A Metaverse Divided Over Design and Rules | WSJ U.S. vs. China

The metaverse race is heating up in China. Just like Meta and Microsoft in the U.S., Chinese firms such as Baidu and Tencent are investing in the nascent industry, but strict tech regulations mean China’s virtual worlds are set to offer very different user experiences.
Photo Illustration: Michelle Inez Simon
U.S. vs. China
This original video series explores the rivalry between the two superpowers’ competing efforts to develop the technologies that are reshaping our world.
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[@Angelo-cb8le]

So when China regulates tech companies that's called "not being free and not good for in the innovation market" while, if in the US regulates tech companies its called " the right step" that's some double standards💀

[@nyxi6689]

Nothing says double standards better than the US...

[@Myth520]

Brainwashing as always

[@rishsab1316]

Yeah all they really want to say is only the west can be innovative and open, and pretend that they accumulate their wealth because of that. They never told you 5G is the real facilitator of XR and the metaverse, and who has it and currently building it.

[@jackcloud8547]

that's because the way it regulates it's different

[@Rex-ww4cw]

China regulate tech company so other smaller company can grow. Take the phone sector for an example. If China only has 1 major phone brand like Huawei and US decide to destroy it, China will lose the phone market. It's a good thing that China not only has Huawei, but also Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus ect.

[@Benjamimic]

Can we just collectively agree to not use ANY big tech companies' metaverses? This needs to be more decentralized if we want to stop having our data stolen and used against us. Imagine what data they can get with VR eye tracking and deciphering what you're looking at, ie for Ads.

[@sumanthaluri8398]

You probably need big powerful server farms to run this. I don't see how that infrastructure could exist in a decentralized way

[@gnoglyr7798]

Who will provide the servers, the broadband, the platforms or the upgrades for users at scale then? Even if we don’t use big tech today and only use small firms, the small firms that will eventually dominate the market will just become tomorrow’s big tech. (Frankly, even crypto exchanges these days are already being consolidated to a handful of registered companies that governments are already moving to regulate.🤬)

[@shivam-aggarwal]

Could you tell me why you would even want metaverse in the first place? How does it help an office worker make their life better? A $6 trillion industry should have obvious utility that can be seen easily by any one.

[@theobserver3753]

Nah you need a ton of money to run this stuff.

[@Sciptopia]

@@sumanthaluri8398 yo, Flux (crypto project) is already doing that. The true web3.0

[@boson2916]

After watching this video, I think the Metaverse beneficial value is : Entertainment 99% / Learning 1%.

[@p_owlow]

That’s what I’m saying, it’s like the government is advertising VRChat from what this looks like. There’s no way the metaverse can actually be as big as these people hope for. We simple don’t have the resources or technology for that sort of reality.

[@Rex-ww4cw]

Maybe for the US version. but for China's version, it is made so that when you buy something in a store, the metaverse will keep track of how much money does the item worth in your basket before going into the cashier and scan for the price. This is just one of the example

[@boson2916]

@@Rex-ww4cw metaverse and shopping mall are huge generation gap apart, out of tune. Metaverse Online shopping sounds cool for these guys.

[@Rex-ww4cw]

@@boson2916 at first I think metaverse is useless. But after the more in depth of explanation, it might work. Of course it will take a long time but we will reach there eventually

[@boson2916]

Oh, forgot one thing, you will never get old in metaverse, that's why Paris Hilton love it.

[@YahbiiCot]

Meta is way behind VRChat. VRC is everything the Metaverse wants to be minus brand integration and cryptocurrency. The avatars in VRC are better, the worlds are better, the graphics are amazing, the interactions between people are better, and it can track your entire body's movements in VR. The MetaVerse is like an old 1920 Ford Model T whereas VRChat is like a 2022 Audi R8.

[@YahbiiCot]

@@dabrams84 Exactly. Meta seems like its only purpose is to milk money and take peoples souls.

