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Neos VR

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Neos VR
Information
Type Social VR
Industry Social virtual reality, user-generated content, education
Developer Frooxius (Tomáš Mariančík); published by Solirax
Operating System Windows, Linux
License Free-to-play on Steam, with a paid commercial PRO version
Supported Devices PC VR headsets through SteamVR and the Oculus PC runtime; desktop mode without a headset; Oculus Quest preview builds
Release Date May 4, 2018 (Steam Early Access beta)


Neos VR (also written NeosVR) is a social virtual reality and world-building platform for PC developed by Tomáš "Frooxius" Mariančík and published by Solirax, a company co-founded by Mariančík and Karel Hulec.[1][2][3] Users share persistent worlds with custom avatars and can build, script and edit objects and worlds from inside the running application, together with other users in real time. Its in-world visual programming language was called LogiX.[4] Before its public release it was described as a "metaverse engine".[5]

Neos entered Steam Early Access as a free beta on May 4, 2018.[2][3] In 2019 it added Neos Credits, an in-world cryptocurrency based on an Ethereum token.[6] A dispute between Mariančík and Hulec, which Road to VR described as a "cryptocurrency-fueled rift", led Mariančík and the development team to resign in 2023 and build a successor platform, Resonite.[7][8] The Neos team wound down the platform's cloud services on August 20, 2025; the software can still be used in local, LAN and virtual LAN sessions, and its Steam page states that the project has been discontinued and is no longer available on the Steam store.[9][2]

Reviewed 21 October 2026. Checked every claim against its cited source: the Steam store page, 16 official Steam news posts (via the Steam news API), UploadVR (2015, 2018, 2023), Road to VR (2016, 2017, 2019, 2023), CzechCrunch, GamesBeat, Mogura VR, Game Developer, the PLOS ONE and Hack.VR (FDG '20) papers, the Klán and Mariančík textbook PDF and La Biennale's Alien Rescue page. About review dates.

History

Origins and Neos Core (2014-2017)

Mariančík, the creator of the VR experience SightLine: The Chair, and Hulec were the core team of Solirax, which named education as the VR application it expected to have the greatest positive impact. In an April 2015 profile, UploadVR reported that the team of about ten people was building Neos (formerly called World of Comenius), a multiplayer VR universe with avatars, user-created content and a monetary system, and that Solirax had joined River, the VR accelerator of Rothenberg Ventures.[10] According to CzechCrunch, the seed investment from Rothenberg Ventures through the River accelerator was US$400,000.[1] The same 2015 profile described Neos: The Universe, a separate experience in which users travel across 50 orders of magnitude, from electrons to the known universe, entered into Oculus's mobile VR game jam.[10] UploadVR later reported that this early 2015 version won a bronze award in the Oculus Mobile VR Jam, and called it a "concept demo" compared with the later platform.[3]

In February 2016 Mariančík showed Neos Core, which he described as "just the underlying framework of Neos itself". An early demo had three users collaborating in one virtual space: two on HTC Vive headsets and one on an Android phone that acted as a window into the scene. Neos Core used Unity for rendering, physics and audio, but had its own object and update system designed to be synchronized between users. At the time it had only been tested over local Wi-Fi.[11][12] Mariančík said the framework itself would be free, with revenue coming from services such as server runtime, hosting and support.[11]

NeosVR was then distributed as an alpha to users who registered on the project's website. A February 2017 alpha added LogiX, and a May 2017 alpha added cloud saving of worlds and items, online accounts and a private home space for each user.[4][5]

Steam beta (2018)

Patreon supporters received early access to the beta before the public release, and the Steam Early Access launch on May 4, 2018, widened availability. UploadVR compared the platform to a mix of VRChat, Tilt Brush and Unity.[3][13] Neos never left Early Access; the developers marked the second anniversary of the Steam beta in May 2020.[14]

Development (2019-2021)

Version 0.8, released in February 2019, added a world browser, a new hub, a redesigned interface, contextual tutorials, a friends system, physics-based locomotion (running, jumping, climbing and zero-G floating), undo and redo, and procedural eye animation for avatars. Road to VR reported at the time that the project's Patreon brought in "more than $1,600 per month".[6]

