Another month passes. There are several updates this month. Voice is the big one, for those that use voice. For the SL Viewer, you need to be on a version 26.1 or newer. Firestorm users need to be on 7.2.4 or newer.
Some of this month’s changes show where things are going.
Official SL Platform Updates
WebRTC Voice Service Full Grid Deployment
May 5: Linden Lab completed the rollout of the WebRTC voice service across the entire main grid (Agni). Previously available on ~25% of regions via RC channels, this shift ends reliance on the third-party Vivox service. Linden Lab can now directly maintain and enhance voice capabilities, with future potential for features like voice-to-text. Users were advised to use compatible viewers (official 26.1 or later, or updated third-party viewers) to avoid voice issues.
Simulator Releases and Maintenance
- May 4 / May 12: Simulator versions 2026-05-01 and 2026-05-12 deployed. Key fixes addressed voice call drops after region crossing/teleport and prevented erroneous Vivox error notifications on WebRTC regions.
- Regular rolling restarts occurred throughout the month on Main and RC channels.
- May 21: Central data services maintenance affecting Marketplace and commerce systems (inventory unaffected).
- WebRTC voice server maintenance performed on May 20 and May 27.
- Premium stipend issue resolved on May 26.
Viewer Releases
- The default viewer remained in the 26.2 “Flat UI” series with UI and font improvements.
- 26.2 RC channel included additional voice fixes and parcel/region voice moderation support.
- 26.3 viewer in development focused on performance improvements.
- Lua Editor Alpha viewer updates continued.
Third-Party Viewer Enhancements
- Firestorm: Users encouraged to run the latest 7.2.4 (or Beta) builds for full WebRTC voice compatibility and stability.
- Cool VL Viewer: No major new releases specifically highlighted for May 2026.
Grid / Performance and Scripting Fixes
- Ongoing work on the Loganberry simulator channel targeting missing attachments, mesh face-count issues, region crossing improvements, llListen fixes, and script permission enhancements.
Mobile App Updates
May 24: Second Life Mobile version 2026.5.194024 released for iOS and Android.
- Significant under-the-hood code cleanup improving overall robustness.
- Fixed menu translations, character display in Bubble Chat, sculpted object stretching, and microphone/permission bugs.
- Substantially reduced crash rates, particularly on Android.
Chat Modernization and Future Features
- May 29: Open Source Developer meeting discussed persistent IM conversation histories across devices (desktop + mobile). Histories will be encrypted and served over HTTPS. MFA required for full access. This lays groundwork for potential simultaneous multi-device logins.
Other Tech Notes
- Simulator User Group discussions covered game-control improvements, LSL semantics, and upcoming EEP/PBR work for future viewers (targeted for 26.3 and Graphics Care Package).
- Advancements in VSCode plugin pipeline and object publishing proofs-of-concept.
- Primary focus remained on stability during the WebRTC transition and foundational performance work.
Sources Overview
- https://status.secondlifegrid.net/
- https://releasenotes.secondlife.com/
- https://community.secondlife.com/ (official blogs and forums)
- https://modemworld.me/ (Inara Pey coverage)
- Firestorm Viewer site and related X posts
Summary
This month saw changes but none that changed much for users. Voice has been moving forward. Now it is here. LUA scripting is still developing. But day-to-day use is pretty much unchanged. Bugs have been fixed and we should see fewer crashes.
PS: Inara has an article on the recent launch test disaster: Space Sunday: New Glenn – a Major Malfunction. Great set of images.