The latest release from Arrival.Space, version 0.83 delivers some important new capabilities. From customizable avatars to new file formats and scene controls, this update is all about smoothing edges and opening doors.

The biggest headline in this update is full support for VRM avatars, giving creators the power to import custom 3D characters and pair them with animations from Mixamo.com using FBX files. This bridges Arrival.Space with a wider creative ecosystem and opens up new levels of personalization.

Users can also now upload 2D images directly into their spaces. Images can also be adjusted to better fit into scenes, including support tuned lighting, shadows, and collision, without feeling out of place.

Version 0.83 also introduces support for PlayCanvas's recently unveiled Spatially Ordered Gaussians (.sog) file format, a lighter and more efficient option for handling Gaussian Splats. Compared to compressed .ply files, .sog files typically come in at just 25% the size. For now, you’ll need to convert locally using PlayCanvas's splat-transform, but Arrival.Space promises automatic conversion in an upcoming hotfix.

Pro users now have the ability to hide all scene portals, including the featured portal, for cleaner and more curated environments. Meanwhile, all users can now toggle avatars while in Free Cam mode using the T key. As with every release, 0.83 includes a wide set of UI refinements and bug fixes aimed at making the platform feel smoother, more responsive, and more intuitive.

Arrival Space is free to use and can be accessed here. I continue to recommend people checking out Christoph Schindelar's spaces.