In March 2020 Neos began officially running on Linux, with cross-play against the Windows version. The first Linux builds could not play video or import 3D models, and some shaders and avatar visemes did not work.[15] Builds for the Oculus Quest were offered as previews: first to Patreon supporters, and from December 2020 through a private Android preview branch on Steam, which the developers planned to update within a day of each PC release.[16] Other hardware support added in this period included official BHaptics haptics support in late 2020, automatic avatar setup for the HTC Vive Facial Tracker when HTC released it to the public in March 2021 (Neos already supported the tracker natively), and eye tracking for the HP Reverb G2 Omnicept in May 2021, released untested because the developer did not have the headset.[17][18][19] A rebuilt desktop mode for use without a headset became ready for casual use in March 2021.[20] In April 2021 the developers reported that Neos had reached more than 300 concurrent users without any special event, a figure still below its peak at New Year.[21] In August and September 2021 the physics engine used for basic interactions was upgraded from BEPUv1 to BEPUv2, which the developers said improved performance, particularly in worlds with many colliders.[22][23]

In November 2021 the team released The Universe, a narrated educational world that rebuilt the 2015 Neos: The Universe concept inside Neos, taking users from elementary particles to the observable universe.[24]

Neos Credits and Steam rules

Neos Credits (NCR) was an in-world currency built on Solirax's own Ethereum token. Its initial coin offering opened in February 2019. Users could send NCR to one another through the in-world chat system, and Road to VR reported that the NCR Ethereum address held more than US$86,000 for platform development.[6][1] In October 2021 Valve updated the Steam rules to bar games built on blockchain technology that issue or allow the exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs.[25] On October 30, 2021, at Valve's request, the developers pushed an emergency build that removed token functionality (NCR, KFC and CDFT) from the Steam version by compiling it out: users of that build could no longer send NCR or KFC to contacts, request deposit addresses or use in-world tip jars.[26]

Team split and Resonite (2023)

UploadVR reported that Mariančík resigned in late April 2023 after a long dispute between the development team and Hulec, Solirax's chief executive. After negotiations between the two sides failed, the development team saw mass resignations, and in a joint statement on Discord in September 2023 it said "we no longer see a path to successful reconciliation".[8] Road to VR reported in September 2023 that Neos's Patreon support, which had peaked at more than US$18,000 a month, had fallen to a little under US$5,000 a month, and that Hulec continued to manage Neos while Mariančík led the team building Resonite.[7] Resonite, developed by Yellow Dog Man Studios, entered Steam Early Access on October 6, 2023.[8]

Shutdown of cloud services (2025)

On August 20, 2025, the Neos team announced on Steam that, as previously announced by email, it was winding down Neos's cloud services, so online cloud-based features would no longer be available. The post said Neos would remain playable in local, LAN and virtual LAN settings.[9] As of October 2026 the Steam store page lists Neos VR as an Early Access game, states in its Early Access section that "This project has been discontinued", and shows a notice that it is no longer available on the Steam store.[2]

Features

The Steam listing described Neos as a casual hangout space, a creator and developer sandbox, a professional work tool and an educational platform.[2] Features listed there included:

Area Features
Avatars In-game avatar import and setup; configurable full-body inverse kinematics with up to 11 tracking points (head, hands, hips, feet, chest, elbows and knees); blendshape support with automatic viseme setup; dynamic bones with collisions and grabbing
Social Friend and messaging systems that can send invites and objects; synchronized sharing of video (including YouTube links), music, pictures and 3D models; a virtual camera for photos, stereo, 360-degree and cutout images; Twitch integration
Building Real-time collaborative building; brushes, material and shape tools; scene and component inspector; the LogiX visual scripting language; import of more than 40 3D model formats (including FBX, Blend and OBJ), images and audio; export of created objects as 3D models
Worlds Editing and remixing of any world or item that the owner has not locked; an inventory for saving and spawning items anywhere; connection to several worlds at once, switched between like tabs in a web browser; permission system and private sessions with peer-to-peer hosting
Professional Slicing of imported 3D models; volumetric data visualization (for example CT or MRI) with slicing and filtering; a headless server for dedicated hosting
Hardware PC VR and mobile VR with cross-play; Index Controller finger tracking; Leap Motion support; eye tracking on the HTC Vive Pro Eye; lip tracking with the HTC Vive Facial Tracker; haptics with bHaptics and OWO suits; a desktop mode with first-person, third-person and freeform cameras

