What's Happening?
Meta has successfully rendered three full-body Codec Avatars in real-time on the Quest 3 standalone headset. This achievement is part of Meta's decade-long research into photorealistic digital representations driven by VR headset tracking. The technology aims to enhance social presence, making virtual interactions feel more realistic. Meta's recent advancements include reducing rendering requirements and enabling avatar generation via smartphone scans. The Quest 3 can render avatars at 72 FPS with minimal quality loss, although some trade-offs exist, such as flat lighting and lack of dynamic relighting.
AD
Why It's Important?
Meta's progress in Codec Avatars represents a significant step towards more immersive virtual reality experiences. By enabling real-time rendering on mobile devices, Meta is making advanced VR technology more accessible to consumers. This development could enhance social interactions in virtual environments, potentially transforming communication and collaboration. As Meta continues to refine this technology, it may influence the VR industry's direction, encouraging competitors to innovate and improve their offerings.
What's Next?
Meta plans to share more about Codec Avatars at the upcoming Meta Connect 2025 event. The company may explore launching a flatscreen version with AI-simulated face tracking for video calls. As public pressure mounts for Meta to deliver on its research, the company may accelerate its efforts to integrate Codec Avatars into its Horizon OS headsets. The VR community and industry stakeholders will be watching closely for updates, as these advancements could redefine virtual presence and interaction.
