Meta is rolling out a significant update to its metaverse avatars, and you can try them out soon. On October 1st, 2024, the updated avatars will become available across Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Horizon OS, its virtual reality operating system. This announcement was made during Meta's Connect conference, where the company revealed the latest in its ongoing efforts to refine and enhance the avatar experience.
Meta's avatars have come a long way since their initial release. Over time, the company has steadily improved its appearance and customisation options, aiming to offer users more control over their virtual selves. This latest update is no different, providing new ways to personalise avatars by adjusting features such as eye size, nose shape, and body type. According to Aigerim Shorman, Vice President of Meta's Horizon team, these advancements are made possible by an upgraded tech stack, which includes an improved avatar skeleton. The new foundation allows for more nuanced and detailed customisation, ensuring users can better fine-tune their digital personas to reflect their preferences.
Generative AI and new fantasy avatars
In keeping with the trends of 2024, Meta is also incorporating generative AI into the avatar experience. By 2025, users can create avatars simply by typing a description. For example, you could ask the AI to create an avatar in a spooky mummy costume, and the tool would generate it based on your request. This AI-driven feature aims to offer even greater flexibility for users looking to experiment with their virtual appearance.
But that's not all. Meta is expanding its range of avatars, introducing fantastical and imaginative options. If dressing up as a traditional human isn't quite your thing, you'll soon be able to transform into an animal or even a monster. Themed avatars, including versions of iconic characters such as Captain America from Captain America: Brave New World, will also be available. Fashion-forward users might even enjoy recreating Doja Cat's Paris Fashion Week look from 2023. These themed avatars can be unlocked by participating in specific experiences within Meta's Horizon Worlds, incentivising users to engage more with the platform.
NPCs to enhance virtual worlds
The update doesn't just stop with personal avatars. Starting in 2025, developers working within Horizon Worlds can create NPCs (non-playable characters) to make their virtual worlds more interactive and engaging. NPCs can play a crucial role in making experiences within Horizon Worlds feel more alive, helping to guide users, offer assistance, or even engage in conversations.
During a recorded demo at the Connect conference, the presenter demonstrated how this AI-driven feature could enhance the user experience by allowing users to have a voice conversation with an NPC that could respond in real-time. These improvements make Horizon Worlds a more compelling space for users to explore and socialise, offering deeper immersion and interaction.
Meta faces stiff competition from other major virtual platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. However, with these updates to avatars and the introduction of NPCs, Meta aims to entice more users to give Horizon Worlds another chance. While there's still a long road ahead, these innovations may be just what the platform needs to grow its user base and keep people coming back for more.
