In this week’s Oscillating in Metaverse edition, we bring you news around, across, and in the metaverse.
Dubai Metaverse Assembly: The vision to be a leading metaverse economy in the world
The Dubai Metaverse Assembly kicked off on Wednesday September 28, 2022. Around 500 attendees, guests, and delegates, including government ministers, business leaders, global corporations, key decision makers and the metaverse community, share insights on the metaverse and how to unlock its potential. The event is graced by the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. He informed,
Through the Dubai Metaverse Assembly, we aim to provide a global platform for the metaverse community to discuss new opportunities emerging from this new technology and promote knowledge-sharing and partnerships between entrepreneurs and innovators. We also look forward to discussing how the metaverse can generate solutions for some of the world’s most critical challenges.
The Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, also stated the metaverse would shape a new digital future for humanity.
The assembly also witnessed participations from government entities and local organisations, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, VARA, Majid Al Futtaim, DAMAC and Dubai Digital, among others, with the aim of evaluating national projects and exchanging experiences on the metaverse.
Many international organisations and companies also participated in the assembly, including the World Economic Forum, META, Binance, MasterCard, The Sandbox, Bedu, PwC, Accenture, BCG Digital Ventures, Dubai Blockchain Center, and Decentraland, among others.
Read more: Emirates News Agency - WAM
Walmart Enters the Metaverse with Roblox
Walmart has entered metaverse on Roblox. The retail giant announced on Monday about the launch of two immersive experiences Walmart Land and Walmart's Universe of Play on the gaming platform.
With its move in the metaverse, the retailer attempts to connect visitors with virtual merchandise (AKA verch) that have real life matches on walmart.com and in the chain’s stores. William White, Chief Marketing Officer, Walmart, said the company will use Roblox as a testing ground, as it considers other moves in the metaverse and beyond.
Earlier this year, Walmart has quietly filed for metaverse-related trademarks. The company has not commented on if and how the retailer plans to use those trademarks. All that is shared is that Walmart is not focusing on making money from its immersive experience. Well, well! We look forward to the adventures of the retailer in the virtual space.
Read more: Retailwire.com
Metaverse Technology Opens Up a Wider World of Privacy Concerns
Metaverse is slowly gaining adoption from businesses and consumers. However, this expansion of digital experiences accessible through immersive headsets and related technologies is generating concerns about the information that’s collected on people who wear the devices, and how to protect it.
Devices such as Meta Platforms Inc.‘s Quest and Microsoft Corp.‘s HoloLens can record information about a person’s movements, appearance, and surroundings. Apps on the devices also may draw data from games, fitness programs, or other digital activities. Though, users may not realize the extent of the information-gathering. If they get to know, they will not be willing to onboard the metaverse platforms. New laws may be necessary to keep data from the metaverse’s immersive digital worlds private and secure.
Read more: Bloomberg Law
In the Metaverse
Featured article: With the match made in the metaverse, BALENCIAGA X Fortnite, you get to see the best of both worlds; Fashion and gaming. The result, after the brand created a series of virtual looks for Fortnite, Balenciaga search volumes increased by 49%. Read about How Balenciaga Does Marketing in the Fortnite Metaverse.
Across the Metaverse
‘PUBG’ creator’s next project is an open source metaverse for everyone
Asia’s largest metaverse platform Zepeto ramps up global expansion