Metaverse in Russia

Metaverses

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2024

VTB is testing its own metaverse

VTB is testing its own metaverse - a three-dimensional interactive space for virtual user interaction. The project has the potential to implement a new format for providing services, including the opening of banking cyber services. The bank announced this on April 17, 2024. Read more here.

MTS launched metaverse

In mid-May 2024, MTS announced the launch of its Verse metaverse. According to the press service of the telecom operator, the 3D gaming space involves a new format for user interaction with the products of the MTS digital ecosystem. Read more here.

How Moscow uses digital twin technologies and metaverse

In Moscow, the active introduction of digital twin and metaverse technology continues. We are talking, in particular, about creating a single intelligent digital platform for analyzing, modeling and managing a city in real time based on geospatial information. This is stated in the materials of the Department of Information Technologies (DIT) of the Russian capital, with which TAdviser got acquainted on September 23, 2024. Read more here.

Why metaseles did not shoot in Russia

By the end of 2023, the question of what the metaverse should actually look like and what tasks it will perform remains open. In the analytical community and among large technology corporations with sufficient opportunities to create such a product, the search for a clear definition of the corresponding term continues. The difficulties faced by the concept of the metaverse around the world and in Russia in particular are described in the review of the Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF), which was published in December 2023.

It is noted that the trend for the development of metaverse has significantly changed, but has retained its relevance. The main goal is to integrate a variety of products and services into a single user interface. The industry is significantly influenced by rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies, which can be integrated into the virtual space in one form or another. The development of industrial metaverse in the future will be ensured by the huge potential of the markets of forming technologies, as well as the growing demand for them. Overall, the report's authors highlight five key factors that hold back metaverse development.

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Фото: Statista

Lack of understanding of the term "metaverse"

As of late 2023, the metaverse image is still not formed. This does not allow you to define a complete list of features that users need within such platforms. Therefore, such systems are often not able to interest users for a long time and keep their attention.

No successful or unique use cases

Many of the features that are offered in metaverse are already available in other services. For example, a business meeting or conference can be held on the basis of existing video communication tools or any messenger, which, in addition, will not require a special headset. Thus, metaslot projects as of 2023 do not provide unique opportunities to their users.

Gamification as well as lack of immersiveness

Metaverses are gamified projects in virtual reality, where the user controls the avatar and acts in an environment that mimics the real one. However, this format can only captivate a limited number of users. Plus, the possibilities for creating a maximum immersion effect (for reliable transmission of odors, tactile sensations, visual and auditory effects) are limited.

Need for special equipment

Another deterrent is the binding to the headset. It is possible to fully use the functionality of metaverses that exist at the end of 2023 only with the help of a special virtual reality helmet. However, the high cost, accessibility and ease of wearing (for example, dimensions) of such devices limit the spread of metaverse.

Cannibalization of the term "metaverse" by large corporations and brands

Metaverse Amazon, Google, Netflix, Apple, Meta (recognized as an extremist organization; activities on the territory of the Russian Federation are prohibited) are specific projects focused exclusively on the brand and built around the solutions and products of the companies themselves. And therefore, these platforms have a distant relation to the full-fledged metaverse and what users expect from it.

Currently existing metaverse projects can be called draft, since the needs of users are still not formed and not satisfied, the authors of the study summarize^[1]

2023: MTS invests $100 million to create its own metaverse

At the end of January 2023, MTS announced the investment of $100 million in the creation of its own metaverse. The project will be implemented by the participants of the MTS AI accelerator, which will be selected by startups, including international ones. Read more here.

2022

VK took up the development of the metaverse for the first e-sportsmen in Russia

As it became known on June 16, 2022, the VK holding took up the development of the metaverse for Russia's first Olympics of e-sportsmen - "Games of the Future." They will be held in Kazan in February 2024. Read more here.

Roskomnadzor called digital currencies and cybersex the main threats from metaverse

On February 2, 2022 Scientific and Technical Center (NTC) GRCC (framework) Roskomnadzor published the full version of a study looking at the opportunities and risks associated with metaverse development.

According to experts, one of the problems of metaverses is the creation of virtual avatars based on personal data of people, as well as the use of cybersex with tactile sensations by these avatars.

Roskomnadzor called digital currencies and cybersex the main threats from metaverse

The use of extended reality (XR) to sense tactile impulses also rethinks the experience of cybersex, and there is a threat in the capabilities of cybersex with minors, the formation of various deviations, the report says.

The problem of identifying avatars also makes identity and personal data vulnerable to copying, erasing and manipulation, the researchers believe.

The GRCC also considered that the dominance of digital currencies in the metaverse would lead to a violation of political boundaries due to the impossibility of legislation to regulate sales chains. There is also a risk of stores in virtual spaces with prohibited substances.

The representative of the supervisory authority, in an interview with Kommersant, noted that in Russia "it is necessary to develop mechanisms for self-regulation of the processes taking place in the metaverse."

