Facebook-owner Meta to open first physical store in metaverse bet
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Meta Platforms is set to open its first physical store where shoppers can try out and buy virtual reality headsets and other gadgets as the company plots a course to take its highly touted metaverse mainstream.
The 1550sqft Meta Store at the company’s Burlingame campus in California opens on May 9, and will feature demos for its Quest 2 VR headset and video calling device Portal as well as Ray-Ban’s augmented reality (AR) glasses, Meta said on Monday.
The devices, except for the Ray-Ban glasses, will be available for purchase at the store. The products can also be bought online through a new shopping tab on meta.com, the company said.
Meta is investing heavily in metaverse – a virtual space where people interact, work and play – by adding new features to hardware devices that serve as access points to the virtual world.
Earlier this month, the Facebook owner said it would start testing tools for selling digital assets and experiences within its virtual reality platform Horizon Worlds, a VR platform Meta launched late last year.
Meta also said it would charge creators of digital experiences and assets a 47.5 per cent fee, a move that has attracted criticism from some app developers.
Shoppers tracking the space are awaiting the next version of the Quest 2 VR headset, likely to be released in the second quarter and widely seen by analysts as critical to the company’s metaverse plans.
Questions & Answers
Q.Where will Meta's first physical store be located and when will it open?
Where will Meta's first physical store be located and when will it open?
The Meta Store will be located at the company's Burlingame campus in California. It is scheduled to open on May 9, offering shoppers the chance to experience and purchase Meta's virtual reality products.
Q.Which specific products will be showed and available for purchase at the new Meta Store?
Which specific products will be showed and available for purchase at the new Meta Store?
The store will feature demos for the Quest 2 VR headset, the Portal video calling device, and Ray-Ban's augmented reality glasses. All devices except the Ray-Ban glasses will be available for purchase directly at the store.
Q.How else can customers buy Meta's products if they cannot visit the physical store?
How else can customers buy Meta's products if they cannot visit the physical store?
Customers can also purchase Meta's products online through a new shopping tab. This tab will be accessible on meta.com, providing an alternative purchasing channel to the physical store.
Q.What is the fee structure Meta is implementing for creators selling digital assets within its virtual reality platform?
What is the fee structure Meta is implementing for creators selling digital assets within its virtual reality platform?
Meta has stated it will charge creators a 47.5 per cent fee for selling digital assets and experiences within its Horizon Worlds VR platform. This fee has drawn criticism from some app developers.
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