Meta Launches Avatars Store as Metaverse Gets Closer

Tech giant Meta is launching an online store where Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger users will be able to purchase digital clothing for their avatar. In a Facebook post, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of 'Avatars Store' on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Initially, Meta will offer digital outfits Prada, Balenciaga, and Thom Browne. Although the pricing of the outfits hasn't been decided yet, the free clothing options for Meta avatars will still remain available.

Zuckerberg has said that the new fashion clothing options are a way for users to express themselves via their avatars. The store will begin rolling out next week. In a bid to build 'Metaverse', Meta has been working to upgrade the looks of its avatars. Earlier this year, the tech giant brought its 3D avatars to Instagram and introduced updated avatars to Facebook and Messenger. The update added more faces, skin tones and accessibility devices to the avatars. The company now also allows users to bring the same avatar across all Meta platforms - Instagram, Facebook and Messenger, including virtual reality.

Avatars have emerged as one way for Meta to link user identity across Facebook, Instagram and its other services, as it increasingly ties the platforms together and steers toward building an immersive "metaverse" of shared, interconnected digital worlds where users can gather. Users of the company's virtual reality headsets set up avatars to play video games, take exercise classes and participate in conference calls, although initially the digital outfits will be available only on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy in the metaverse.