Overte vs TrueMetaverse

Overte is open-source software for creating, hosting, and exploring virtual worlds through VR or desktop experiences. Users can meet in worlds and attend or host live VR events; world creation and editing can be collaborative. VR support includes body tracking, and a single world can scale to up to 500 users. JavaScript scripting can add games, interactables, interface elements, and custom applications. Users can import 3D objects, and the software includes spatial audio and physics powered by the Bullet engine. Overte is free under the Apache 2.0 license, with Linux and Windows releases, source code, and Docker images listed for download. It can be self-hosted, including on a home server; the project says there is no central authority and no account is required. Overte e.V., a non-profit association registered in Germany, is behind the project, though membership is not required to use or develop the software. Community discussion is available on Matrix and Discord, with the Matrix Space bridged to Discord. Documentation covers security for Interface and servers, including crash reporting and asset security.

TrueMetaverse is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted realtime 2D world for studying, meetings, presentations, games, and shared online time. Users create or join pixel-art spaces with realtime presence, grid movement, collision-aware maps, and short room codes. Five maps are included, along with a server-controlled Hide & Seek mode for 3–12 players per room. Shared activities use LiveKit audio and video rooms, screen sharing, and a synchronized Excalidraw whiteboard controlled by its creator. Study sessions provide persistent timers and daily, weekly, monthly, and all-time leaderboards. The product runs in a browser, with keyboard controls on desktop and joystick and zoom controls on touch devices. Docker deployment can place the frontend, APIs, realtime server, database, media services, TLS, and TURN on one VPS. The README describes JWT authentication, salted scrypt password hashing, per-IP failed-login limits, and server-side validation. Restarting the single WebSocket process clears room, whiteboard, and active game state.