Two separate statements from Microsoft today revealed the company’s exciting plans for AR and VR. In a statement, the company mentioned an innovation it would bring to Microsoft Teams and said that it would also be involved in the Metaverse universe with its games.
Meta, which we remember as Facebook, recently announced its groundbreaking project Metaverse in the field of augmented reality and virtual reality at the ‘Facebook Connect 2021’ event. Meta, which currently offers more limited similar applications to businesses, is working over the years to create a virtual environment in which users can officially exist.
Microsoft has taken significant steps on similar technologies today. Introducing Microsoft Teams to rival Meta’s augmented reality office app, the company also talked about new ideas that will benefit from AR and VR technology in the gaming space.
You’ll be able to join Microsoft Teams meetings with your 3D character
Microsoft Teams has announced a new feature that will increase productivity in business environments with the spread of remote and hybrid working order, which is brought on by the pandemic and seems to remain after the pandemic. With this feature, users will be able to use three-dimensional characters, or ‘avatars’, to represent themselves during an online conversation.
The feature, which is also said to be presented as a solution to the problem of online meetings becoming boring and difficult to focus on at some point, is a character that looks exactly like you or that you have determined; will show your actions to other participants by reflecting on this character. Thanks to artificial intelligence, everything you do will be adapted to this avatar in an animation-correct way. These characters can also be shown in two dimensions and will not need a VR device to be seen. But if there’s a VR device, of course, it won’t taste good.
‘Metaverse’ apps to be developed for Xbox and games in general
Microsoft will also use these new reality technologies in games and consoles. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, the company is currently focused on integrating metaverse-like apps into games and Xbox.
Nadella, who signals games that will take the player to another entirely different universe when played with VR headsets, said in his latest remarks: You can definitely expect that we will do things related to games in this area. When you consider Halo as a game, it is a metaverse. Minecraft is a metaverse, so is Flight Simulator. Today they can be two-dimensional, but the question is: Can they be fully integrated into a 3D world? Our plan is definitely to make it happen.