[@Tenchinu]

VRC is amazing… but I fear for its long term sustainability without more funds. They could be eaten/dismantle by big tech, or slapped with lawsuits for copyright law if they get too big

[@ionwerks]

I don't think VRChat can compete in the long term and their paywall (or unspecified delayed access) on basic features like avatar uploads is adding unnecessary drag (not to mention that avatar customisation depends on getting down and dirty with the Unity SDK - way beyond most potential users). My instinct is that an off-the-shelf engine like Unity is never going to be adaptable enough and that the Metaverse winners will be using something purpose-built.

[@james3742]

That may be true… until facebook sues them for copying meta ( the irony i know) or uses its market dominance to crush vrchat like instagram.

[@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii2458]

@@dabrams84 I miss Ugandan Knuckles. That was a good meme.

[@morrismak]

Actually, China is more focused on AR (augmented reality), smart glasses, telling real time information, play games in the ar space with friends and strangers, face to face or online.

[@TL-fe9si]

It's not a metaverse if different worlds are separated with no connection, it's just a better VR game...😅

[@chdlccchdlcc1454]

Chinese regulation to protect young people from addiction does not look strict, it just makes sense and looks great! 👍🏻

[@animeepisodes9733]

Its tirany 🤬

[@animeepisodes9733]

China no freedom💩

[@tartaglia.]

@@animeepisodes9733 *tyranny. Spell it right.

[@ZincFold]

@@animeepisodes9733 by your poor logic, it is tyranny not to sell kids heroin. 😂

[@ChristmasSpirit606]

its preventing kids from exposing to culture importation from democratic countries comon

[@kjrom]

I really don't understand all this metaverse thing. It's just VR, VR has been around for a while. Do they really expect someone will spend hours and hours trying to do daily work or who knows what they think we'll do with a screen attached to their heads? Most people can't even afford a VR setup to begin with and its the least convenient thing in the world. I really don't see the point, until we have some real full immersion Sword Art Online-style it really doesn't bring anything interesting or new to the table.

[@darthbuzzer781]

If you want to do daily work in VR, then you need small headsets with high clarity and realistic avatars and a good interface. That's all achievable without some sci-fi SAO level dream. Just needs the tech to progress more. PCs used to be not that great for work either.

[@clownboyyyy]

its become an order of magnitude more affordable in recent years and the quality of it was much greater. SAO level immersion would be bad for a lot of reasons and likely isn't even possible without giving up control of your body's vital functions to a machine created by megacorporation.

[@00doblecero]

I also have serious doubts about it but for me this is like we are seeing the first Nokia of the Phone industry. I think maybe in 20-30 years it will be a lot more realistic. Maybe in +50 years with projects like neuralink (from Tesla that supposedly say that we will connect computers and brains on 2023. Doubt it), we will see very immersive worlds.

[@almocambio6411]

The world is so happy to see China rise back to the top. Go China!

[@lovehatebs6320]

Really like WSJ explainers like this. Keep it up :)

[@TwoNote]

That's a great thing, I wish we had more data privacy in the US.

[@hhydar883]

Chinese regulators are doing a great job 👍🏻

[@electronicManan]

I can't imagine China letting a metaverse really catch steam with its people. They try so hard to avoid their people getting addicted to games. Sure, virtual reality worlds can be useful in some ways (like work meetings) but 9 times out 10 it'll be a nonproductive addictive escape from reality.

[@zx4337]

their people = age 18 yo and younger

[@goodfella1234]

so US verison of metaverse is just a game to escape fron a sad awful backward reality? What a waste of money and resources.

[@Rex-ww4cw]

China's metaverse is different from the US. China's metaverse is for real life with useful and convenient feature such as kept on track of the price of the product in your basket when going to a shopping mall so you know how much money you're going to spent.

[@Countcho]

Easy to judge something that isnt out for 5-10 years

[@apexsupernova3022]

Why live in the Metaverse when you can live in reality?

[@danjohnston9037]

Because they have failed in reality

[@joeshen2232]

Cause in near future, Metaverse will become the part of our reality. Just like social media, we have phone but still we talk by messenger.

