Posted 5 days ago
·
Author
I wanted to talk about something that I think a lot of us longtime users have strong feelings about—the very awkward transition from IMVU Classic to IMVU Next. If you've been on the platform for a while, you probably know exactly what I mean. While I understand the need for platforms to evolve and modernize, I can’t help but feel like IMVU Next just doesn’t capture what made Classic so enjoyable—and even today, I find myself going back to the Classic client because it still works better for what I want from the IMVU experience.
To be completely honest, my first impression of IMVU Next was confusion. It looked sleek at first glance—more modern, more browser-based, definitely aiming for a younger or more mobile-friendly crowd. But once I started trying to use it the way I use Classic, everything just felt... clunky. The UI was unintuitive. Simple things like navigating my inventory, customizing avatars, or moving through chatrooms felt like a chore rather than something enjoyable.
One of my biggest gripes is how stripped down everything feels in Next. There’s just not as much control. In Classic, I can fine-tune everything: outfits, poses, room placement, and even the flow of conversation. IMVU Classic is basically a creative playground. IMVU Next feels like it took away all the tools and replaced them with a shiny wrapper. It’s pretty on the surface, but shallow underneath.
Another thing: roleplaying (which is a huge part of what I do on IMVU) just doesn’t translate well into Next. In Classic, the chat flow is clean and easy to manage. You can see a full history, copy logs if needed, and manage scenes with multiple users comfortably. In Next, it’s just not designed for that kind of depth. Everything feels optimized for casual chat rather than immersive storytelling. It’s hard to be creative when you’re busy fighting the interface.
Let’s talk about avatars too. In Classic, the avatar editor gives you precision control over your look. You can mix and match thousands of items easily, and outfit management is way smoother. In Next, it feels clumsy. Sometimes I’d try to change a single accessory, and it would glitch or reset my outfit entirely. Not to mention the lag—it’s real. I’ve got a decent system, and Next still chugs when I try to do more than one thing at a time.
I understand that some people might like Next, especially if they’re new or coming in from mobile. It’s clear IMVU is trying to attract a different kind of user. But for those of us who’ve been around for a while—who’ve spent money, time, and emotion building up our avatars, rooms, and social circles—Classic just works better. It respects the way we use the platform.
I still use IMVU Classic to this day. It’s stable, familiar, and honestly just more fun. When I log in, I’m immediately in my comfort zone. I can jump into roleplay scenes, hang out in custom rooms, and actually enjoy the experience without feeling like I’m beta testing a half-baked replacement. The social features work. The inventory system is functional. And I can actually run it without my browser gasping for air.
I’ve heard some rumors that Classic might eventually be phased out completely, and honestly, that thought makes me nervous. I don’t want to have to give up the part of IMVU that I love just because the company is pushing everyone toward Next. If that ever happens, I hope the devs listen to the feedback and bring back the functionality that makes Classic so great—or at least offer a true desktop alternative that respects the depth and complexity of what many of us do on here.
So yeah, call me old school, but I’m still Team Classic all the way. If anyone else feels the same—or if you’ve figured out ways to make Next more bearable—I’d love to hear your thoughts. Maybe there’s hope for a better hybrid version someday.
Until then, you’ll still find me hanging out in Classic, same username, same favorite rooms, same obsession with customizing the perfect outfit. Some things are just worth holding onto.
To be completely honest, my first impression of IMVU Next was confusion. It looked sleek at first glance—more modern, more browser-based, definitely aiming for a younger or more mobile-friendly crowd. But once I started trying to use it the way I use Classic, everything just felt... clunky. The UI was unintuitive. Simple things like navigating my inventory, customizing avatars, or moving through chatrooms felt like a chore rather than something enjoyable.
One of my biggest gripes is how stripped down everything feels in Next. There’s just not as much control. In Classic, I can fine-tune everything: outfits, poses, room placement, and even the flow of conversation. IMVU Classic is basically a creative playground. IMVU Next feels like it took away all the tools and replaced them with a shiny wrapper. It’s pretty on the surface, but shallow underneath.
Another thing: roleplaying (which is a huge part of what I do on IMVU) just doesn’t translate well into Next. In Classic, the chat flow is clean and easy to manage. You can see a full history, copy logs if needed, and manage scenes with multiple users comfortably. In Next, it’s just not designed for that kind of depth. Everything feels optimized for casual chat rather than immersive storytelling. It’s hard to be creative when you’re busy fighting the interface.
Let’s talk about avatars too. In Classic, the avatar editor gives you precision control over your look. You can mix and match thousands of items easily, and outfit management is way smoother. In Next, it feels clumsy. Sometimes I’d try to change a single accessory, and it would glitch or reset my outfit entirely. Not to mention the lag—it’s real. I’ve got a decent system, and Next still chugs when I try to do more than one thing at a time.
I understand that some people might like Next, especially if they’re new or coming in from mobile. It’s clear IMVU is trying to attract a different kind of user. But for those of us who’ve been around for a while—who’ve spent money, time, and emotion building up our avatars, rooms, and social circles—Classic just works better. It respects the way we use the platform.
I still use IMVU Classic to this day. It’s stable, familiar, and honestly just more fun. When I log in, I’m immediately in my comfort zone. I can jump into roleplay scenes, hang out in custom rooms, and actually enjoy the experience without feeling like I’m beta testing a half-baked replacement. The social features work. The inventory system is functional. And I can actually run it without my browser gasping for air.
I’ve heard some rumors that Classic might eventually be phased out completely, and honestly, that thought makes me nervous. I don’t want to have to give up the part of IMVU that I love just because the company is pushing everyone toward Next. If that ever happens, I hope the devs listen to the feedback and bring back the functionality that makes Classic so great—or at least offer a true desktop alternative that respects the depth and complexity of what many of us do on here.
So yeah, call me old school, but I’m still Team Classic all the way. If anyone else feels the same—or if you’ve figured out ways to make Next more bearable—I’d love to hear your thoughts. Maybe there’s hope for a better hybrid version someday.
Until then, you’ll still find me hanging out in Classic, same username, same favorite rooms, same obsession with customizing the perfect outfit. Some things are just worth holding onto.