Latest news with #MetaStore
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Dark Trip' Teams Up with EvaAI for Bold VR Adventure–Therapy Crossover
iTales VR's experimental VR detective game Dark Trip is pairing its psychedelic, hallucinogenic puzzles with the supportive calm of AI-powered VR therapy-EvaAI-in a first-of-its-kind cross-promotion that bridges euphoria and introspection. Dark Trip has been earning attention as a surreal escape-room experience. Players assume the role of a detective navigating a twisted lab, solving eerie puzzles while under the influence of digital hallucinogens. The game challenges the boundaries of perception with unsettling visuals and mind-bending narrative elements designed to blur the line between reality and drug-induced madness. Now launching in early access via SideQuest and the Meta Store, Dark Trip escalates its psychedelic mysteries with a thoughtfully paired therapeutic counterpart. On the other side of the spectrum, EvaAI offers immersive AI-guided therapy within a virtual sanctuary. Drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, EvaAI supports emotional well-being in a tranquil setting, embracing self-reflection and mental resilience-"a calm and supportive virtual space designed to promote mental clarity and emotional resilience" through interactive guidance. Powered by LikaTwo, developers have woven interactive menus and in-app banners that seamlessly guide players between the contrasting experiences. Dive into the intoxicating intensity of Dark Trip, then decompress in the peaceful environment of EvaAI-all within your headset. This unique synergy aims to expand discovery, offering users both thrilling escapism and therapeutic reprieve. "Dark Trip and EvaAI may seem worlds apart," admits Alexander Nasonov, producer at iTales VR, "but we knew we absolutely had to make it happen." Echoing that vision, EvaAI's product leader, Vladimir Matsel, adds, "Whether you're seeking self-reflection with EvaAI or a thrilling challenge in Dark Trip, this campaign bridges the gap between growth and adventure." This innovative partnership is now live, accessible through SideQuest and Meta Store. Users can move fluidly from puzzle-driven VR madness to AI-based therapeutic calm-all within the same headset experience. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Mark Zuckerberg planning several Meta retail locations after opening California store as ‘discover' space similar to Apple: report
Meta plans to open physical storefronts and hire retail employees in an effort to boost sales of its devices, according to a report. The company has been leading an ongoing project to expand its retail footprint, which currently includes just one store on its California campus, according to an internal communication obtained by Business Insider. The project is not widely known internally yet. Meta declined to comment. 3 Meta currently has just one retail store on its California campus. Getty Images The internal communication did not include details on how many stores Meta might open or when they might open. Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg's tech company opened Meta Store, its sole retail location, in Burlingame, California in 2022. It marketed the store as a space to 'discover' Meta products through interactive demos, much like Apple's retail locations, which allow users to test out iPhones and laptops in person. At the Meta Store, customers could try out Meta Portal, a video-calling device which is no longer sold; Ray-Ban Stories, better known as Meta's smart glasses; and Meta Quest, its virtual reality headset. Meta also opened a pop-up store in Los Angeles last year called Meta Lab that allowed customers to try out its smart glasses before making a purchase. According to Meta's website, the pop-up store is closed but will 'be back.' A larger retail footprint could help the company boost sales of its devices, a key focus among its executives. 3 A Meta Quest virtual reality headset on display in a Target store. Getty Images Meta sold more than 1 million pairs of smart glasses last year, which Zuckerberg called a 'great start' but admitted it's 'not going to move the needle and the business in a core way.' Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, wrote last year that the company is on a mission to 'drive sales, retention, and engagement,' with plans to launch more AI-powered wearable devices this year. While Apple's retail stores are an essential part of its sales strategy, other tech companies are only just beginning to expand their footprint. 3 Meta employees stand in the showroom during a media preview of the Meta Store in 2022. Getty Images Amazon, for example, has opened Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores across fewer than 10 states selling prepared foods, snacks and groceries. Some of these stores feature its Just Walk Out technology, which allows customers to exit the store using a payment method instead of having to scan their items in a checkout line. Amazon has already started to shutter some of these grocery storefronts and has shut down several unsuccessful retail ventures in the past. In 2023, it closed its two Amazon Style retail stores. The year before, it shuttered dozens of Amazon-owned bookstores.
