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Meta’s Horizon Worlds VR Metaverse Adds Quests

From vrscout

Earn exclusive rewards by completing specific objectives.

Meta today announced update V102 for Horizon Worlds, the company’s social VR metaverse platform. This latest update introduces a number of bug fixes plaguing world editing and collaborators. What is most exciting, however, is a new feature called “Quests.”

Rolling out on Quest headsets over the next few weeks, this new feature allows you to unlock exclusive rewards for your Meta Avatar by completing various objectives, or “Quests,” available in certain worlds. This includes Giant Mini Paddle Golf, a virtual mini-golf course set in a tropical island paradise complete with an enormous crab and monstrous Kraken.

Credit: Meta

Test group users can head to their Identity Panel to find a new “Quests” icon containing six unique objectives to complete, including “Get a Hole-in-one.” Completing these quests earns you avatar rewards, such as the Sea Captain Costume.

Meta is currently testing the feature with a select group of users. The company will be opening up access to more users over the coming weeks.



The following is a comprehensive breakdown of the bug fixes included in update V102 (as provided by Meta):

  • General
    • Some people were having trouble canceling a party invite; this has been fixed in V102.
  • Creators
    • We fixed a bug that was causing selection boxes to remain visible after switching into preview mode from edit mode.
    • In rare cases, the “Edit World” button was not appearing for collaborators after accepting a collaboration invite. This should be fixed and reliable now.
    • We fixed an issue where avatar thumbnails were not aligning on leaderboards.
    • There was an issue where creators were reporting Build Mode was down; this has been fixed.

For more information visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Meta

Singer Jewel Is Offering Mental Health Support In VR

From vrscout

Mental health support is just a headset away.

Do you remember Jewel, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who graced us with such memorable songs as “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “You Were Meant For Me”? Well, she’s back, and she’s dishing out some much-needed mental health support to the VR community.

Recently, the multiplatinum music artist appeared on the news show CUOMO to chat about Innerworld, a VR metaverse she co-founded that offers evidence-based mental health tools and peer-to-peer support to those struggling with various mental complications, from anxiety and depression to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).



The platform offers a variety of beneficial resources and is monitored by a team of human operators as well as an artificial intelligence (AI) system that keeps a lookout for keywords that may indicate immediate self-harm.

“What I’ve done in the Foundation for the past 20 years is a peer-to-peer model, and we actually see a lot more profound results than one-on-one,” said Jewel. “I think psychotherapy is great, but it isn’t something everybody has access to. And meditation is incredibly important and there are so many great meditation apps out there but what I’ve learned is that meditation puts you in position to change, but then you need behavioral tools to start to change actual habits.”

Credit: Innerworld

“I had been tasking myself to come up with solutions that were genuinely scalable. And for me, VR was really where I was focusing,” she added. “We have a lot of people who use this as a supplement to their therapeutic work and we have people who don’t have access to therapeutic or other traditional service. They are getting incredible results, and there are people from all over the world—which is what’s so amazing about VR.”

Innerworld is available for free in VR on Meta Quest, PC, and iOS devices. For more information visit inner.world.

Feature Image Credit: Henry Laurisch

A New VR Film For Quest Honors Women Astronauts

From vrscout

These high-flying women are literally out of this world.

In honor of International Women’s Day, the Emmy Award-Winning Felix & Paul Studios has released Women In Spaceflight, a new VR film celebrating the many accomplishments of female spacefarers. Available now on Quest headsets, the six-minute 360-degree special feature pays homage to the late great Jerrie Cobb, an American aviator who paved the way for female astronauts.

The official description states: “Discover the awe-inspiring achievements of female astronauts throughout history. Learn all about the trailblazing women, who have defied the odds and dared to explore the outer limits of our world. An inspiring journey that pays homage to pioneer Jerry Cobb and all the women who changed spaceflight forever and are paving the way for the next steps in space exploration.”

Credit: Felix & Paul Studios

“We wanted to celebrate the pioneering spirit and groundbreaking achievements of women in space flight, from Jerry Cobb to those currently paving the way for deep space exploration such as Jessica Meir and Christina Koch,” said Katarina Soukup, Vice-President Production at Felix & Paul Studios, in an official release. “‘Women in Spaceflight’ is an inspiring journey that honors their contributions and highlights the importance of gender diversity in the field of space exploration.”

