers.
Within this group, the trend has become massive among members of the furry fandom. Furry avatars have become an essential part of VRChat‘s ecosystem.
Each user looks for models that reflect their identity: from adorable to intimidating and everything in between. Very often, this coincides with a particular animal.
This is why furry avatars are not only a hit among furries but also among players of all kinds.
By interacting with other members of the community, I quickly understood the emotional connection with the characters and decided to enter this niche.
With the advent of generative models, the future of furry avatars seems to be tied to artificial intelligence. From sculpting and texturing 3D models to new ways of controlling avatars like autonomous animation systems, AI will help us create avatars that go beyond surface-level aesthetics.
They will become authentic live characters with self-sufficient capabilities. Not only responding to commands but adapting naturally to the user. That is my long-term vision.
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