As Mark Zuckerberg continues to lead Meta into the virtual realm in 2022 and beyond, the biggest tech giants are positioning ways to partner with the platform to expand their global reach. Whether it’s gaming software, cloud computing, semiconductor chips, VR headsets, NFTs, and more, the Metaverse is the most exciting technological hub for big brand names to expand their influence.
While some recognizable companies have loose affiliations with the brand, the ones that have ambitious plans and partnerships with the Metaverse across a wide spectrum of projects are bound to make the biggest societal impact.
Alphabet Inc.
The parent company of Google, Alphabet is one of the most valuable tech giants in the world and is wisely investing in Metaverse-related projects. According to a Bloomberg interview, Google CEO Sundar Pichai invested $39.5 million in the Metaverse projects as a way of “evolving computing in an immersive way with augmented reality.”
Google’s most ambitious plans for the Metaverse include Project Starline, a 3D interface that uses AR, VR, machine learning, computer vision, spatial audio, and real-time compression to make virtual reality interfacing as smooth and lifelike as possible, all without the use of a headset. During the Google Cloud Next 2022 event days ago, CEO Thomas Kurian revealed four new cloud-computing tools for use in the Metaverse and Web3, including a partnership with Coin Base (per Venture Beat).
Amazon
The E-commerce behemoth Amazon Inc., fresh off its Prime Early Access movie deals, has already been incorporating Metaverse technology into its platform (per Forbes). Thanks to its cutting-edge Room Decor, a VR shopping tool that enables customers to visualize their furniture through a smartphone or tablet, users can tailor the specs of their living space and see how it will appear in reality. Users can even save AR photos for later use.
In March 2022, Amazon launched its popular online RPG AWS Cloud Quest (per Insider Monkey), which allows players to sharpen their cloud-computing abilities by solving puzzles, completing quests, and earning points in a fully-immersive virtual realm. Given the endless amount of resources at Amazon’s disposal, expect more big Metaverse announcements to come in the future.
Decentraland
As NFTs and cryptocurrencies continue to grow in popularity in 2022 and beyond, Decentraland has positioned itself as a major player in the Metaverse. According to crowdcreate.us, Decentraland is the first decentralized blockchain-powered space in the Metaverse and is bridging the gap between social media, virtual reality, and digital marketplaces.
Inside the 3D virtual world browser, users can purchase land in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by spending MANA cryptocurrency. While other tech companies like Binance have moved into the NFT Metaverse space, Decentraland has even bigger plans in the near future, with events like its awesome 4-day VR music festival planned this November (per nftevening.com).
Epic Games
Gaming is one of the central draws of the Metaverse, and Epic Games is wasting no time getting into the fray. According to esportsinsider.com, in April 2022, Epic Games invested a whopping $2 billion to expand its Metaverse presence, with funding coming from Sony and KIRKBI. While specific details are scant, the plan is to develop “new digital fan experiences in sports,” per Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.
Part of Epic Games’ plans to dominate the Metaverse comes from its popular gaming franchise Fortnite. Per Forbes, Epic Games invested an additional round of funding to further expand its Metaverse presence in September 2022, pouring part of its latest $30 million cash injection to bolster Hadean, a Metaverse infrastructure creator.
Microsoft
Bill Gates is leading Microsoft into the Metaverse with several lofty plans for the future. Thanks to its holographic Mesh platform, Microsoft is developing multiple Meta-related apps, tools, and programs such as Azure, Windows, Office365, LinkedIn, and more. Per Bloomberg, Microsoft also made a staggering $70 billion down payment on the Metaverse by acquiring video game giant Activision Blizzard for Xbox in January 2022.
According to the report, the massive acquisition “will accelerate growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the Metaverse.” Per Tech Radar, Microsoft is currently developing the state-of-the-art HP Reverb G2 with Valve and HP to rival Meta Quest and the awesome Oculus Quest VR headset.
NVIDIA
A leading manufacturer of graphic processing units (GPUs), NVIDIA is one of the most influential tech players in the gaming, mobile, and PC industry. The premiere company launched Omniverse cloud services in 100 countries to keep Metaverse running strong in September 2022 (per Venture Beat).
Thanks to its signature Omniverse feature, a platform that allows businesses to come together in a virtual space and use digital assets to simulate various outcomes in real-time, NVIDIA has one of the biggest and most substantial Metaverse presences. Per Insider Monkey, NVIDIA’s Omniverse has been used by over 500 companies, including Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and others.
Roblox Corporation
With its open-platform, user-generated content, Roblox has major plans for a Metaverse future. The virtual social network allows users to come together, make friends, collaborate on digital missions, and play the most popular Roblox games in 2022. However, according to Yahoo, Roblox is separating itself in the Metaverse with its Roblox Studio and Roblox Client tools.
Roblox Studio is a free-to-use feature that “allows developers and creators to build, publish, and operate 3D worlds” As for Roblox Client, the tool empowers users to “explore 3D digital worlds created by other users,” which gets to the heart of Metaverses’s interoperability model. And beyond Roblox’s massive gaming scope, it also offers Roblox Education, giving students the opportunity to learn through maximized virtual interfacing.
Unity Software
The overwhelming tech data suggest Unity Software is among the biggest Metaverse players in 2022 and beyond. According to Nasdaq, Unity Software claims, “Our platform provides a comprehensive set of software solutions to create, run, and monetize interactive, real-time 2D and 3D content for mobile phones, tablets, PCs, consoles, and augmented and virtual reality devices.”
In March 2022, Unity announced plans to partner with Insomniac Events to throw massive virtual concerts in the Metaverse (per Yahoo), where fans of each band can gather in one virtual space regardless of their physical location. Between the gaming landscape and virtual events, Unity Software is positioned better than most tech companies to overtake the Metaverse sooner than later.