LogiX represented programs as icons with interconnects that show logic and program flow, the same visual scripting approach as Unreal Engine's Blueprints, which Road to VR cited as an example. Anyone sharing a Neos space could use it, collaborators could build functions in parallel, and its actions affected the shared world in real time.[4] CzechCrunch reported in 2019 that Neos used its own data and synchronization core with Unity for rendering.[1]

Supported devices

In February 2019 Neos supported the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.[6] The Steam listing gave VR support through SteamVR or the Oculus PC runtime, with minimum requirements of Windows 8.1, an Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350, 4 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290, and noted that requirements vary with content.[2] Native Linux builds followed in 2020, and Quest support remained in preview.[15][16]

Business model

The base software was free on Steam. In 2019 CzechCrunch reported a commercial PRO version priced at US$1,170 as a one-time payment with 24 months of support, or US$65 a month, and named Siemens and PwC among corporate users.[1] Development was also funded by Patreon supporters, who received benefits such as early builds and, from February 2021, votes on priority issues.[3][27]

Use in education, research and events

Petr Klán wrote a textbook on building worlds in Neos in collaboration with Mariančík, based on Klán's VR1 course at the Czech Technical University in Prague. The Czech edition was released in January 2020;[28] the English third edition, How to Build Virtual Worlds in Metaverse Neos, dated December 2022, covers world building, avatars and LogiX programming.[29]

Researchers at the University of Sydney's School of Psychology used NeosVR to present a 360-degree video on an HTC Vive in a 2020 PLOS ONE study of how body-worn camera footage affects memory of a witnessed crime; a tracked controller worn on a vest acted as the participant's virtual body-worn camera.[30] A 2020 paper on the VR programming game Hack.VR listed NeosVR among existing VR programming environments, as a "shared social universe that features powerful programming tools for VR world creation".[31]

