ARTSKY LABS – Disney, Microsoft Say Meh to the Metaverse

Disney and Microsoft, two of the biggest names in the tech and entertainment industries, have recently made headlines for their lack of interest in the Metaverse. The Metaverse, a term coined by science fiction author Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash, refers to a virtual world where users can interact with each other and with digital objects in a fully immersive environment.While many tech companies, including Facebook and Epic Games, are investing heavily in the development of the Metaverse, Disney and Microsoft seem to be taking a more cautious approach. In a recent interview with CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Chapek stated that the company is “not really focused on the Metaverse,” and that their main priority is still “creating great content and experiences for our guests.”

Similarly, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed skepticism about the Metaverse, stating in a recent interview with The Verge that “I don’t think we’re going to live in a world where there’s just one metaverse.” Instead, Nadella believes that there will be multiple metaverses, each with its own unique features and user base.

So why are these two tech giants seemingly uninterested in the Metaverse? For Disney, it may be a matter of staying true to their core values of storytelling and creating immersive experiences in the physical world. While the company has experimented with virtual reality and augmented reality in the past, their focus has always been on bringing their beloved characters and stories to life in real-world settings like theme parks and cruise ships.

As for Microsoft, their reluctance to fully embrace the Metaverse may be due to concerns about privacy and security. In his interview with The Verge, Nadella emphasized the importance of building “trustworthy” metaverses that protect users’ data and provide a safe environment for them to interact in.

Of course, it’s worth noting that both Disney and Microsoft are still investing in technologies that could be used in the Metaverse. Disney has partnered with Epic Games to create a new tool called Quixel Megascans that allows for photorealistic 3D environments, while Microsoft’s Minecraft game has been cited as an early example of a metaverse-like experience.

So while Disney and Microsoft may not be fully on board with the Metaverse just yet, it’s clear that they are still keeping a close eye on this emerging technology. As the concept of the Metaverse continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these two industry giants choose to engage with it in the years to come.