The concerns of the GRCC are similar to those expressed for decades by ordinary people who are not familiar with technology about computer games and Internet services, said Yaroslav Shitsle, head of the IT&IP Dispute Resolution section of Rustam Kurmaev and Partners.

{{quote 'Metaverse is the next step in the development of online games and training services, only they are more close to reality. Such a service cannot create another political system, erasure of personality, moral decomposition, "he said^{[2] [3]}}}

MTS launched an incubator for technology developers for metaverse

February 3, 2022 MTS announced the launch of an incubator for startups those creating technologies in ARVR the field of/-technology, holograms XR platforms and other solutions that will work in, metauniverses as well as for projects in the field unmanned vehicles and digital industry. Read more here.

M.Video launched an electronics store in the metaverse

M.Video"" launched the store electronic engineers in, metauniverse Roblox which the retailer reported on September 1, 2022. It is modeled on the chain's existing retail outlets. More. here

Russia has all the necessary technologies for the development of metaverse, but no one is ready to create them yet

Russian developers have a full set of technologies for launching metaverse, but in the coming years Russia they will not be engaged in their creation. This opinion was shared with TAdviser by a source in a company owned by Sberbank. SberDevices According to him, priorities have shifted and now all forces are thrown into the launch of application systems and user products, and there will not be enough resources for metaverse. Moreover, even those projects that were announced are likely to leave Russia, because they were originally built as global.

TAdviser spoke with metaverse technology developers to understand the situation in more detail.

For the launch of metaverse in Russia there is everything except the market

Marina Glushchenko, general director of the design of the VizArt studio, which develops VR/AR, believes that Russia has all the technologies and teams to create metaverse, but there is no audience that can fully use them.

Metaverses are technologically no different from multiplayer games. We have experienced teams that create game worlds, we have world-class designers who work for foreign customers, we have the highest class programmers, we even have a local 3D engine Unigine. And yet the metaverse that domestic developers create is aimed at English-speaking users, because in North America and Europe there is a higher level of penetration of VR gadgets and solvent demand for digital goods. Companies working for the domestic market so far see that in Russia an expensive metaverse project will not pay off, says Marina Glushchenko.

Existing metaverse, according to Glushchenko, work on desktop computers, however, the user experience with a VR helmet and on a PC varies greatly. The computer screen does not give the depth of immersion that a VR headset user has. Existing metaverses offer fairly primitive visualization, often based on ready-made libraries, which, for example, are available from Unreal Engine. Computer versions of metaverses are not very attractive to users, so even Russian giants such as VK, which have everything to launch the project, are in no hurry to do so.

At the official request of TAdviser , the Sberbank group reported that they did not comment on the topic. VK, which creates multiplayer games, including VR, replied that metaverses are not in their area of ​ ​ interest.

It cannot be ruled out that we will not have entertainment projects before, but professional ones intended, for example, for training employees. Some large corporations are already actively using VR in services. Custom domestic metaverse are likely to be created when affordable gadgets such as inexpensive VR helmets or budget AR glasses appear on the market. Today, the penetration rate of such headsets even in the world is insignificant, - the CEO of VizArt shared with TAdviser.

According to IDChttps ^[4], just over 11.2 million VR/AR gadgets were sold in 2021, 8.7 million of which is the Oculus Quest 2 VR helmet. For comparison, during the same time, according to ^[5] report, 1.35 billion smartphones were sold worldwide.

Foreign metaverse - a new sales channel for Russian business

Anastasia Slavuta, deputy director of the Belarusian software developer Jasnasoft, told TAdviser that there is an interest in metaverse in the CIS market.

We help brands go out into the metaverse. We are talking mainly about representatives of the fashion industry and e-commerce, but we have customers from the service sector. For example, we are now preparing a project for a photo artist who plans to use the metaverse to sell and demonstrate his works and services. Moreover, interest in the technology is growing very quickly, last year the orders were single, and already in this we receive 2-3 applications per day. Companies are mainly interested in advertising opportunities, but customers who have tried the service are beginning to understand that much more can be obtained from metaverse. For example, they open access to a new audience and audience of competitors, this is a source of unique data about customers and user behavior, a new omnichannel experience and a new sales channel that is not limited to anything, "Anastasia Slavuta shared with TAdviser.

The company is working with Decentraland, SandBox and Roblox, according to Jasnasoft's deputy director. However, the market is changing rapidly, new metaverse appear regularly, and as early as next year, the list of "partner" metaverse may change radically. As Anastasia Slavuta notes, the output of the brand to the metaverse is divided into several stages, a long-term strategy is created for each client, which takes into account the specifics of the client, his goals and budget. We begin work on entering the metaverse with the creation of an NFT collection, the formation of a community and the heating of interest around the created NFTs. Next, a decision is made in which metaverse to enter and which object to build there. The project itself can take up to a year.

