The topline Two months after its buzzy name change from Facebook Meta announced a further leap into the metaverse Thursday making the beta version of its multiplayer virtual reality game downloadable to all American and Canadian adults for free. Meta made a significant step in expanding into the metaverse on Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRINT The Key Facts Meta describes Horizon World as a social VR experience where you can create and explore together representing a key component of the companys expansion into the metaverse. The metaverse is a vague term but it represents a shift into augmented and virtual reality spaces on the Internet including VR gaming and Metas website dubs it the the next evolution of social connection. Horizon Worlds is available on Metas Oculus Quest 2 VR headset (Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion in 2014). The Horizon Worlds beta had previously been downloadable on an invite-only basis. The Crucial Quote During the companys October name-change announcement Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he sees the metaverse not social media as the companys future: Over time I hope that we are seen as a metaverse company and I want to anchor our work and identity on what were building toward. Unbeknownstumbling Fact Microsoft is founded Bill Gates predicted that most virtual meetings will take place in the metaverse within the next two or three years in a Tuesday blog post. Microsoft also has its own plans to the metaverse. Gates stepped down from the companys board last year. Additional Reading Facebook announces a new name: MetaSME) The Metaverse Is Coming And Its A Very Big Deal (SME) The Metaverse: What is it exactly? (Wired) The post Facebook Dives Deeper Into The Metaverse Two Months After Meta Name Change appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/facebook-dives-deeper-into-the-metaverse-two-months-after-meta-name-change/ The post Facebook Dives Deeper Into The Metaverse Two Months After Meta Name Change appeared first on connect social networks. via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/facebook-dives-deeper-into-the-metaverse-two-months-after-meta-name-change/