Meta Horizon Worlds is testing members-only worlds, enabling the platform to be used by clubs, groups, and communities.
Members-only worlds are progressing to a closed beta after beginning as an alpha test in January. Meta says the feature could be used to “host a book club, gather a gaming group”, or “organize a support group”.
These worlds are persistent, and continue to exist even when no one is online. They can either be publicly listed, so anyone can place a request to become a member, or unlisted so only those specifically invited to become members can join.
Each world can have up to 150 members, of which 25 can be online in it concurrently.
Members-only worlds are moderated very differently to public worlds. World creators can assign other people as moderators, and can decide to only allow the world to be visitable when at least one moderator is present. And members can file a report of rule breaking to a dashboard the world creator and moderators see, instead of only being able to report to Meta.
Meta says it will “slowly roll out the ability to create members-only worlds to a randomized group of people”.
David Heaney
An internal Meta memo leaked to The Verge last year revealed that the executive in charge of Horizon Worlds believed it was overwhelmed with “papercuts, stability issues, and bugs” and “has not found product market fit”. Meta has significant updates planned for the platform though, including 3D model importing, JavaScript support, and a non-VR launch for web and mobile platforms.
