Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is opening its first retail location to sell people its Oculus virtual reality headsets and its “Metaverse” idea, the company announced Monday.
But it’s not a huge move into retail. Unlike Apple and other tech companies, which have stores in high-traffic areas like malls, the Meta Store will open on May 9 at the company’s Burlingame, California campus. The store will have demo areas where people can try out the Oculus virtual reality headsets and the apps and games that run on them, among other things.
The company has committed $10 billion over the next year to build the Metaverse, a virtual world that CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes will become the standard for work, socialization and gaming. The company is still years away from this goal.
Customers can purchase the Quest 2 headset, accessories, and Portal video chat devices from the store. The company’s Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses can be tried on but must be purchased online. Meta said it’s also introducing a “Shop” tab on its website.
“Ultimately, our goal with the Meta Store is to show people what’s possible with our products today, while also providing a glimpse into the future when the Metaverse comes to life – hopefully demystifying that concept a bit in the process.” ‘ the company said.
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