Women In Spaceflight is a part of Felix & Paul Studios’ award-winning Space Explorers series, which offers viewers an inside look into the lives and work of astronauts living aboard the International Space Station. Other notable works include Traveling While Black, a VR documentary highlighting the history of restriction of movement for black Americans, and Strangers with Patrick Watson, an intimate performance from the Montreal-based singer-songwriter.



Women In Spaceflight is available to watch now on Quest 2 and Quest Pro VR headsets for free via the Meta Quest TV app. You can check out Felix & Paul Studios’ other VR projects over at felixandpaul.com.

For more information on Women in Spaceflight visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Felix & Paul Studios

How VR Is Being Used To Prepare For Mass Casualty Events

From vrscout

Immersive technology is for more than just gaming.

Researchers based out of the Ohio State University College of Medicine have created a disaster response training program that uses VR technology to prepare first responders for various mass casualty emergencies, according to an official release.

Developed in collaboration with the Ohio State University Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, the program immerses users in an underground subway complex after a bomb detonation has resulted in a number of severe casualties. Trainers can customize the program to change the number of victims and the injuries they’ve sustained as well as various environmental factors, such as smoke and noise, to provide a more challenging experience.



According to the research team, the program can effectively train a first responder SALT (sort, assess, life-saving interventions, treatment and/or transport) Triage, a standardized triage method developed in collaboration with the CDC. After completing the training program, users are immediately provided with a real-time assessment detailing their overall performance.

“It’s very important for first responders, law enforcement, and physicians to be able to go into a scene, do hemorrhage control, and triage victims to determine who needs medical care first,” said Dr. Nicholas Kman, professor of emergency medicine at Ohio State College of Medicine, in an official release. “Our high-fidelity program is designed to look very realistic, and once you put that headset on you are immersed into a scenario where you can move around, interact with victims, and make life-saving decisions.”

“Our virtual reality platform allows us to make an unlimited number of scenarios with an unlimited number of victims,” he added. “We can run learners through as many as times as it takes for them to get good at this process.”

Credit: Ohio State University College of Medicine

“We want to train our EMS clinicians to function at an optimal level in high-risk and high-stress environments,” said Dr. Ashish Panchal, professor of emergency medicine at Ohio State College of Medicine and medical director of Delaware County EMS. “Virtual reality gives us a safe way to optimize training so our professionals are prepared and can confront these challenges the best they possibly can.”

For more information check out the full press release here.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen immersive technology used for emergency services training. Back in 2020 we talked about police officers in one department having begun using VR technology as part of their de-escalation training. Another company has developed a VR training program designed to teach proper COVID-19 preparedness and prevention.

Feature Image Credit: Ohio State University College of Medicine

This VR App Lets You “Step Inside” Your Memories

From vrscout

Those interested can join the waitlist now.

Imagine being able to physically step inside your favorite memories at the exact locations in which they occurred. That’s the idea behind Wist, an upcoming mobile app from the California-based VR startup Wist Labs that turns 2D video into 3D scenes you can watch in augmented reality (AR) or VR.

According to the official website, Wist utilizes sensors available on the latest mobile devices to capture 3D data, allowing you to move around and inspect the virtual scene from different angles. You’ll have the ability to “replay” these memories in AR using a compatible iOS device or in VR using a Quest headset.

Wist Labs is conducting a closed beta for a select group of users at the moment. Those interested can join the waitlist here. No word yet on an official release date for either the VR or mobile app.

Moving forward, the company plans on introducing additional features such as real-time multiplayer and various other processing and artificial intelligence (AI) improvements. The latest update, v0.4.2, introduced experimental support for Quest Pro with passthrough.

Credit: Wist Labs

Needless to say, this sort of technology could prove useful in a number of different scenarios. Wist Labs provides a small collection of examples on its official website. This includes everything from an intimate birthday celebration with friends to an adorable capture of a sleeping pup. There’s even a 3D scene depicting a real-life sonogram session.

For more information visit the company’s official website or Twitter.

Feature Image Credit: Wist Labs

Horizon Worlds VR Metaverse Coming To Web & Mobile

From vrscout

Meta has also begun testing “members-only worlds” featuring exclusive content.

