Following the change of its parent name, October 28th, 2021, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is set to launch its first retail store as it looks to break into the metaverse allowing the former Facebook showcase devices such as VR headsets and teleconferencing gadgets that all persons video chat effectively.
Per New York Times, the retail plans which are still inconclusive and may be scrapped indicate that Meta is in need of a real-world presence to showcase what it can do in the virtual world.
The retail launch which is coming after a week after Meta announced the change of its parent name would mean that there would be more focus on building a virtual world or metaverse where users can socialise, work and play.
What This Means:
The company would sell several products allowing users try in person, some of which have been sold in retail locations like Best Buy.
The Oculus Quest virtual reality headsets, for instance, will be rebranded to become Meta Quest, to give people a chance to see its vision for a metaverse before they decide to buy.
The Facebook Portal video chat devices will be rebranded Meta Portal.
Meta is reportedly planning a flagship store for Burlingame, California, where it has an office for Reality Labs. But before the name change, the company reportedly settled on calling its retail locations the “Facebook Store.”
The social network’s recent rebrand to Meta and its increased focus on consumer hardware are part of its effort to build the metaverse.
The metaverse is envisioned as a future version of the internet where VR and AR play a much bigger role than today.
Companies like Apple have long found success in retail stores, although Microsoft recently ditched its retail locations to focus on its online store.
The re-branding follows a series of negative news reports about Facebook, based on documents leaked by an ex-employee and whistleblower, Frances Haugen
