While Apple is creating a VR headset, it’s reportedly not developing a complete virtual world for users. It plans on virtual reality games, video and other experiences. But these supposedly won‘t be connected into a single VR metaverse.
That sets it apart from Meta (formerly Facebook), which does hope to create a virtual world it controls.
VR headset won’t lead to an Apple version of OASIS
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says he was told by sources at Apple that there’ll be no Apple-branded metaverse. “I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to — like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future — is off limits from Apple,” he said via Twitter.
In other words, there won‘t be an Apple version of OASIS from the book/film Ready Player One. In the movie, OASIS provides a completely immersive experience with games, social networking, news … everything.
That is the dream of Meta Platforms. CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid out his vision in 2021 when the company changed its name from Facebook.
Apple more interested in AR glasses
Several unconfirmed reports point to Apple introducing AR glasses after the VR headset — possibly years later. And Gurman was told by sources that Apple sees the augmented-reality service as being more important.
“The augmented-reality headset is Apple’s real priority because it can be worn all day and, naturally, not take anyone out of their real environment,” he said in the same Twitter post.
AR overlays computer-generated images or text onto the real world. It’s different from virtual reality, which completely replaces the real world.
The Apple VR headset expected in 2022 is intended for in-home use. Or at a job site. The later AR glasses will be worn anywhere, and will do the same tasks as an Apple Watch, but more.
Gurman’s full Twitter post says:
Lots of interest in my take on “Apple Reality” and the Metaverse https://t.co/ZmacFcOC9k pic.twitter.com/C4SNbFbULp
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) January 9, 2022