Meta this week announced that it has given a select group of users the ability to grow and moderate their own communities by creating “members-only worlds.” These closed spaces feature exclusive VR content accessible by a hand-picked group of Horizon Worlds users.

According to an official press release, creators can invite up to 150 members to each world as part of the alpha test. Each members-only world can support up to 25 concurrent visitors at one time. Here users can engage in a variety of multiplayer activities, such as organizing a book club, attending a support group, meeting up with friends and family, and more.

Credit: Meta

“Every community develops its own norms, etiquette, and social rules over time as it fosters a unique culture. To enable that, we’ll provide the tools that allow the creators of members-only worlds to set the rules for their communities and maintain those rules for their closed spaces,” said the company in an official release.

“Creators can choose whether or not to share their moderation responsibilities with other trusted group members and decide if they’ll allow members to visit the world without a creator or moderator present,” they added. “Everyone will always have the ability to report worlds to Meta and report others for behavior that violates our Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences.”

Credit: Meta

In addition to members-only worlds, Horizon Worlds will also be expanding to additional platforms beyond VR. Meta’s social VR metaverse will soon be available on the web as well as mobile devices, allowing those without a Quest 2 or Quest Pro VR headset the ability to jump into the action.

As previously mentioned, Meta is partnering with a select group of Horizon Worlds users as part of the ongoing alpha test. This test is designed to confirm that creators have the tools required to properly moderate and grow their members-only worlds.

For more information check out the official release here.

Image Credit: Meta

Meta’s Social VR App is Coming to Web & Mobile Soon, Alpha Begins for Members-only Rooms

From roadtovr

Horizon Worlds, Meta’s social VR platform for Quest users, is expanding with alpha tests of new members-only spaces, allowing creators to manage up to 150 card-carrying members in their private worlds. Meta says it’s also gearing up to release Horizon Worlds on non-Quest devices for the first time.

Meta is now rolling out alpha access to its new members-only worlds, which aims to let creators build and cultivate a space in Horizon Worlds. Each members-only world can have up to 150 members, although only 25 concurrent visitors can gather at any given time.

“Every community develops its own norms, etiquette, and social rules over time as it fosters a unique culture,” the company says in a blogpost. “To enable that, we’ll provide the tools that allow the creators of members-only worlds to set the rules for their communities and maintain those rules for their closed spaces.”

Meta says moderation responsibilities can be shared among trusted members, so creators can better control who gets in and who’s kicked out, however the company says its Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences is still in effect in privately owned spaces.

What’s more, the Quest-only social platform is also going to be available on the Web and mobile devices “soon”, the company says, adding that rules will be made and enforced “similarly to how mobile operating systems manage experiences on their platforms.”

As it is today, Horizon Worlds plays host to a growing number of user-generated content in addition to first-party worlds. The release of Horizon Worlds outside of Quest would represent a massive potential influx of users and user-generated content, putting it in direct competition with cross-platform social gaming titans such as Roblox and Rec Room.

As a similar free-to-play app, Horizon Worlds offers an Avatar Store featuring premium digital outfits—very likely only a first step in the company’s monetization strategy. For now, the company says it allows creators to earn revenue from purchases people make in their worlds, which includes hardware platform fees and a Horizon Worlds fee, which Meta says is 25 percent.

In late October, Meta showed off a tempting preview of its next-gen avatars, although it’s clear there’s still a ton of work to be done to satisfy its existing userbase. Floating torsos are still very much a thing in Horizon Worlds, and that’s despite Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s insistence that full body tracking was in the works. It was too good to be true.

For now, Horizon Worlds is only available on Quest 2 headsets in the US, Canada, UK, France, Iceland, Ireland and Spain—something we hope they change well before it ushers in flatscreen users.

Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher Revealed

From vrscout

The horror icon is back with yet another immersive experience for Quest headsets.

Eli Roth, director of iconic horror films such as Hostel and Cabin Fever, is returning to VR with a new horror experience. Written by Roth and directed by Adam MacDonald, Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher tells the story of Becca (played by Peyton List), a young girl being stalked by a murderous psychopath wearing a Cupid mask.

According to Meta, the combination 180 and 360-degree film is around 30 minutes long and will be available on Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets via Meta Quest TV and Horizon Worlds, Meta’s own social VR metaverse. Meta will be hosting a special premiere event in Horizon Worlds at 7pm PT on February 10th. You’ll also be able to watch the short film on Facebook and Instagram.

