Several of the world’s leading technology firms unveiled impressive developments in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR), shaking markets with renewed drives to conquer the digital frontier.
Companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, Varjo, Huawei, Walmart, and many others announced major Metaverse solutions and strategies aimed at building tomorrow’s virtual horizons.
In case you missed it, here are the top stories from last week. Be sure to also stay posted with our newsletter by visiting https://www.xrtoday.com/sign-up/ for further updates!
Microsoft To Buy Activision Blizzard in Metaverse Push
Microsoft announced last week it would acquire Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s top-performing gaming studios, for $68.7 billion USD, allowing the Redmond-based studio to rank third in the world for gaming firms by revenues.
Activision Blizzard, which makes Candy Crush, Call of Duty, Diablo, and others, was acquired just after Microsoft bought out Bethesda Studioworks—the home of the acclaimed DOOM gaming series.
The acquisition aims to develop future platforms for the massive tech firm’s upcoming Metaverse solutions, using the new partnership to test several key emerging technologies.
Meta’s New E-Wallet May Support NFT Distribution
Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company to social media giant Facebook, has reportedly begun developing tools to buy and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as it begins building its Metaverse solutions.
The Financial Times reported on Thursday last week Meta planned to launch the NFT marketplace for users, but has not officially confirmed the platform has been approved.
Google To Launch Project Iris AR Headset in 2024
Reports emerged on Thursday last week that Google is currently designing and building an AR headset capable of rivalling Meta and Microsoft product lineups.
The Verge, citing two anonymous sources, found Google’s Project Iris would ship in 2024. The news comes just after reports found the Mountain View-based firm had launched its Labs division, which is set to explore and integrate blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies on its numerous platforms.
2022 Olympics Winter Games to Tap AR Solutions
One of China’s mainland ‘Big Three’ telecom giants, China Unicom, and Huawei Technologies entered a massive partnership with the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Huawei, the world’s largest provider of telecoms equipment despite the ongoing US-China trade war, will facilitate the Games with its big data, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies to provide key telecoms infrastructure and viewer enhancements for the event.
Varjo Debuts Reality Cloud Streaming Update
Finland’s Varjo technologies announced in a major update it had upgraded its Varjo Reality Cloud platform with global cloud streaming, providing its clients with a global solution for streaming real-time 3D (RT3D) content.
The Helsinki-based XR firm explained it had granted Reality Cloud streaming to early access clients for their XR experiences, apps, and RT3D content. The streaming solution will offer human-eye resolutions for users of the company’s VR-3, XR-3, and Aero headsets, along with other select devices.
Walmart Targets Metaverse to Build Future of Retail
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, revealed it would develop a potential Metaverse platform to enhance shopping experiences for its customers.
The new virtual world would include assisted reality retail experiences, support for cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other integrated content. The retail giant also submitted a series of patents to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for several blockchain-based digital solutions.
