This week online: harassment in VR/gaming and lackluster UX
A lot on the docket this week in emerging and immersive media!
First up, a major acquisition by EPIC Games, who announced Sketchfab is joining its ranks last week. The companies expressed wanting to make VR, AR, and 3D content more accessible, a goal accomplished in part by their new ablity to make Sketchfab Plus entirely free. Still, the move, as has been common with smaller organizations attaching to larger industry players, has some worried.
Augmented and virtual reality are becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. Ryan Eagle highlights one aspect of this: AR/VR preview shopping! This already exists in some formats; what’s something you tried out with augmented reality before purchasing?
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Up next, a thought-provoking prompt on the obstacles facing AR/VR and what particularly is preventing new audiences from engaging these platforms. Fragmentation from other ecosystems was mentioned many times in the responses, along with a need for better software.
What do you think is holding these mediums back?
In other news, Twitter user Nik ∞ raises awareness about harrassment in virtual spaces, an important topic we’ve covered in Immerse before.
The use of an avatar does not automatically keep one safe from prejudice, assault, and other types of harm. This conversation is especially pertinent in light of the recent harrassment suit against gaming heavy hitter Activision Blizzard and the subsequent walkout by employees calling for improved conditions for women, especially women of color and transgender women, nonbinary people, and other marginalized groups.
How can we work to make these spaces, both virtual and IRL/AFK, safer and more inclusive?
Lastly, another popular post this week, highlighting developers working to create engaging VR experiences:
Check out the replies, let us know what you end up playing and how your interactions with other users on those platforms have been!
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