Meta, the company behind the virtual reality social network Horizon Worlds, is revamping its platform to include more video games in an effort to attract a larger audience. The company has established an in-house studio called Ouro Interactive, which will focus on developing first-party virtual reality games for Horizon Worlds.
The New VR Game: Super Rumble
Meta’s Vice President of Metaverse, Vishal Shah, revealed in an interview with the Lowpass technology newsletter that the studio’s first game, Super Rumble, has been released. The shooter game boasts enhanced graphics and a higher level of fidelity compared to other virtual reality games on Horizon Worlds. When Meta launches a mobile version of the platform, Super Rumble will be among the first games to be tested.
Enhancements and Support for Third-Party Developers
To make Horizon Worlds more appealing, Meta has not only introduced new games but has also improved the platform’s infrastructure. These enhancements will enable higher-quality and more complex games to be developed, as well as provide additional tools for third-party developers. Shah expressed the company’s commitment to ensuring a wide selection of compelling content for consumers from the very beginning.
Shah stated that with the release of a mobile version of Horizon Worlds, Meta aims to bridge the gap between smartphones and its Quest VR headsets. This shift from a VR-only focus to a VR-first approach signifies Meta’s dedication to making virtual reality more accessible and integrated into users’ daily lives.
Earnings and Investment
The overhaul of Horizon Worlds comes following Meta’s latest earnings report, which showed a $3.7 billion operating loss in its Reality Labs units. Despite this loss, the company generated $276 million in revenue. Since the beginning of 2022, Meta’s Reality Labs unit has faced a substantial investment of over $21 billion. This underscores the immense resources required to develop the cutting-edge VR and augmented reality technologies necessary for building a captivating metaverse.
The Challenge of Gaining Mainstream Popularity
Despite Meta’s efforts to create a Roblox-like digital playground with Horizon Worlds, the platform has struggled to gain widespread popularity. Reports suggest that it currently has fewer than 200,000 monthly active users, highlighting the general lack of enthusiasm for VR among the public. Meta’s hope is that by introducing more video games and enhancing the user experience, Horizon Worlds will become a more enticing and engaging social network.
Meta’s Horizon Worlds is undergoing a transformation with the addition of new virtual reality games developed by its in-house studio, Ouro Interactive. These games, starting with Super Rumble, aim to provide better graphics and fidelity compared to existing VR games on the platform. With the upcoming release of a mobile version, Meta plans to position itself as a VR-first company, connecting users through their smartphones and Quest VR headsets. However, the challenging journey towards mainstream success continues, as Horizon Worlds strives to captivate a larger audience and overcome the current lack of enthusiasm for virtual reality.
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