Meta Connect 2023: Live Updates and Insights from the Metaverse – Once More

Meta once again welcomed the public to its highly anticipated annual Connect conference in virtual reality, hosted on Horizon Worlds, its engaging multiplayer virtual platform. Last year, I immersed myself in the metaverse to report on the event from my compact London apartment. Fast forward one year, and it’s time to strap on my VR headset again for one of the most significant tech showcases of the year.

### A Pivotal Year

This year’s Meta Connect felt more crucial than last year, especially with artificial intelligence taking center stage in discussions about the metaverse. Meta clearly aimed to enhance the experience compared to previous iterations. Horizon Worlds received an energetic redesign, showcasing more vibrant colors and a greater array of interactive features than ever before.

Upon entering the event in VR, attendees encountered turnstiles where they could select a tag that best represented them. Most attendees identified as ‘gamers’ or ‘tech fans,’ with a noticeably small representation of media personnel. As I made my way through the corridor toward the main event stage, I was captivated by a balcony view that perfectly simulated a real-life tech showcase—evoking memories of Google I/O earlier this year.

### Enhanced Experiences for VR Attendees

This year, Meta made a concerted effort to cater to VR participants. While last year's event had a few quirky features and interactive elements, this year saw the introduction of ‘achievements’ for completing various tasks, tapping into the competitive nature of gamers.

Among the new additions was a ‘museum’ featuring just two exhibits, which stretched the definition of the term rather thinly. There were interactive displays, including one where taking a photo of a fox transformed the image in an intriguing but unclear manner. Despite these upgrades, the overall atmosphere felt somewhat empty. This was epitomized by a glaringly vacant exhibit space—a blank wall paired with an unmarked plaque that left much to be desired.

### A Lackluster Viewing Experience

Last year's Connect featured distinct hub areas for attendees, transporting users to various theaters to watch keynotes. This year, however, Meta consolidated everything into one open viewing space. While this may have aimed to foster a sense of community among participants, the reality was underwhelming; at times, I counted fewer than 20 people in attendance. This raised questions about whether users were dispersed across multiple hub worlds or simply absent.

Despite the solid sales of devices like the Quest 2, the event felt remarkably apathetic. The new gaming spaces in the hub world included three venues showcasing top games from the Quest store—like Citadel and Bobber Bay Fishing—but they were equally sparsely populated.

### An Uncomfortable Virtual Reality

Watching the Connect 2023 event in VR was surprisingly challenging. It’s possible I've simply become less accustomed to VR environments, but the default comfort assistance feature in Horizon Worlds only compounded the discomfort. This feature narrows the user's field of vision while moving, resulting in a distracting black void that worsens the overall experience.

Reflecting on the Connect 2023 experience, it was apparent why media presence was lacking—reporting on a tech conference with a VR headset presents unique difficulties. I found myself frequently lifting the headset to jot down notes, then quickly replacing it.

After exploring more expansive VR experiences in platforms like VRChat, the stark contrast in quality made attending Connect 2023 feel disappointing. VRChat provides a more engaging and supported environment, making Horizon Worlds feel limited in comparison. Transitioning from a rich VR experience to a less immersive one felt akin to swapping a gourmet steak for a fast-food burger.

Despite my skepticism, there are positive signs on the horizon with Meta's partnerships with Roblox and Microsoft to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to Quest. Still, my experience at Connect 2023 left me longing for more fulfilling virtual spaces. For now, I’ll retreat back to VRChat, which continues to outshine its competitors in delivering a robust virtual reality experience.