Walmart Has Entered The Metaverse Via Roblox

Ever since NFTs blew up, metaverse has become a buzz word with all the top companies getting involved or planning to get involved with the space at some point. Thanks to blockchain technology and other Web3 technologies, the metaverse is taking shape even though these are the very early days. What it becomes is anyone's guess. However, based on what is known, experts have a rough idea of the many possibilities that will be possible in the "universe."

As is the case when there are new advancements in technology, most companies are looking to capitalize on this new phenomenon by investing in the metaverse, lest they miss out. The latest is Walmart, a retail giant who, towards the end of last month, announced that they had partnered with Roblox, a leading light in the metaverse, to create two immersive online experiences. Launched back in 2006, Roblox is an online game platform that has proved a hit with kids thanks to its immersive games that have been complemented by advancements in Web3 technologies.

Walmart sees potential in the "metaverse concept" and they don't want to miss out on what is probably the next big thing that will shape how individuals interact in the future. It is for this reason that the company has decided to "target the next generation of customers" whose shopping habits have already been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic with more willingness to shop online.

The first project, dubbed "Walmart Land," will feature a Netflix trivia experience with "Stranger Things" star Noah Schnapp. There will also be a music festival with various artists and a virtual dressing room. On the land, you will also be able to buy "verch", which are avatars that match real-life merchandise in Walmart stores.

Walmart Universe

The next experience will be Walmart's Universe of Play, which will offer immersive games to cater to its younger generation. These games will feature characters from the company's popular toy products for the holiday season, such as L.O.L Surprise! and Paw Patrol.

According to people in the know, the company's target is Gen Z, who are into virtual reality. That said, Walmart Land will feature an Electric Fest with performances from the likes of Madison Beer and Kane Brown. As for the virtual dressing room, you will be able to find products such as afp4, Halsey's makeup brand, and YouTubers Brooklyn and Bailey's skincare line with Walmart.

In a press release seen last week, William White, the chief marketing officer at Walmart, notes that customers are spending "loads of time" on Roblox and that venturing into the metaverse in collaboration with the company makes sense.

As mentioned earlier, Roblox is fast establishing itself as a leader within the metaverse space which is already seeing fierce competition among tech giants such as Facebook, Microsoft and Epic Games.

According to Omar Dessouky, Bank of America analyst, there is belief that teenagers and even adults will eventually view Roblox as a multi-purpose platform the same way social networks are viewed today after they managed to grow beyond their core university student demographic.

Roblox Future

Last month, Roblox outlined its vision for the future as it incrementally ushers its community into a new era that looks like nothing they have seen before. This includes features designed to improve the platform, with a focus on expanding to offer more sophisticated experiences to age groups that are over 13 years old. The platform also plans to implement age guidelines to make it clear what kind of content is appropriate for each age group.

The exact features remain unknown, but the platform has made it clear that new experiences such as interactive video billboard ads and portals that transport the user into a branded experience will be limited to the oldest age group. Additionally, features such as proximity-based voice chat will be closed off to kids under the age of 13 for safety reasons.

That said, fans of Roblox can't wait to see what comes of this partnership with Walmart.