GOLF+, the popular virtual reality golf game, has recently transitioned to utilizing the new Meta Avatars that feature legs, supported by a custom inverse kinematics (IK) system designed specifically for realistic golf swings. This technological enhancement was made possible with the release of the new Meta Avatars SDK in October, which marked a significant update in the way users can interact with their avatars in virtual environments.

Previously, Meta's avatars had legs in their own applications for about a year; however, the SDK for third-party applications, including GOLF+, remained limited to legless avatars. With the introduction of the new avatars, GOLF+ has finally been able to integrate full-body features. Notably, these new avatars come with a stipulation: developers are not allowed to disable the legs, which signifies a shift towards more immersive experiences in VR.

When Meta announced the rollout of these new avatars, they intended to deactivate the older versions by the end of March, transitioning them into grey, featureless humanoids. However, as developers like the team behind GOLF+ faced various integration challenges, Meta decided to extend this deadline to the end of April, allowing more time for developers to adapt. Additionally, an SDK update was released, addressing core issues that had previously hindered the adoption of the new technology.

With less than a week remaining before the switch-off, GOLF+ successfully migrated to the new avatars. Despite the last-minute fixes provided by Meta, the GOLF+ team had to invest several months in significant development efforts to ensure that the full-body avatars were suitable for executing realistic golf swings in a virtual reality setting.

To tackle this challenge, the developers implemented their custom IK system, which includes a feet-locking feature that prevents the common VR issue of "moonwalking" and allows for hip rotations that reflect a player's real-world stance during a swing. While the team acknowledges that the initial version of their system isn't perfect, they express pride in their achievements given the time constraints, believing theyve created a solution that balances various swing styles effectively.

For those interested in trying GOLF+, the game is available for $30 on the Meta Horizon Store designed for Quest headsets. It offers three selectable courses, and players can also purchase 34 additional DLC courses. Alternatively, a subscription option exists through the GOLF+ Pass, which grants access to all courses for a monthly fee of $10.

Speaking to UploadVR earlier this year, GOLF+ CEO and co-founder Ryan Engle revealed that the game has surpassed sales of 1.5 million copies to date. Additionally, Meta recently highlighted the 50 best-selling paid Quest games, placing GOLF+ at #17, which underscores its status as one of the most successful independent VR games in history.