Final 12 months at Meta Join, the corporate then often known as Fb dropped a bombshell: it might now be often known as Meta and concentrate on constructing the “metaverse.” After investing billions of {dollars} into the way forward for digital actuality, the rebranded Meta got here again this 12 months for its subsequent huge announcement: legs. Sure, avatars are going to get legs — our disembodied torsos will lastly assume their bipedal kind.
Okay, advantageous, everyone knows that the most important announcement immediately 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 plenty 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 transport 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 aim was to provide an reasonably priced, consumer-grade product. However the blended 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 carry 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 may even be capable to use progressive internet app variations of instruments like Phrase, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.
Avatars in Microsoft Groups.
- Meta is actually doubling down on this entire “working in VR” factor. Who’s the viewers for a $1,499 headset? Companies, perhaps. Meta stated 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 12 months. “There’s a chance 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 stated. CTO Andrew Bosworth appears to be on the identical web page, noting that at some point, VR headsets would possibly change 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 with regards to revealing any financials about its metaverse (except if it’s the SEC asking). Right this moment, the corporate stated that its Quest Retailer has revamped $1.5 billion on gross sales of video games and apps. That sounds spectacular, however take into account that simply final quarter, Meta invested $2.8 billion into digital actuality.
- It’s time to get swole. Train is an surprising use case for digital actuality. There’s rather a lot to be skeptical about with regards to Zuckerberg’s intense metaverse push, however VR health apps like Supernatural are literally very enjoyable. Now, Meta is releasing a product bundle that can assist 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 value $69.99? I don’t know, is the Quest Professional actually value $1,499.99? We’ll see.
- Meta lands a partnership with NBCUniversal. As a part of a multi-year deal, the streaming app Peacock is coming to Quest. Meta additionally stated that it’ll develop experiences round IP like The Workplace, Common Monsters, DreamWorks, Blumhouse, Halloween Horror Nights.
- Share movies from Horizon Worlds on Reels. We’re unsure who needed this, however positive. Why not. In all seriousness, it might 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.
- However what if legs might change every thing? Yeah, Horizon Worlds is a fairly cringe-worthy try at convincing people who the metaverse is cool. However what if our disembodied torsos lastly had legs? Within the subsequent replace to Meta’s avatars, we’ll lastly appear to be actual folks. Type of. “Critically, legs are exhausting!” Zuckerberg quipped in the course of the presentation.
Properly, if you happen to’re wanting to edit some spreadsheets, hop on Groups calls in VR and stretch your new digital legs, the Quest Professional is obtainable for pre-order now and is anticipated to ship October 25.