Meta’s Hyperscape Transforms Real-World Spaces Into VR
▼ Summary
– Meta announced Hyperscape, a tool that allows developers and creators to build photorealistic virtual reality spaces, during its Connect conference.
– Hyperscape Capture is now rolling out in Early Access, enabling Quest device owners to scan and convert real rooms into immersive digital replicas.
– The scanning process takes minutes, but rendering the room into a digital space requires a few hours to complete.
– Initially, users cannot invite others into their digital spaces, but Meta plans to add this functionality later via private links.
– The technology has already been used to create featured worlds, including spaces belonging to Gordon Ramsay, Chance the Rapper, UFC, and Happy Kelli.
While the spotlight at Meta’s Connect conference often falls on hardware like smart glasses, this year also brought significant strides in virtual reality experiences. Meta’s Hyperscape, first previewed last year, is now entering Early Access, allowing Quest owners to transform their physical surroundings into detailed digital environments. This tool enables users to scan a room in minutes, producing a strikingly realistic virtual replica after a few hours of processing.
Initially, these personalized virtual spaces remain private, though Meta plans to introduce sharing via private links in the future. Early adopters can look forward to creating their own immersive worlds, joining a lineup of pre-rendered spaces that already include celebrity locations like Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen and Chance the Rapper’s House of Kicks. Other featured environments range from the UFC’s Octagon in Las Vegas to a room dedicated entirely to Crocs, owned by influencer Happy Kelli.
Hyperscape leverages advanced techniques like Gaussian Splatting, cloud rendering, and streaming to achieve its photorealistic results, optimized for use on Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets. The rollout begins today for users aged 18 and above, though availability will be gradual rather than instantaneous.
Beyond Hyperscape, Meta unveiled several other metaverse enhancements. A fresh slate of fall VR games includes titles such as Marvel’s Deadpool VR, ILM’s Star Wars: Beyond Victory, and Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked and Reach. The company’s Horizon TV app will expand its streaming offerings with support for Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu.
A collaboration with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse will bring horror films like “M3GAN” and “The Black Phone” to the platform, complete with immersive special effects. For a limited time, users can also experience a 3D preview of “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” further enriching Meta’s growing library of interactive entertainment.
(Source: TechCrunch)
