Snapchat’s AR lens paved the way for social media platforms to head into the realm of augmented reality (AR). Luckily enough, augmented reality seems to be the focus right now as technology develops to one day allow the 1st fully immersive virtual reality (VR) experience. Given how people presently consume digital goods and services, it won’t be surprising if the next big step allows them to literally “step inside” the digital world instead of simply viewing it from a screen.
With the pandemic’s massive changes, entire industries had to shift and adapt to online space. Such a transition spurred rapid growth, especially when it came to VR applications. VR was seen as the next big connection tool, bridging the gap between digital and reality that much closer. The Matrix, it would seem, might be achievable in just a few more years. In that regard, Facebook decided to capitalize on the trend and invest $10 million into a new VR funding program. The project is meant to support VR creators to help build the “next generation” of virtual connections.
In the clip featured on the official Facebook Newsroom, the ‘Horizon Worlds’ experience provides a virtual sandbox environment in which creators are free to build and interact. The VR platform is said to grow more complex as the development phase progresses.
Facebook explains:
“Over the past year, we’ve shipped a number of new features in Horizon Worlds that have made it easier to create complex worlds, and greatly expanded the ceiling of what experiences are possible to build. Have you had an idea for a game or experience and just never had the right toolset to bring that vision to life? If you’ve ever dreamed of building your own paintball game, social hangout space, a mind-bending escape room, a collection of party games, or even a racing experience where you fly through a city on a broom, this is the time to join Horizon Worlds and build with us.”
The new funding is sought to budget three primary streams to incentivize the various VR elements. They are:
Community Competitions
A ‘Horizon’ build competition was encouraging creators to build the best possible world they can in hopes of winning up to $10k in cash.
Accelerator Program
A sort of ‘Horizon’ Boot-camp or ‘advance crash course in Horizon Worlds creation’ is mainly offered to people of diverse backgrounds in hopes of an early 2022 kickoff.
Developer Funding
Open funding for willing creators or studios who want to design themed experiences for ‘Horizon Worlds’.
Facebook is not letting up on the opportunity to be at the forefront of AR and VR. With recent data suggesting a continued decline of Facebook use among younger generations, nabbing the spotlight for VR connection might be what the company needs to maintain relevance and even gain advantage again in the social media master race.
The Wrap
What can only be seen as being part of Facebook’s push towards being a ‘Metaverse Company’, VR does indeed look to be the future of digital connection. With people wanting more “immersive” online experiences, initiatives such as these that fund and allow for the development of VR technologies help bring us that much closer to a future where our physical bodies can be ‘downloaded’ and projected onto a digital representation of the real world — a world where there are no physical boundaries.
Such a space is bound to open up opportunities on fronts other than just social, but there are always implications and risks. How safe would VR interaction be? To what extent would immersion still be considered “wholesome”. The answer to such questions will have to wait once we have that technology.
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