Facebook revealed VR avatars for the Horizon platform

Facebook has introduced VR avatars for the Horizon social environment. Virtual incarnations of users will convey not only movements but also facial expressions, coordinating all this with the user’s voice. Oculus VP Mark Rabkin told CNET the details.

The publication notes that Facebook avatars are more like characters from Pixar cartoons. The display of facial expressions is made possible by capturing the eyes and lips. In this case, everything will be coordinated with the voice and movements of users.

Rabkin seeks to expand the capabilities of the Horizon and Oculus platforms. In a conversation with CNET, he said that he was thinking about hosting theater performances on the service. “You know, the pandemic has brought this idea to the fore for us, so I’m thinking about the possibility of remote art,” the developer said.

Horizon testing is currently only available to a limited number of users. According to Andrew Bosworth of Facebook Reality Labs, the platform still needs to be improved before making it available. The launch dates have not yet been announced.