The giant wants to become a central player in the construction of this virtual universe and its economy.
Meta (Facebook, Instagram) is giving content creators the ability to sell virtual items to users of Horizon Worlds, the main metaverse platform, according to a statement released Monday. “For example, someone can make and sell accessories for a fashion world or offer paid access to another part of a world”explained the California group.
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The Metaverse, touted by Meta and other companies as the future of the Internet, consists of a series of parallel universes, accessed primarily through augmented and virtual reality platforms. It already exists in a minimalistic way in the form of video games (Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox) and social platforms (Horizon Worlds, VRChat), where people gather not only to play, but also to interact and participate in events.
Meta, whose income depends in large part on large-scale targeted advertising, has made it its mission to be a major contributor to the rise of the metaverse and thus take a stand in the next battle for public attention. The social networking giant is therefore trying to attract content creators who in turn are likely to attract new users. It had already set up a $10 million fund for creators on Horizon in October, where more than 10,000 different “worlds” already exist, according to the company.
“We’re testing a handful of creators today to get their feedback, but these tools represent steps toward our long-term vision for the metaverse, where creators can earn a living and people can buy digital goods, services, and experiences. “explains Meta.
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The company also plans to test bonuses for creators who meet certain goals, such as: “build worlds where users spend the most time”. These bonuses “Will not be subject to fees and will be paid in full to the creators”, Meta said, as opposed to revenue from virtual items, which are commission-based. Horizon Worlds has more than 300,000 users in the United States and Canada, according to an article by specialty site The Verge published in February.
