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The Immersive Wire - 12 December 2022 (Monday briefing)

The Immersive Wire - 12 December 2022 (Monday briefing)

December 12, 2022

Your weekly briefing on the metaverse // 12 December 2022

BRIEFINGExecutive summary

Snippets to sound smart in meetings this week:

  • Headline: Samsung may launch an immersive tech headset next year, according to a South Korean news outlet.

  • Stat of the week: Global interest in the metaverse is divided between countries. Four-in-five Chinese consumers would consider participating in metaverse experiences, which is more than twice as many as in the UK (analysis below).

  • Funding: AWE is looking for submissions for a $100,000 cash prize, to fight climate change via immersive technologies.

  • Upcoming event: Metaverse Fashion Week will return in March 2023, following the previous one which had 108,000 attendees.

It's very, very, very cold (and snowing) in the UK. I know, I am a walking stereotype talking about the weather - but it's currently colder than Fimbulwinter three seasons in - Tom Ffiske, Editor of the Immersive WireWant to be fully briefed each week? Sign up to get it directly to your inbox.

TOP ANALYSISDivided interest in the metaverse 

Gowling WLG found that interest in the metaverse is sub-divided globally.

  • Some key highlights:

    • Divided interest: Twice as many people in China would take part in metaverse experiences compared to the UK, leading the trend globally.

    • Enthusiasm for work: Globally, people are most excited about collaborating with colleagues or sharing new experiences. They are least excited about career development (not surprising).

    • Huge business interest in UAE and China: 91% of workers in the country believe it will improve business, shortly followed by 88% in China.

  • How should we interpret the findings? Taking the data in broad strokes, it is clear that there is a lot of cynicism about the metaverse in the UK, while the trend is optimistically buoyed in the UAE and China. Perhaps it’s the natural trend of a new paradigm, as different countries implement new strategies.

  • Surveys on ‘perceptions’ can be fickle, too. In the same week, Capgemini found that 90% of consumers are ‘interested’ in the metaverse, which could flip quickly. What’s certain is that the metaverse became a confusing jumble in Western countries, which would have contributed to the confusion.

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The Metaverse: A Professional Guide is now available as an audiobook on Audible! Listen to the audio version of the book, highly rated by professionals in our space. One review from Amazon: ‘It is definitely a book worth reading and for those who know more there are lots of facts, insights and explanations across the metaverse, AR, VR, and its applications. As Tom Ffiske outlines, this is a never-ending journey so I’m pleased to have started the journey with this book.'

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OTHER STORIESImportant news from the last week

Got stories? Do let me know at tom (at) immersivewire (dot) com. 

  • Epic Games rolled out an app for 3D object creation.

  • FIFA updated the FIFA+ app so it can provide AR stats and VAR replays.

    • FIFA also unveiled a web3 game called Own The Zone (made with Reality+ and OTZ Sports), where players can win digital collectables.

  • Gorillaz will perform their new song in AR, across London and New York next week.

  • Grapple Tournament will have a free weekend between 17 to 18 December.

  • HTC VIVE teamed up with Smartech Retail Group for the retail launch of its VIVE Flow specs.

  • Laura Mercier, a make-up brand, opened a virtual store on the Obsess platform.

  • Loft Dynamics, which helps train helicopter pilots through VR, raised $20m in funding.

  • Merlin and Supernatural announced a partnership, to bring the music of independent artists to the platform.

  • Meta reviewed its plans for its European HQ in Dublin.

  • Pico unveiled a holiday bundle; when people purchase a Pico 4 between 9 December and 10 January, customers will get six VR games for free.

  • Snap said that over 300,000 developers used Lens Studio to make 3 million AR works.

    • The whole piece by Virtual Vector is worth a read, to understand Snap’s AR strategy.

  • Sony opened preorders for the PS VR2.

  • Space Shells, a rogue-lite VR shooter, has come to Steam Early Access.

  • Tech Soft 3D announced that Epic Games has chosen HOOPS Exchange to enable CAD data import into Datasmith.

  • The Mirror, an all-in-one gaming and development platform, raised $2.3m in funding.

  • The Park Playground announced it will launch three areas with VR experiences in the UK.

  • TIME featured the Viture One XR glasses as one of the best inventions of 2022

  • Trickshot is a new company using 3D data to incorporate immersive experiences for live sports.

  • UploadVR held its winter showcase, and unveiled an Attack on Titan game, Matchmaker releasing this month, and a game room for playing desktop titles in VR (among many more announcements).

READERS CORNERLooking for assistance

Want to receive help from readers of the Immersive Wire? Send an email with ‘looking for assistance’ in the subject line to tom (at) immersivewire (dot) com.

  • Jo Eyre is looking for those that have experienced workplace virtual worlds to complete a survey that will support her PhD research. The survey looks at how people experience immersion in workplace virtual worlds and how this is compared with feelings of immersion using other workplace communications tools. Complete it here.

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That's all for this week! Want to have a chat, let me know about a news story, or talk business? Either reply to this email, or contact tom (at) immersivewire (dot) com. Have an excellent day!