“I had the most incredible experience making Trick-VR-Treat with Meta, and we wanted to push the experience even further with BE MINE, creating a true narrative experience where you’re at the center of a slasher film,” said Roth in an official release.

“I wrote BE MINE knowing what worked best in VR, but pushing the boundaries with new ideas and techniques, and the results are nothing short of thrilling. We have created a true immersive horror experience. I have been a huge fan of Adam MacDonald for a long time, and what he and the incredible cast brought to life is something unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I think horror fans are going to absolutely love it. Get ready, it’s a bloody good time.”

Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher premiers at 7pm PT on February 10th on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro headsets. The film was produced by Crypt TV and Roth in collaboration with Cream Productions. For more information visit here.

Image Credit: Meta

MLK: Now Is The Time Is Available Now On Meta Quest

From vrscout

You can also watch The March 360, a “digital reenactment” of the 1963 March on Washington.

Available now on Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets, MLK: Now is the Time allows you to experience Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech like never before. Brought to us by TIME Studios and Flight School Studios, the thought-provoking VR experience combines real footage of the historic speech with interactive elements designed to teach you more about the issues raised by Dr. King.



Each topic is represented as an interactive vignette designed to hit you on an emotional level while educating you on important subjects such as housing inequality, voting rights, and policing.

“That speech is a calling on the country to consider a baseline for all its citizens,” said Director Limbert Fabian. “I didn’t want you to only stand and listen to his words—I wanted to start you off with them and then lead you into a discussion about how they feel today. And I wanted to find that with each moment in the speech, we were getting closer to him.”

“One of the amazing things about VR and our metaverse work is that it creates opportunities for transformative learning in a way we’ve never experienced before,” added Roy L. Austin Jr, Meta’s vice president of Civil Rights and Deputy General Counsel. “We can simultaneously document, educate, and experience history in a way that furthers our understanding and progress today.”

“At TIME Studios, we believe immersive storytelling allows us to bring powerful moments in history to new audiences while also illuminating larger societal and global issues,“ said Loren Hammonds, Co-Head of Documentary at TIME Studios. “We are proud to bring the words and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to a new generation with this groundbreaking VR experience, created alongside Meta and in collaboration with IPM, the exclusive licensor of the MLK Jr. estate.”

MLK: Now is the Time is available now on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro headsets. You can also watch The March 360, a “digital reenactment” of The March on Washington. For more information check out the official announcement here.

Image Credit: Meta

Meta to Resume Quest Sales in Germany Following 2-year Antitrust Case

From roadtovr

Over the past two years Meta hasn’t sold its VR headsets in Germany due to an ongoing antitrust suit in that country that alleges the forced linkage between its virtual reality products and Facebook was an anticompetitive practice. Now it seems that’s about to change, as regulators have intimated that Meta may be free and clear soon to resume sales in Germany.

As reported by German VR publication MIXED, residents of Europe’s largest economy will soon be able to order Quest 2 and Quest Pro, which are both set to be available in-country by the end of this year.

After the sales halt in September 2020, Germany-based customers had to import Meta VR devices, which was typically done by buying from online retailers based in neighboring European countries, such as France’s Amazon.fr or Italy’s Amazon.it.

Resuming sales in Germany is directly linked to Meta’s backtracking on forced Facebook logins in August. Andreas Mundt, President of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office which is tasked with antitrust enforcement in that country, calls this a “welcome development,” although the process is still not concluded.

Here’s Mundt’s full statement, translated to English:

With Meta’s digital ecosystem created with a very large number of users, the company is the key player in the social media space. Meta also has a significant position in the growing VR market. If the use of VR glasses were only possible for Facebook or Instagram members, this could severely affect competition in both areas. Meta has responded to our concerns and offered a solution by setting up a separate Meta account to use the Quest glasses. Despite this welcome development, we are not concluding the process today. First of all, we want to continue to accompany the actual design of the options for users as well as topics of the merging and processing of user data from the various meta-services.

Although a Meta spokesperson tells MIXED that both Quest 2 and the new Quest Pro will be available in-country at some point this year, the exact date is unclear.

Thanks to our reader Blaexe for pointing out that it wasn’t a block, but an anticipatory halt on Meta’s part during the ongoing antitrust suit. We’ve changed wording to reflect this.