In 2021, Facebook’s parent company rebranded itself as Meta, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating his desire for the company to be seen as a metaverse company in the future. However, this vision has yet to be fully realized, as Meta’s flagship metaverse app, Horizon Worlds, is not widely used by company employees. In contrast, the metaverse business is thriving in popular online game Fortnite, which recently received a $1.5 billion investment from Disney.
Unlike Meta and Disney, Fortnite began as a successful game and then expanded its virtual world aspirations from there. The game has gradually evolved from a survival game to a multi-faceted entertainment platform, incorporating virtual concerts, esports, art galleries, and violence-free hangout zones. Despite occasional setbacks, such as layoffs and unsuccessful ventures, Fortnite’s core as a beloved video game has remained intact.
Fortnite’s approach of building on a successful game has proven to be more effective in achieving a unified virtual space compared to Meta and Disney’s attempts to create a new vision of the internet. While Fortnite’s metaverse is still in its early stages and doesn’t fully match the sci-fi vision of a virtual world, it has set the foundation for a more interconnected virtual space that aligns with the long-hyped metaverse concept. As for the future of the Disney universe, it remains to be seen if it will bring the virtual space closer to the metaverse tech execs have envisioned.
