Press event currently underway announces the founding of the VRM Consortium, to promote the VRM open humanoid avatar definition format created by Dwango.
The VRM format defines not only glTF-based model/texture data, but also avatar-specific elements like head removal while using the model first-person, and Creative Commons style machine-readable usage conditions with relevant clauses like "Who may perform/act using this avatar?"
The consortium starts with 13 member companies, with Nintendo joining as observer. They are working with the Khronos Group, with endorsement received from Neil Trevett, president of Khronos.
I've been seeing more and more VRM-supporting apps pop up, both for VR and 2D. Pixiv, a company which runs a DeviantArt-like art community, has been developing VRoid Studio, an avatar modeling app which outputs VRM. vroid.pixiv.net
They have recently doubled down on it by announcing VRoid Hub, a Single Sign-On service for avatars where you can upload a VRM avatar and use it in any app that incorporates the VRoid SDK. pixiv.co.jp/news/press-rel…
The race for VR platform ownership is on, and it's pretty clear Japan is approaching it from avatars. Makes sense, since in social VR it *is* literally what you are. So far they all look anime, but remember, there's no reason the infrastructure being built requires them to be so.