The MetaMovie Presents: Alien Rescue, a 40-minute live interactive VR piece directed by Jason Moore, was selected for the Venice VR Expanded section of the 2020 Venice International Film Festival, with Neos listed as its platform.[32] The 2020 Metaverse Maker Competition, a content-creation contest held in Neos and organized by community member Medra, drew 81 submissions from about 201 participants.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Filip Houska (2019-04-30). "Češi tvoří unikátní virtuální svět NeosVR, kombinující kreativitu a reálný přínos. Vybrali na něj miliony korun". CzechCrunch. https://cc.cz/cesi-tvori-unikatni-virtualni-svet-neosvr-kombinujici-kreativitu-a-realny-prinos-vybrali-na-nej-miliony-korun/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Neos VR on Steam". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/740250/Neos_VR/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ian Hamilton (2018-04-24). "World Engine NeosVR Launches Beta May 4". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/world-engine-neosvr-beta/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Paul James (2017-02-19). "'LogiX' is an Impressive Multi-User Visual Programming Interface for VR". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/watch-logix-impressive-multi-user-visual-programming-interface-vr/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Paul James (2017-05-06). "Watch: NeosVR "Metaverse Engine" World Building in Action, Latest Version Adds Cloud Functionality". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/watch-neosvr-metaverse-engine-world-building-action-latest-version-adds-cloud-functionality/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Scott Hayden (2019-02-18). "'Neos VR' Update Brings "massive improvements" to User Friendliness, Social Features & More". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/neos-vr-update-brings-massive-improvements-user-friendliness-social-features/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Scott Hayden (2023-10-03). "'VRChat' Competitor 'Resonite' Coming to PC VR This Week". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/neos-vr-spiritual-successor-resonite-reveal-steamvr/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Henry Stockdale (2023-10-03). "Neos VR Successor 'Resonite' Hits SteamVR This Week". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/resonite-vr-steam-early-access/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Neos Team (2025-08-20). "Cloud Services Farewell". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/1808601382414161. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Will Mason (2015-04-25). "River Snapshot: Solirax enables you to create with your own hands in Virtual Reality". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/river-snapshot-solirax-is-the-indie-supergroup-of-vr-and-they-are-doing-crazy-things/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Paul James (2016-02-23). "'Neos Core' Enables a World of Multi-User, Multi-device VR Collaboration". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/neos-core-enables-a-world-of-multi-user-multi-device-vr-collaboration/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  12. ↑ Otsugu (2016-02-27). "『Neos Core』VRでマルチデバイスで協力しながら開発できる環境". Mogura VR. https://www.moguravr.com/neos-core/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  13. ↑ Jason Wilson (2018-04-28). "NeosVR sets beta test of 'metaverse engine' for May 4". GamesBeat. https://gamesbeat.com/neosvr-sets-beta-test-of-metaverse-engine-for-may-4/. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  14. ↑ Frooxius (2020-05-04). "Radiant UI (wiggly) laser system, New Virtual Camera, 2nd beta anniversary!". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3127131079141218098. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Frooxius (2020-03-15). "Semiweekly Podcasts, UI/UX overhaul details, Linux support, Etee Controllers". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3893864668621859733. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Frooxius (2020-12-07). "Contacts+ (contacts of contacts) session mode, cloud upgrades, haptics additions". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3856733878307483229. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  17. ↑ Frooxius (2020-12-01). "Official bHaptics integration, Haptic Feedback Framework, new team member". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3856733252022827641. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  18. ↑ Frooxius (2021-03-16). "VIVE Facial Tracker support & automatic avatar setup, progress on desktop mode". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/5556851879152283762. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  19. ↑ Frooxius (2021-05-19). "2021.5.19.1273 - HP Omnicept Eye Tracking, latest Opus & Freetype, tweaks, fixes". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4069544181425718468. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  20. ↑ Frooxius (2021-03-30). "New desktop mode ready for casual use, Cabin of The Seasons released". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4023377846269446708. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  21. ↑ Frooxius (2021-04-28). "Introducing Cloud Variables, interviewing Creator Jam, over concurrent 300 users". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4074045878070234914. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  22. ↑ Frooxius (2021-08-18). "Updated Branding, BEPUv2 upgrade & Color Management have entered testing phase". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4022264629308553957. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  23. ↑ Frooxius (2021-09-02). "BEPUv2 upgrade complete - improved performance, step up logic, proto-rigidbodies". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4020014099086537196. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  24. ↑ Frooxius (2021-11-10). "The Universe is now out! Narrative powers of 10 educational experience in VR". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4186653626160845682. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  25. ↑ Bryant Francis (2021-10-15). "Valve bans cryptocurrency games and NFTs from Steam". Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/valve-bans-cryptocurrency-games-and-nfts-from-steam. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  26. ↑ Frooxius (2021-10-30). "2021.10.30.625 - Removed any token functionality from the build on Steam". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4186652357030935889. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  27. ↑ Frooxius (2021-02-08). "Priority Issue voting for Patreons, removing climbing lag, progress on desktop". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/4051520458183940678. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  28. ↑ Veer (2020-01-17). "Metaverse Training Center now open, Neos Textbook published in Czechia". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3690071589845591745. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  29. ↑ Petr Klán, Tomáš Mariančík (2022-12). "How to Build Virtual Worlds in Metaverse Neos". Third edition, Solirax Ltd London. https://users.fit.cvut.cz/~klanpetr/Virtual%20Reality%20Development%20with%20NeosVR%20-%20community-third-ed.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  30. ↑ Delene Adams, Helen M. Paterson, Hamish G. MacDougall (2020-12-16). "Law and (rec)order: Updating memory for criminal events with body-worn cameras". PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243226. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  31. ↑ Dominic Kao, Christos Mousas, Alejandra J. Magana, D. Fox Harrell, Rabindra Ratan, Edward F. Melcer, Brett Sherrick, Paul Parsons, Dmitri A. Gusev (2020). "Hack.VR: A Programming Game in Virtual Reality". FDG '20: International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.04495. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  32. ↑ "The MetaMovie Presents: Alien Rescue". La Biennale di Venezia. 2020. https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2020/venice-vr-expanded/metamovie-presents-alien-rescue. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
  33. ↑ Frooxius (2020-10-12). "Metaverse Maker Competition 2020 Winners Announced!". Steam News. Solirax. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/740250/view/3853351107562060121. Retrieved 2026-10-21.
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