Meta's Horizon Worlds, part of the expanding metaverse, is introducing leg functionality for avatars. While the feature is already in testing in Horizon Home, it's expected to roll out to all users in the coming weeks. This development is part of Meta's efforts to enhance the metaverse experience, even as it grapples with significant financial investments in metaverse projects.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is making strides in its metaverse venture as it introduces a long-awaited feature: avatars with legs. According to reports from Uploadvr, this feature is set to become available in Meta's Horizon Worlds metaverse app in the coming weeks. Currently, it can be experienced in the public test version of Horizon Home, the default virtual space for Quest headset users.
In this new development, avatars will sport legs that are visible in a third-person view, enhancing the virtual experience. This design choice aims to avoid the awkwardness that might arise from discrepancies between the user's leg movements and the avatar's representation, as the Quest headsets lack leg tracking hardware and software.
The introduction of avatar legs addresses an issue that surfaced in October when Meta showcased avatars with legs during its Connect keynote presentation. Many users were disappointed when they realized that this feature was not immediately available in the app and perceived it as a promise that had yet to be fulfilled. The delay sparked criticism, especially considering Meta's substantial investments in the metaverse.
Meta appears to be committed to improving Horizon Worlds and making it more appealing to users. In July, the company's metaverse Vice President, Vishal Shah, introduced Ouro Interactive, an in-house gaming studio tasked with revitalizing Horizon Worlds by incorporating gaming experiences into the platform. This move is part of Meta's efforts to "reboot" the platform and offer users more engaging experiences.
Furthermore, Meta is actively working to expand the accessibility of its metaverse offerings. The company recently launched a closed beta program that allows mobile and web users to participate in the metaverse. Shah envisions that the majority of Horizon users will eventually connect using mobile devices, expanding the metaverse's reach beyond the Quest headset family.
However, despite Meta's ambitious metaverse initiatives, its metaverse division, Reality Labs, continues to incur significant financial losses. In the second quarter of 2023 alone, Meta reported a $3.7 billion loss in research and development expenses related to metaverse products, including the Quest headsets and Horizon Worlds. This underscores the substantial investments required to bring the metaverse vision to fruition.
(Sergio Goschenko, Bitcoin News, 2023)