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How Can Metaverse Crypto Projects Make Use of Apple Vision Pro

Last Updated January 15, 2024 11:48 AM
Teuta Franjkovic
Last Updated January 15, 2024 11:48 AM
Key Takeaways
  • The Apple Vision Pro headset will be available for purchase in the United States on February 2.
  • The Vision Pro is poised to transform the metaverse by enabling seamless integration of the real and digital realms.
  • Several blockchain and metaverse companies have already expressed interest in partnering with Apple.
  • The headset has the potential to become a new multi-billion dollar revenue stream for Apple.

Apple has announced  that its much-anticipated Vision Pro headset will become available for purchase in the United States on February 2.

Starting from mid-January, customers in the US have the opportunity to pre-order this mixed-reality device for $3,499.

Eye-Tracking, Spatial Computing, and a March Release

Apple has begun accepting pre-orders for the Apple Vision Pro, marking the company’s initial venture into spatial computing technology. Currently, orders can only be placed through the U.S. online store, as the Vision Pro is exclusively available in the United States at this stage.

This launch represents the first significant new product introduction by Apple since the debut of the Apple Watch in 2015. The company officially announced the headset in June 2023, following years of speculation and rumors.

Apple also said the device would come with 256GB of storage. Notably, the its eye-tracking technology is can accommodate users who may not have full use of both eyes, as it can operate effectively by tracking just one dominant eye.

Apple is also positioning the Vision Pro distinctively in the market. The company is encouraging developers to categorize their applications for the headset as “spatial computing” rather than as typical VR or AR apps. This move suggests a strategic effort to differentiate their product from existing devices in the market.

Apple Vision Pro Headset Set to Revolutionize Metaverse Experiences

Integrating the Apple Vision Pro into the metaverse  expands opportunities for both producers and users. This headgear allows users to explore virtual landscapes, interact with virtual items, and connect with other participants in real-time. Vision Pro also lets users participate in virtual events and collaborate on creative projects.

This could be a big step up for blockchain and crypto companies operating in the metaverse. 

Providing Blockchain Gaming Companies with New Resources

Blockchain gaming firms are well positioned to capitalize on the Apple Vision Pro. These companies could use the headset to give gamers improved immersion, engagement, and new gaming experiences. The combination of the Vision Pro with blockchain technology could allow decentralized ownership of in-game assets and support an environment where users control virtual property. This convergence of blockchain gaming and augmented reality could pave the way for a more inclusive and inventive gaming ecosystem.

Some blockchain and metaverse companies have already signed a partnership with Apple. Others could do it very soon. Here are five of them:

Sandbox (SAND)

 The Sandbox’s game  (SAND) co-founder and COO Sebastian Borger, predicts  the Vision Pro will be so reliant on Web3 apps and blockchain-powered experiences that Apple will be forced to embrace the technology. 

 

Generative AI technologies could let developers create immersive environments without having to manually code dozens of elements. 

For example, a developer could combine AR components with an avatar drop to provide users with an aspect of engagement. A mixed-reality game might also react in real-time to relevant inputs, populating the game with new items and elements. 

Render (RNDR)

Apple mentioned a product tied to the Render network (RNDR), which allows distributed GPU rendering on the blockchain. Cryptocurrencies based on artificial intelligence, such as Render and SingularityNET, have recently acquired prominence. 

Meanwhile, despite widespread anticipation, AI chatbots and other companies are yet to integrate cryptocurrency payments. With the release of the headset, it was believed the 2023 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference could pave the road for crypto integration.

Apple highlighted Octane X , a GPU rendering capability available on the Mac App Store. Octane is linked to the RNDR because OTOY is the business behind both products. Jules Urbach, OTOY’s CEO, developed Render Token in 2016 to deliver decentralized GPU-based rendering solutions. As a result, it is expected that Apple and Octane could form a relationship soon.

Unity

Shares of the game-development software maker Unity climbed 26%  right after Apple announced a collaboration  in June last year. This was the company’s stock’s biggest rise since the company’s initial public offering in 2020.

According to Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations, Susan Prescott, Unity will provide real-time 3D tools and capabilities to Apple Vision Pro, and developers will then implement  both new and existing Unity-created apps and games to the new spatial computing platform

Decentraland (MANA)

Yemel Jardi, the Executive Director of Decentraland, said  he was bullish on the product and what it means for the whole industry.  He said: “The open metaverse needs to be based on hardware. We want to have better hardware.”

Also, one of the most critical metaverse difficulties is the digital persona. The capacity for users to communicate virtually with one another is one of the most appealing characteristics of the metaverse, but many people find it difficult to engage with cartoon-like avatars.

The Vision Pro tries to solve this problem by allowing users to create hyper-realistic digital personalities. Therefore, users might be able to scan their faces in order to build digital avatars of themselves for the Decentraland metaverse.

Be it as it may, it won’t be strange if soon, you’ll be able to visit your Land in Decetraland by using Apple Vision Pro.

BONUS: Disney

The inclusion of Disney  material on Apple’s new device is most likely a continuation of the company’s metaverse strategy , which it initially announced in mid-2022. Disney said at the time that it had selected Polygon (POL) and hired executives to oversee its venture into immersive virtual experiences. Following this, they made a drive to increase resources for Web3 activities by posting a job for a specialized in-house counsel for NFTs and decentralized finance (DeFi).

However, Disney appeared to put a crimp in its plans in March last year, cutting 7,000 employees, including those on its Metaverse team.

Disney’s increased interest in virtual technology might herald the reopening of that chapter, albeit with Apple’s resources. It further legitimizes the technology and demonstrates the breadth of its potential applications for billions of Disney fans worldwide.

Conclusion

Apple’s latest technological advancement represents a significant leap in hardware, blending the digital and real worlds through a pair of lenses enhanced by augmented reality. This development signals a step forward in creating immersive experiences that blur the lines between virtual and physical realities.

It provides a window into the future of interactive experiences, where the integration of the digital and real environments creates new possibilities for engagement and interaction.

However, while the Vision Pro headset has the potential to become a new multi-billion dollar revenue stream for Apple, its high price point may limit its accessibility. Given the current global economic challenges, where many people struggle to afford basic necessities, the premium cost of the headset could restrict its appeal primarily to a wealthier demographic. Not only that, but the news  it had made cuts to its production forecast might also indicate that