You’ve probably heard about it lately, but… what is Facebook’s Metaverse actually like?
The world built around the metaverse concept has essentially created new realities running parallel to our own.
The design of content platforms and the simulation of new physical spaces within Facebook’s metaverse are turning the internet into a new hub for leisure and personal recreation.
New content gets linked together, and the resulting data interaction lets users gain, in a short amount of time, broad awareness of everything happening around them. For a more precise understanding of what it looks like and what other virtual worlds exist, here’s a closer look at how Facebook’s metaverse is taking shape within the social network.
What is Facebook’s Metaverse like?
Facebook’s metaverse takes users into a more engaging, distinctive experience, one designed to hold their attention and let them enjoy monetized content for longer stretches of time.
The technology and innovation behind future projects are already showing up today through a new interactive world and more automated, decentralized types of organizations (DAOs). The virtual environment that Facebook’s metaverse operates in gives users an immersive experience; in doing so, it creates a world that runs parallel to reality, opening the door to new experiences that can easily and practically be enjoyed from home.
Mark Zuckerberg decided to bring the Facebook social network into this metaverse world. What is Facebook’s metaverse like, and what’s the goal? To bring new opportunities to registered users and offer new alternatives that invite more people to join the social network. This means more contact with other leisure alternatives where Facebook’s metaverse needs to have a presence. It also means greater participation from advertising brands, which get to spread their content to more people.
The goal is for the company to monetize more data and gather a range of information that can be useful when targeting certain kinds of content. Younger generations are turning to other kinds of social networks and using practical, functional communication channels to get more immediacy, which is why Facebook is working to offer new, alternative formats that appeal to every kind of audience.
It’s worth noting that younger audiences have found it less appealing in recent times, which is why it’s essential to invest in other formats that can live up to expectations and, on top of that, compete directly with other social networks. In other words, given the ground Facebook had been losing, a strong alternative needed to emerge to open up new communication and entertainment channels within Facebook’s metaverse.
What does Facebook’s Metaverse actually deliver?
The new model Facebook is promoting gives users a richer experience within its virtual-reality interface. Through Oculus, a startup it acquired a few years back, it’s building a new interactive approach that will even shape a new business model. The level of immersion users get pulled into is what sets Facebook apart from more traditional apps.
The version Oculus offers creates a connection and link between two worlds: physical and virtual. It’s now going to be called Facebook Reality Labs, where the best technological advances and resources tied to virtual reality will be on display, something that could really take off today if it accounts for people’s actual tastes and needs.
The augmented reality this platform offers is about creating an appealing virtual space. The idea is to present a new reality that society can take part in. Anyone can take an interactive trip through inhospitable places and experience new sensations that keep getting more and more realistic. To do that, you can use the Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset, which is built to properly display this kind of virtual format.
What other virtual worlds exist?
Just as Facebook has stepped into the world of the metaverse, it’s worth pointing out Microsoft as another company involved in advancing virtual reality. Their goal is for everyone to have the chance to share experiences from anywhere in the world, on whatever device they choose. Here, they’re working with AltspaceVR, the platform they’re using to build out virtual reality in a way that attracts a bigger audience.
With Epic Games, we find a similar approach. Here, the focus is on video games as the mechanism for building these parallel worlds. That’s how Facebook’s metaverse gains a foothold among younger audiences, which could be genuinely interesting if the company wants to build a new image for itself. The idea is not to stay stuck in the past, but to find new resources that offer appealing solutions for younger people. That’s the case with Fortnite or Minecraft.
On another note, it’s worth talking about other 3D virtual worlds, such as Decentraland. A key factor on this platform is NFTs, a concept also known as play to earn, meaning games where you can earn money and acquire cryptocurrencies built on the Ethereum blockchain.
When it comes to other virtual metaverse spaces, it’s worth highlighting Rival Peak or Sensorium Galaxy. The first is a reality show, while the second hosts concerts, currently in a closed beta and compatible with virtual-reality headsets. In reality, we’re talking about new leisure models that let every user enjoy themselves from home, without needing to travel anywhere. All you need are the devices to enjoy a unique virtual experience.