Final yr at Meta Join, the corporate then often called Fb dropped a bombshell: It will now be often called Meta and deal with constructing the “metaverse.” After investing billions of {dollars} into the way forward for digital actuality, the rebranded Meta got here again this yr for its subsequent massive announcement: legs. Sure, avatars are going to get legs — our disembodied torsos will lastly assume their bipedal type.
Okay, tremendous, everyone knows that the largest announcement at the moment was the anticipated Meta Quest Professional, a high-end VR headset retailing at $1,499.99. However in between its new {hardware} and … legs, Meta unveiled a lot of updates in its plan to dominate digital actuality.
Right here’s what CEO Mark Zuckerberg and different Meta executives revealed at Meta Join 2022:
- The Quest Professional is delivery out this month. After months of buzz, Meta unveiled the upcoming Quest Professional headset. With Meta’s final headset, the Quest 2, the corporate’s objective was to supply an reasonably priced, consumer-grade product. However the combined actuality Quest Professional is Meta’s likelihood to flex the results of all the cash it’s invested into Actuality Labs.
- Microsoft is partnering with Meta to deliver office instruments to VR. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, joined Zuckerberg at Meta Connect with announce that Home windows apps, a Groups integration and Xbox Cloud Gaming will come to Quest. Customers will even be capable to use progressive internet app variations of instruments like Phrase, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.
Avatars in Microsoft Groups. Picture Credit: Meta
- Meta is basically doubling down on this complete “working in VR” factor. Who’s the viewers for a $1,499 headset? Companies, perhaps. Meta mentioned it deployed 60,000 Quest 2 headsets as a part of a partnership with Accenture, and it’s constructing a “Meta Quest for Enterprise” subscription product subsequent yr. “There’s a possibility for a VR headset designed from the bottom as much as be nice for work, in addition to enjoying video games and hanging out,” Zuckerberg mentioned. CTO Andrew Bosworth appears to be on the identical web page, noting that someday, VR headsets would possibly exchange our desktops all collectively. We’ll imagine it once we see it.
- Meta lastly revealed some income numbers. Till now, Meta has been fairly cagey in the case of revealing any financials about its metaverse (until it’s the SEC asking). Right now, the corporate mentioned that its Quest Retailer has remodeled $1.5 billion on gross sales of video games and apps. That sounds spectacular, however think about that simply final quarter, Meta invested $2.8 billion into digital actuality.
- It’s time to get swole. Train is an sudden use case for digital actuality. There’s quite a bit to be skeptical about in the case of Zuckerberg’s intense metaverse push, however VR health apps like Supernatural are literally very enjoyable. Now, Meta is releasing a product bundle that will help you be … much less sweaty once you’re boxing in your headset. For $69.99, you get a wipeable facial interface, wrist straps and adjustable knuckle straps. Is that basically price $69.99? I don’t know, is the Quest Professional actually price $1,499.99? We’ll see.
Picture Credit: Meta
- Meta lands a partnership with NBCUniversal. As a part of a multiyear deal, the streaming app Peacock is coming to Quest. Meta additionally mentioned that it’ll develop experiences round IP like “The Workplace,” Common Monsters, DreamWorks, Blumhouse and Halloween Horror Nights.
- Share movies from Horizon Worlds on Reels. We’re unsure who needed this, however positive. Why not. In all seriousness, it could possibly be a great way for Meta to easily increase consciousness about what Horizon Worlds is and the way (a small variety of) individuals are utilizing it. However Horizon Worlds is type of boring at greatest, so we don’t see this catching on.
Picture Credit: Meta
- However what if legs might change all the things? Yeah, Horizon Worlds is a reasonably cringe-worthy try at convincing those that the metaverse is cool. However what if our disembodied torsos lastly had legs? Within the subsequent replace to Meta’s avatars, we are going to lastly appear like actual individuals. Sort of. “Significantly, legs are exhausting!” Zuckerberg quipped in the course of the presentation.
Effectively, in the event you’re desperate to edit some spreadsheets, hop on Groups calls in VR and stretch your new digital legs, the Quest Professional is out there for preorder now and is anticipated to ship October 25.
