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Update August 16:
Horizon Worlds launches in France and Spain. Ireland and Iceland have also been linked to the Meta proto-Metaverse since mid-July. Meta does not comment on a possible German launch of Quest 2 and therefore Horizon Worlds.
Meta accounts, which could be an initial spark for the German launch, are expected to still be available in August.
Article of June 14:
Meta’s Metaverse is launched in Europe with new features
Meta brings Horizon Worlds with new features to Europe for the first time. In which countries is the VR social app launched?
Meta is bringing its Metaverse Horizon Worlds platform to Europe for the first time. The first countries will have access in the coming weeks, while others will follow later in the year. Meta is also introducing a new feature designed to give users more control over their environment.
Horizon Worlds arrives in Europe
Horizon Worlds launched in 2021 and is currently available on Oculus Rift (S) and Meta Quest 2. Support for Quest 1 was discontinued in January 2022. So far, only users over the age of 18 in the US and in Canada had access to the virtual reality app.
The age limit remains in effect. However, the virtual gates will soon open for social VR enthusiasts in Europe. On the company’s Oculus blog, Meta announces that the social VR app will be rolling out to more and more users in England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.
Horizon Worlds: More control over your environment
Meta also announced a new feature called “Voice Mode”, which is expected to be released in the coming weeks. This allows Horizon users to choose how to listen to people who are not on their friends list.
Voices of strangers and unintentionally audible conversations can therefore be distorted and perceived as “incomprehensible friendly tones”. The mute function can be temporarily interrupted by briefly holding the controller close to the ear.
Those who use the feature receive a corresponding symbol on their avatar so that other avatars know they are not being heard.
Meta’s European plans take shape
The Horizon platform, which in addition to Worlds with Venues also includes the Horizon Workrooms and Horizon Home meeting app, is a key part of Meta’s Metaverse plans. To expand the number of users, the group is planning a major expansion of Horizon Worlds and also wants to bring the platform to the web, smartphone and console.
Meta also has big plans for Europe. Over the next five years, Facebook’s parent company wants to create 10,000 jobs in Europe to help build its Metaverse. To train these specialists from scratch, Meta is also opening a Metaverse Academy in France. The academy will offer courses for support engineers and developers of immersive technologies.
Horizon Worlds: German launch on the horizon?
In addition to announcing the UK launch, Meta points out that Horizon Worlds will be releasing in other European countries this summer. A launch in Germany would come as a surprise due to the ongoing legal dispute with the Federal Office of German Cartels (BKartA).
The BKartA is particularly concerned about linking Facebook and Oculus accounts. He also claimed that Meta was abusing its market power in social media. The case is currently being examined by the European Court of Justice. You can read the entire case in our Meta vs. Germany.
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