The price of the site in the Decentraland metaverse can reach $675 thousand

Anastasia Slavuta believes that market growth in the CIS countries is constrained by a fairly high threshold for entering metaverse for brands. So, the cost of "land" in the popular metaverse Decentraland in April 2022 begins with 6 thousand dollars for the smallest plot and reaches $675 thousand for the plot on Fashion Street. Only the commission for placing one digital item in Decentraland will now cost $500, and if we are talking about a collection of clothes, then this translates into a significant amount. And also design, rendering and development of the space itself and objects (store, gallery, etc.) and building logic in it.

With a reasonable approach, metaverse opens up new almost unlimited business opportunities. This is the opportunity to work with new cross-border payment instruments, and business diversification through the sale of digital goods, and almost complete independence from the country of origin of the brand and the localization of product production, - said Anastasia Slavuta.

2021

Putin announced the duty of the authorities to protect the avatars of Russians in the metaverse

The protection of Russians and their virtual counterparts in cyberspace should be dealt with by the state, President Russia Vladimir Putin said on November 12^[6]

The state should take responsibility for storing critical information. This is not about ensuring the cybersecurity of the person himself, but also his virtual double - an avatar inside the emerging metaseles, - RBC quotes Putin.

When using cyberspace, questions increasingly arise about the protection of personal data and digital payments, countering manipulations with the preferences and actions of citizens, the Russian president drew attention.

Putin said the term "metaverse," coined 30 years ago, suggests that in this space people are fleeing the flaws of reality. However, now it is better to use the concept of metaverse for distance communication and learning.

Analysts of the GRCC, subordinate to Roskomnadzor, investigated the emerging metaselons and warned of their threats

The scientific and technical center of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Main Radio Frequency Center" (GRCC), which is part of the Ministry of Digital Development, analyzed the emerging trends in the digital world in the study "Metaverse: Opportunities and Risks of a New Reality." Analysts drew attention to the fact that with the increase in the amount of time that users spend on the Internet, a new model of consumption of digital content is being formed and an ecosystem of virtual life is emerging.

People are already ready to invest heavily in "Internet property," including digital real estate, digital fashion, premium cars, and more. So, the researchers draw attention to the fact that in 2019 the digital dress from the digital fashion house The Fabricant was sold for $9,500, in July 2021 the automaker Ferrari released its latest model in the game Fortnite, and in August Ralph Lauren offered a collection of digital clothes of 50 items in the social network application Zepeto. Specialized digital products for the metaverse are produced by such well-known brands as Adidas, Puma, The North Face, Balenciaga, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans, Aston Martin, Maserati, Tesla, Rolls-Royce, Hyundai Motor and many others. And, of course, developers of games and companies specializing in digital technologies are investing in digital accessories and avatar development.

Still from Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow, which features the Balenciaga collection

Moreover, the Internet is beginning to be used for therapeutic purposes, the concept of metamedicine has appeared. For example, doctors already prescribe video games to treat cognitive dysfunction. So, in June 2020, Akili Interactive's EndeavourRx game was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it the world's first video game to treat attention deficit disorder in children. In 2021, this game was tested as a means of treating patients with COVID-19, who have the so-called "brain fog," that is, difficulties with thinking and solving cognitive problems.

Frame from the game EndeavourRx, recommended for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction

Games for global business are becoming new marketing platforms on which hypotheses are tested and models are worked out. Large companies are striving to create their in-game branded representative offices. For example, Fortnite and Roblox cross-platform games have been establishing partnerships with brands for several years, creating specialized locations. Moreover, the initiative comes from both game developers and brands, for example, Streamline Media Group in 2021 developed the video game Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow for Balenciaga, which presents the autumn collection of the fashion house.

Analysts of the STC GRCC, who studied digital trends, draw attention to the fact that despite the rapid growth of the digital industry, the popularity of games and the rapid increase in advertising budgets in the metaverse, many key issues remain unresolved. Thus, the digital world opens up wide possibilities for distorting ideas about reality, manipulation and disinformation. It is impossible to remove these questions using methods used in the real world in the new emerging universe.

According to analysts, the emerging metaverse will have a significant cultural impact on society and people's behavior in the real world. In the metaverse, we should expect a decrease in the importance of moral and ethical norms due to the use of a virtual avatar, which people do not fully relate to themselves. Children whose consciousness is still being formed are most susceptible to the deforming effect of the digital environment.

In addition, researchers from the STC GRCC draw attention to the fact that it is not yet clear how the laws in the metaverse will work, how it will be possible to demand the implementation of national legislation in a virtual world in which there are no borders. These mechanisms have not yet been worked out. Analysts warn that the current principles of currency regulation will be violated in the metaverse, since digital instruments, rather than national payment systems, will be used significantly more often to buy in the digital environment over time. Another designated problem is that user activity will generate significant amounts of personal, biometric, financial and emotional data. Now states are trying to control this issue, but it will be much more difficult to do this in the metaverse.

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