We’re just one week past the Connect 2021 event where Meta (formerly Facebook) laid out its grand vision for both XR and the metaverse, including rebranding its entire company around the concept. The event was heavy on vision with a lot of the near-term news being more disparate. I sat down with host Kent Bye on the Voices of VR Podcast to unpack what it all means for the future.

Voices of VR is a prolific podcast hosted by creator Kent Bye who has been cataloging the happenings in the XR space for years; the show recently published its 1,000th episode!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Bye for a candid discussion on the Connect 2021 announcements, where we mulled over what it all means for the metaverse of the future. You can listen to the episode embedded below, or find Voices of VR on your favorite podcasting app.

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Ben Lang
Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • Ad

    It means that this is long past being about video games, nor does people selling out only affect people in the VR space. This is something that’s going to be imposed on everyone and we are the ones who showed up first, understood what was happening, and simply didn’t care because we wanted cheap products or easy ways to pump out start ups to sell to facebook. Our friends, families, and neighbors are the ones who will suffer the consequences of our choices.

    • silvaring

      Jesus dude melodrama much? You’re not an oracle you cant predict the future, just be happy with the fact you can change things today, and you have so many blessings around you… yes the future is dangerous, but it always has been.

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      • ViRGiN

        Replace Meta with Valve, and that guy would be happier than Jesus

      • Ad

        What is wrong with you?

    • Pablo C

      We are not that powerful, however, you can still vote and organize your comunity against neoliberalism.

      • Hivemind9000

        Or just vote with your wallet and attention – i.e. spend both somewhere else other than the Zuckerverse.

    • Hivemind9000

      Thanks for the bleak outlook Mr Orwell. I think you need to have a cup of tea and a lie down.

    • GigaSora

      This guy is freaking epic.

  • nick

    Didn’t Facebook buy Cloud Party a VR Platform a couple of years before they bought Oculus? So even then they were preparing for this moment in time and the future.

  • nick

    An awesome podcast, very informative! I was hoping Second Life would have been mentioned when talking about the metaverses after all it is the pioneer of the metaverse since 2003 and has tackled most of the topics discussed here.

  • Paul Acosta

    All I can think about is Meta VR porn and how people will have online VR orgies just like they do now on VRChat… but with Zuckerberg watching.

    jokes aside, what are the changes for Meta to be powered by adult content once everyone discovers VR porn? pretty big I think. Nice plan Zuck

    • david vincent

      “….but with Zuckerberg watching”
      Without blinking an eye !