[@trumpfuckbidentrumpfuckbid4859]

Why go on drug when you can high on glue??🤣🤣🤣

[@anojj1897]

Imagine like this , I like to go to Billi Eilish concert but I can't cause I am living in the other part of the country I can buy the tickets but I can't come to the country if Metaverse developed I can enjoy the concert too not me but millions , This is just an example... another one , What If I told u that u can visit to universal studios in Singapore While staying in another country , Ur Time will be saved and money too... There are endless possibilities in VR , I just can't explain in a Utube comment...

[@danjohnston9037]

@@anojj1897 You are NOT " At The Concert" . You Are In Your Chair At Home.

[@jukio02]

This reminds me of that one TV Show Caprica. In the show, the characters would often go to a VR world.

[@ledererova]

Chinese regulations of tech companies make sense to me.

[@futiousstyles3315]

Never thought id say this but good on China 👍

[@changchadchanamdong2668]

They are limiting degeracy

[@Avantime]

The Metaverse will die when the Fed raises interest rates and the cost of capital goes through the roof. Even Facebook will have to start conserving cash if the risk free rate of return goes to 10%.

[@X139T]

Tell me you’re clueless without telling me you’re clueless

[@Avantime]

@@X139T Maybe you don't understand how economics work. This "Metaverse" is just another Second Life and you know what happened to it? After a bit of hype it's now dead. Meanwhile VRChat is a cesspool and no mainstream advertiser will touch it. Investors will no longer accept these massively loss-making, pie in the sky concepts once the flood of central bank money disappears and companies have to make real profits, because investors could just earn 5%, 10% (or even 20% if Powell is forced to do a Volker) return risk free from US treasuries. Even Facebook will have to retreat because it is one of the weaker tech giants, as the younger generation move on to TikTok and other new platforms. Oh and don't forget the recessionary effects of steep rate rises. One of the first things businesses cut in a recession is advertising, and Facebook is entirely dependent on advertising.

[@SiriProject]

WSJ can preach whatever, but it has been well documented how USA based tech companies comply with government agencies since they are in a symbiotic relationship for subsidies and investment. The companies themselves are more free than they are in China, but the users experience the same data control in both countries.

[@victorespino5650]

I feel that there will be different virtual reality worlds. So buying real estate in 1, is only worth something there, not in the other world

[@Amory98]

0:27 gods that Asian model is beautiful! ❤️

[@aesyamazeli8804]

Ugh can't stand that we all run away from reality to play pretend. I'm bad enough reading fantasy novels and watching superhero movies trying to get out of the real world but if you do every single thing in the virtual world its just so damaging.

[@henrycyan]

The metaverse reminds me of Geocities from back in the day. We all know how that ended.

[@leezhieng]

Too many ads in geocities

[@Enthalpy--]

Can't wait to see it

[@tonicalloway7227]

Does any of this work for the hearing or visually impaired?..

[@Draxtor]

I really don’t understand why these pieces never acknowledge the continued importance of Second Life as a economic factor (with a stable economy for almost 20 years, benefiting individual entrepreneurs and small business) & of course culturally. Also, apart from the fact that all these “new” ideas won’t change the power structure and enable users to become sovereign citizens of a world they themselves shap, the opening sequence of this piece and the avatars look worse than SL did back in 2003. Sad. Back to SL for me 😎

[@miwiarts]

SL is the original metaverse. It's so funny to me that techbros think they are being innovative when what they are doing has already been done.

[@Draxtor]

@@miwiarts indeed but we also have to keep in mind: most everything that is proposed now in this market segment is NOT AT ALL putting the user/resident at the center. The business model behind all the current "players" is really either selling data of users or selling finite land that can be speculated with, to the benefit of the owner of the platform. SL is essentially a subscription service that fosters creativity, where you can do anything = build a business or don't. Build an art gallery and display as you wish. Hang out with friends for free etc. I am preaching to the choir I know hahaha :)

[@SiriProject]

The only literal difference is body tracking VR, SL has existed for decades fulfilling the exact same role. It's weird how these "tech gurus" of today and their outlets just ignore the early story of the internet.

[@Draxtor]

@@SiriProject totally but alas a WIDESPREAD phenomenon and really worrisome in other areas: the lack of historical context, the unwillingness to research and provide. Like "HEY I GOT NEW SHINY THINGS NOTHING ELSE MATTERS WOOT WOOT WOOT" .... not good!

