Wagner James Au / New World Notes

We haven't checked in lately with Syrmor, VRChat's beloved embedded journalist and videographer — the Errol Morris of VRChat, basically — so here's a video he just uploaded, an in-depth interview with a slightly drunken hamster which smells like mayonnaise. (Actually Meowriza, a famous trans bodybuilder and cosplayer in real life.)

"I took a break for a while at the start of the year but I'm starting to upload again recently," Syrmor tells me. "There is an influx of new players on VRChat because of quarantine, so lots of cool new people to talk with! I'm now mixing my interviews with strangers and with different types of Internet personalities."

But has the culture of VRChat changed since the pandemic?

"I find new players more open for discussion with strangers while long term players fall into sorta the same trap as IRL social circles," Syrmor says, "where they've basically become comfortable with who they have already met and aren't nearly as interested in meeting new people. Making a lot of pretty insular communities."

Insular or not, VRChat usage is quickly approaching its peak levels. So time to subscribe to Syrmor if you haven't already.