VRChat was the virtual-reality social platform launched in 2014 by Graham Gaylor and Jesse Joudrey.
VRChat began as a social virtual-world project that allowed users to meet as customizable avatars. Participants can visit user-created worlds, communicate by voice, and interact with objects and activities made through the platform’s creation tools.
Although its name emphasizes VR, VRChat can also be accessed without a headset. Its large user-created ecosystem distinguishes it from conventional games with fixed levels and characters. Community-made avatars and spaces have become central to the platform’s identity.
VRChat is sometimes confused with AltspaceVR, another social VR platform founded earlier and later acquired by Microsoft. VRChat remained an independent platform and became especially visible during the growth of consumer PC VR and standalone headsets.