It is, of course, on Facebook what Mark Zuckerbergfounder and CEO of Meta, announced on August 16 the arrival of Horizon World in France and Spain. The virtual reality social platform has been launched in December 2021 in the United States and Canada, June in the UK.
Mark Zuckerberg, the Eiffel Tower & the Sagrada Familia?
In a post of questionable quality, representing his avatar, France and Spain, Mark Zuckerberg said to himself ” looking forward to seeing people explore and build immersive worlds “. He took the opportunity to teaser an upcoming arrival in other European countries.
The Horizon Worlds social platform is a sort of prelude to the metaverse dreamed up by the founder of Meta. To access it, a virtual reality headset Quest 2, sold by Meta, is required. Also be over 18.
In April, the company announced the release of a version web, to be able to go to this proto-metaverse without equipment. She also promised tools for developers to monetize their projects.
A way to attract creators and users and achieve a virtuous cycle of expansion. A month earlier, Horizon Worlds announced 300,000 monthly users and 10,000 worlds created. Little for a social platform after three months of life, honorable for a “place” only accessible from North America and virtual reality equipment.
Meta’s new baby’s first steps have been shaky to say the least. Horizon Worlds has been criticized for poor moderation, a researcher even said to have been rapedvia his avatar, above.
Since then, the company has tried to put things right. It is possible to better control the voice chat and to establish a safe zone of one meter around his avatar. In the communiqué announcing the arrival of Horizon Worlds in Spain and France, Meta claimed that a tutorial allowed training in the use of these safeguards. Similarly, it is announced that accounts that do not respect the rules of the company could be punished until banishment.
Horizon Worlds, a barometer of public interest in the metaverse?
Horizon Worlds is only an appetizer of the metaverse wanted by Meta. Mark Zuckerberg, convinced of the direction taken by his company in October 2021, believes that a real experience worthy of a metaverse will not arrive before 2030.
During a conference call in 2022, spotted by TechCrunchMark Zuckerberg said, “ This is obviously a very expensive undertaking over the next few years. But as the metaverse grows in importance in all aspects of our lives, whether it’s our social platforms, our hobbies, our work, education or commerce, I am convinced that we will be happy to have played an important role in its construction. »
The massive investments made in this project could harm Meta in a complicated economic context and while the company is already suffering. The success of Horizon Worlds would be able to reassure skeptical investors.