The CoWatch Stadium

Inspiration

I’ve spent years building consumer and enterprise web products, especially in the video space. At the same time, I’ve always been a huge fan of the metaverse. One memory in particular inspired this project: years ago, I attended a League of Legends finals in a stadium. The atmosphere, the crowd, and the shared excitement were unforgettable. I wondered whether such an experience could be recreated virtually—letting people gather, hang out, and watch events together even if they’re thousands of miles apart. That idea became the starting point for CoWatch Stadium.

What it does

CoWatch Stadium is a web-based 3D multiplayer environment where users can gather in the same virtual space, chat, interact, and watch videos together in real time. It aims to recreate the feeling of a shared event—like a watch party, meetup, or virtual arena—accessible from both desktop and VR devices.

How we built it

The project is built entirely on open-source technologies. Core components include: Meta’s IWSDK for VR/PC dual-mode support Three.js for rendering the 3D world JavaScript, Node.js, and Vite for the application layer Socket.io for real-time multiplayer communication The architecture is intentionally lightweight and modular to support fast iteration and scalability.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating IWSDK with Three.js—two complex systems together—was a major challenge. Building a real-time multiplayer synchronization layer on top was another. Designing a system that feels MMO-like while still running inside a browser required careful attention to performance, optimization, and network efficiency.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

VR/PC dual-mode architecture: Users can seamlessly join from desktop browsers or VR headsets. Performance optimization: Achieved stable frame rates even with multiple players sharing the same scene. Real-time multiplayer synchronization: Smooth positional updates, player states, and shared experiences across clients.

What we learned

A lot. This project for me was a deep dive into Three.js fundamentals, 3D models, character animations, mesh optimization, and multiplayer design. I also discovered how powerful Meta’s IWSDK actually is—my current implementation uses only a fraction of its capabilities, leaving plenty to explore in future iterations.