Avatars are the future of social interaction, and as such, Meta is looking to provide more means of self-expression through its digital twin, with the launch of a new avatar fashion store, which can be accessed through Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
As you can see from this example, the Meta avatar fashion store will feature a variety of avatar clothing options, with initial collections from fashion houses Balenciaga, Prada, and Thom Brown.me.
The broader scope, however, is that Meta will eventually also allow digital creators to release their own avatar fashion items, which they can then also sell in-store, providing new monetization options for both fashion brands and consumers. individual developers. artists
Which is similar to Roblox, where users already purchase clothing upgrades for their digital characters or acquire them through in-game achievements. In fact, Roblox has a range of exclusive digital fashion items available from Gucci, GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, and more.
Fortnite also makes most of its money from the sale of in-game character ‘skins’ or skins, which allow users to select and customize the look of their in-game character, with an ever-increasing range of variations available. .
That’s a key mode of self-expression within these virtual spaces, where kids are increasingly interacting and spending more time, and both platforms provide a kind of template for how Meta sees her metaverse evolving. And by the time these youngsters reach adulthood, it could well be that these formative social experiences become the template for their future engagement, which is where the metaverse could really take shape.
But Meta needs to build the foundation now, and avatars are a key part of this. Meta has also recently made its avatar reactions available on Instagram, while also releasing enhanced 3D avatars for use on both Facebook and Instagram, in various ways.
Meta is also working on his new photorealistic avatarsand developing new ways to create more lifelike avatar characters for the VR space, although Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently noted that these more lifelike representations may serve a separate purpose in digital engagement, with his cartoonish avatar for day-to-day interaction and a realistic version for, say, professional meetings in digital worlds.
Either way, the more Meta can align users with their 3D characters, the more people will feel comfortable using these representations as a representation of themselves within virtual spaces, and the addition of new fashion options provides another means to express who you are through your on-screen Doppelganger.
The exclusive and most expensive fashion items will also give users the opportunity to show off and display their wealth, status, presence, etc. it is currently reflected through expensive NFTs.
The most exclusive, rarest and most expensive digital items are already a mark of pride for people, and you can bet they will end up being popular on Meta platforms as well.
It may seem strange to some, or even ridiculous, that people spend money on how their digital characters look. But younger users already are, to the tune of millions per year, and as Meta’s metaverse vision takes shape, this will become an increasingly important element.
It’s a smart move by Zuck and Co., one that aligns with existing and emerging trends.
Goals The Avatar Store will begin rolling out next week, starting in the US, Canada, Thailand, and Mexico.
Source: www.socialmediatoday.com