Witness Burning Man’s Drug-Induced Debauchery This Year in VR Because Damn I’m High
If you’ve ever wanted to visit Burning Man, this year’s festival might be your best chance, as this year’s Burning Man will be (mostly) a virtual experience due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While regulars will surely lack the overall vibe of visiting Burning Man in person, BCRvr’s free social VR (Black Rock City VR) can catch some of the magic. BCRvr will host “hundreds of worlds and art installations, performances and hundreds of hours of events that foster communication, radical expression and communication” during this year’s Virtual Burn Week from August 29 to September 7.
BCRvr is accessed through the AltspaceVR app, so you’ll need to download it from the AltspaceVR website, Windows Store , Steam, or Oculus Store if you want to join. A beta version for Mac is also available .
Please note that a VR headset is not required to run AltspaceVR or attend BCRvr events; you can launch the application from your computer using your keyboard and mouse. If you plan on taking virtual reality classes, AltspaceVR supports the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest 1 and Quest 2 headsets, and Windows Mixed Reality-enabled platforms.
How to get to BCRvr 2021 for free
- Download the AltspaceVR app. Again, a VR headset is optional.
- Launch the app and create your AltspaceVR account and avatar.
- RSVP for BCRvr is here ahead of Virtual Burn Week. You will be sent a code to access the BRCvr festival menu in AltspaceVR.
- Once Virtual Burn Week starts, go to the BCRvr center in AltspaceVR and join using the RSVP code. Once inside, you will have access to all the different events taking place during the festival.
If you run into any issues, check out the official BCRvr Customization Guide for troubleshooting tips.
Other Ways to Join Burning Man 2021
In addition to BCVvr, AltspaceVR will also host many other free online activities such as workshops, forum discussions, digital art installations, and live streaming that don’t require VR apps or headsets. You can visit the Burning Man 2021 website for more information.
Burning Man isn’t just a bunch of digital events this year, however. Personal art installations are taking place all over the world, and some of the brave Burners are still planning to visit the physical Block Rock City this year. The Official Burning Man has a Black Rock City visitation policy to ensure that everyone attending the (informal) gathering is safe, respectful, and not endangering future Burning Man festivals.