Meta’s virtual reality app could soon let creators sell virtual items, effects

Horizon worlds, the virtual reality application of Meta, is testing a new feature that will let its users sell virtual items and effects within the platform, announced Mark Zuckerberg. 

Zuckerberg announced this in his virtual avatar at an event hosted on Horizon Worlds by startup Vidyuu. The feature will initially be rolled out to a test audience and is seen as a step towards Meta’s vision of building a larger virtual reality-based social networking environment. 

The Meta CEO said that at some point in the future of the metaverse, an important aspect of the VR domain is to sell virtual goods and be able to take the profits from the virtual to the real world. 

“But first, there need to be things that people want to buy in order to get that economy going,” Zuckerberg said. 

Horizon World users in the US and Canada, who are above 18 years of age, will be able to make these purchases inside the virtual reality world, he said, adding that the entity on sale could be access to secret locations within the platform or fashion accessories. 

Additionally, similar to bonus programs for creators on Instagram, Meta is also testing a Horizon Worlds Creator Bonus program, accessible only to participants from the US. Zuckerberg, in his talk, mentioned that the bonus program was an expansion of Meta’s $10 million Horizon Creators Fund announced in October 2021. 

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“Creator monetisation is really important because you all need to be able to support yourself and make a good living building these awesome experiences,” said Zuckerberg. 

According to a CNBC report, Meta incurred more than $10 billion in losses in their business related to the metaverse, which points towards the company spending a large sum betting on the metaverse.