Meta is beginning to monetize Horizon Worlds, the company’s metaverse platform. To start, items will only be available in the world in which the purchase originates. However, this will change in the future according to Meta’s plans.
The platform’s monetization tool is currently available only to a choice group of creators. Eventually, however, Meta plans to release the tool to all creators. Via monetizing Horizon Worlds, Meta hopes to build an economy within the platform.
“What the creators can do as part of building their world, they can attach behaviors that trigger monetization, which means that we actually don’t know all the things they can do to monetize,” VP of Horizon at Meta, Vivek Sharma told CNET. “That’s exciting, but also, at the same time, we want to do this in a way that will scale eventually to cross worlds, into shared spaces and beyond.”
Scandal in Horizon Worlds
Horizon Worlds is growing in popularity, reaching 300 thousand users in February 2022. However, despite its infancy, the platform isn’t without scandal. Earlier this year, a woman came forward about a virtual sexual assault within the platform. Meta responded by introducing a personal boundary feature to Horizon Worlds.
Meta plans to take a 25% cut of all virtual item sales. Additionally, the metaverse pioneer intends to offer a monthly performance bonus to creators. The bonus incentivizes creators and uses a strategy similar to that already utilized on Instagram.
In addition to eventually allowing digital purchases to be available across Horizon Worlds, the company also has goals to let users access purchases across varying hardware in the future. Momentarily, however, Meta views the purchase of in-world items as a way to tip creators.
Currently, the company is vetting and approving virtual items for sale on its metaverse platform. However, as the inventory of digital items grows, it’s unclear how Meta will manage the virtual marketplace.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
