Facebook Reality Labs opened registration for its 2021 Connect Event on Friday, where Facebook developers and key figures are set to announce major updates in augmented and virtual reality (VR/AR).
The event will take place virtually on October 28 and will feature talks with Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Chief Executive and John Carmack, Oculus VR Chief Technology Officer, and others key developers.
Mr Zuckerberg will explore trending topics on the Metaverse, the global 3D shared online space widely seen as a successor to the Internet.
The Metaverse has become a key focal point for Zuckerberg and the social media giant, who announced it would launch a metaverse division with several members of the company’s top technical leadership.
Leading the initiative is Andrew Bosworth, Head of Facebook Reality Labs, Vishal Shah, VP of Product at Instagram, Facebook Gaming’s VP Vivek Sharma, and Jason Rubin, VP of Play and Content.
While Facebook has not offered further updates on its Metaverse division, Zuckerberg is expected to reveal game-changing news in his keynote speech.
Mr Carmack will host an “unscripted” and “candid session,” where the ex-id software developer will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Facebook’s Reality Labs division.
Additionally, Facebook Reality Lab developers will explore further developments into AR and VR technologies with a series of “developer-focused breakout sessions” accessible on-demand.
Facebook’s Plans for the Metaverse
The news comes as Facebook hopes to take the lead in building the Metaverse amid fierce competition from firms such as Boson Protocol, NexTech AR, Nvidia, HTC VIVE, and other market leaders.
The Menlo Park-based firm also recently partnered with luxury fashion brand Ray Ban on a pair of AR-powered smart glasses.
— Boz (@boztank) September 6, 2021
Facebook also launched an open beta version of its Horizon Workrooms platform for the Oculus Quest 2 in August, allowing collaborators to access and transfer files, as well as screen content, in a shared immersive VR space as the social media giant creates its first steps towards building the Metaverse.
