Meta's text chat feature for Horizon Worlds is now rolling out to all users, giving people a new way to communicate with others in VR without using voice. The feature, which Meta dubs "world chat," offers a text-based thread that pops up on screen within the Horizon environment.
To use world chat, users simply need to select the "world chat" option from the menu that appears when they lift their left wrist while in VR. From there, they can type messages that will be visible to everyone in the same world session. Users can also @mention other users in world chat to get their attention.
World chat is a welcome addition to Horizon Worlds, which has previously relied on voice chat for communication. This can be a barrier for some users, such as those who are shy or have difficulty speaking. World chat provides a more inclusive way for people to interact and socialize in VR.
The rollout of world chat comes as Meta is looking to expand the Horizon Worlds platform. The company has recently announced a number of new features and partnerships for Horizon Worlds, including the ability to create and share your own worlds, as well as the ability to use real-world objects in VR.
With the addition of world chat, Meta is making Horizon Worlds even more accessible and engaging for users. It will be interesting to see how people use world chat to interact with each other in VR.
Potential benefits of text chat in Horizon Worlds:
- More inclusive for users who are shy or have difficulty speaking
- Easier for users to communicate with others from different cultures or language backgrounds
- Allows users to multitask while in VR, such as reading or taking notes
- Can be used to create more engaging and immersive experiences, such as collaborative storytelling or role-playing
Potential drawbacks of text chat in Horizon Worlds:
- Can be slower than voice chat
- Can be more difficult to convey tone and emotion through text
- Can be more difficult to moderate for harassment and abuse
Overall, the addition of text chat to Horizon Worlds is a positive development. It provides users with a more inclusive and flexible way to communicate with each other in VR.
