PSVR2 reviews drop, dark side of the Metaverse, and Prevu3D raise $10 million.
PSVR2 reviews drop, dark side of the Metaverse, and Prevu3D raise $10 million.
This week...The first reviews land for PSVR2, Pico announce small layoffs, and could you find love in the metaverse?
Good morning Metaverse Business Brief readers. Let’s jump into the most relevant news from the immersive world in our weekly roundup.
Top Stories
PSVR2: The first reviews are in! With the review embargo lifting for the hotly anticipated new headset, first impressions signal a positive industry impression with the technical feats achieved being noteworthy. Criticism has been levelled however at what appears to be a limited launch library of games.
Pico announce ‘small’ layoffs. The VR headset manufacturer, owned by Chinese development firm ByteDance, announced that a ‘small’ number of over 200 employees would be laid off. Local reports suggest some teams had been subject to 30% losses in staff, with Pico declaring that the process is an attempt to streamline.
ChatGPT set to “boost” metaverse. At the Metaverse Industry Conference 2023, leading figures in the community have claimed that ChatGPT and similar AI services will give pace to research and commercial maturity, with the a committee executive director claiming “ChatGPT has moved the metaverse forward by at least 10 years”.
The future of dating in the metaverse. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, a writer for the publication Inverse took to Social VR to investigate the metaverse dating scene. The potential for finding love in the metaverse is high as mainstream adoption is achieved, with tailored platforms like Nevermet and Flirtual increasing in popularity. The latter’s user base grew by 5x in 2022, with usage increasing 15x.
In Funding
Stelo Labs secure $6 million. The web3 security company raised the finances in a seed round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The funds will be used to bring in more staff and build a product beyond its current Google Chrome extension form.
‘Metaverse Learning’ grab £1.5 million. Ufi Ventures have invested the funds into the UK based immersive learning platform founded in 2020. Metaverse Learning currently work with around 100 partners in the fields of industry, associations and further education.
Prevu3D Raises $10 million. The Canada based 3D digital twin technology company have a mission to enable businesses to enter the industrial metaverse. The funds raised will go towards scaling up the development of the technology for use in industrial environments.
Virtualware announce public listing. The Spanish VR pioneers have shared the news that they will be listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in the coming weeks. Virtualware own the all in one VR application development and deployment tool VIROO, which aims to become the go to development tool for worldwide industrial VR.
Keep an eye on
Navigating the ocean in VR. A graduate from The University of Hawai‘i has produced a program that teaches students of the region’s Punahou School to navigate open waters using star navigation techniques. The project uses images provided by NASA, and intends to bring traditional knowledge to a new technological medium.
World Economic Forum plan metaverse world. In the wake of the latest WEF in Davos, decision makers have taken steps to secure the immersive future of the event. The creation of a ‘Global Collaboration Village’ for world leaders will be overseen by strategic partners Accenture and Microsoft.
Metaverse celebrated as a tool to teach black history. With February being Black History Month in the US, NBC news have shared the experiences of users and creators within a number of metaverse initiatives that have been highlighted as popular tools used to educate younger generations about the history of Black America.
Former Pentagon spokesman voices dark side of Metaverse concerns. In an open letter, Price Floyd - US Pentagon acting spokesman from 2009 to 2010 - has urged caution regarding the national-security implications of increasingly immersive experiences. Highlighting his own failings to control social media platforms, Floyd encourages new decision makers to research concerns regarding the use of user data, diversity, and child safety.
Events to be at
March 14 Online | Insights Live: The Great Debate: Entertainment in the Metaverse – LBE vs Home Entertainment
April 11 Online | Insights Live: Growth of Web3 and Retail
May 09 Online | Insights Live: Human Progress and the “Programmable World”
March 10 Austin | SXSW Conference
March 16 Paris | Virtuality Web3 Summit
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments and a PSVR2 to team@aixr.org.
January 20 2023 Edition - Issue 7