[@yiren9040]

I wonder if anyone has ever responded WSJ's "request for comment".

[@SoCalFreelance]

The Metaverse examples you showed look like garbage. There is no reason why the Metaverse shouldn't look like Cyberpunk 2077, especially with Unreal Engine 5 Lumen and Nanite technologies. Sure it will be a 1TB download and require a high end graphics card, but it's worth it to experience a near-photorealistic environment.

[@sucyshi]

Why do news videos about web 3.0 always avoid talking about VRChat despite it being the dominant virtual reality right now, and has been for awhile? If it were copyright concerns due to users being able to make and upload their own avatars, VRChat's own company produced videos are careful to use only assets they own the copyright for or have open licensing. So why act like VRChat doesn't exist when the comments are all going to be about VRC?

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@danieltanzil235]

Good ones!

[@rolfkrajewski4975]

I'm under 30 and I truly have no desire to ever step into that world

[@ansingh5747]

People like you make me feel bit senseful and hopeful!

[@larrysherk]

In capitalism people think only about their profits. But China is building on ancient wisdom in developing fair trade with dignity, consideration, and human needs in mind. So I have no doubt which part of the universe is sustainable.

[@phamjun395]

Great video. I love the metaverse. I'm also playing Metaverse Game, it's Defi Warrior

[@living.is_hard.]

summer wars vibe...

[@FFact483]

Interesting

[@parquefamiliarquirilluca]

Gracias puede que sea la falta de cultura, el medioambiente, la localización geográfica, pero conocer tus raíces es conocerse a sí mismos. Aquello sólo se encuentra en la Realidad y en la Historia.Demasiado Ocio impide que las personas desarrollen pensamiento crítico y habilidades cognitivas.

[@ysmashimaro]

I guess you don't need to pay high gas price in the metaverse

[@rickjames18]

Who thought of this first? which country was developing this first? is it really going to worth trillions?

[@scott762mm]

Interesting.

[@nbgoodiscore1303]

Idgaf about the metaverse. That won't bring me food to the table

[@Leto2ndAtreides]

Well, I suppose there are pros and cons to the Chinese taking a different path and isolating themselves... In its own way, it's not bad that different countries (or groups of humans rather), experiment with different ideas.

[@dianl9758]

Why should we become excited of a new "reality" that won't solve any real life issues? Isn't that only a way to escape reality?

[@aarononeal9830]

The Wallstreet Jornal needs to talk about Ecosia they are a search engine that plants trees

[@perryteo1406]

Why does the metaverse looks like playstation 1 graphics in 2022?

[@sw9276]

A hustle. Period.

[@United_Wings]

Wow

[@p_owlow]

This is like hyping up VRChat, I really don’t see an actual future for the metaverse being this huge thing for us. The only time I’ll ever see that happening is if we had the technology to download the human mind. Which we are WAYS away from having, let alone understanding.

[@CannabisTechLife]

I still find it hilarious that people are tying to turn the internet into the ad ridden, slow to navigate hellscape that was the internet in Futurama.

[@dwipaal-farisi4107]

why don't they name it as open world exploring game instead of metaverse? It's a VR game as far as I look at it. It's like a multiplayer game with custom map to play around with other players. I don't get why the marketing sounds like it's a new separate world. I mean, it's been there for ages, just with different name (a game).

[@HerrPorinski]

Regarding to IT industry i understand most named cases of regulations in China.

[@Voxabonable]

for humanity's sake I prefer the Chinese method, not that it is better, but instead like a trainwreck given only 2 choices I'd rather fall into a lake than crashing into a mountain.

[@billykhoabillykhoa7844]

Why does every metaverse have graphics that look like an early 2000 game? Did they develop these on the PS1 or something?

[@alfrilysencarnacion2085]

3d worlds are much more graphically intense to build than the ones you play on a screen

[@No2AI]

In the Metaverse as it is on Earth ! Does that ring a bell !

[@ShaudaySmith]

Looking like a Hosoda anime. These worlds are look like U or OZ from Belle and Summer Wars.

[@Gladiatorking7]

You definitely have to bring a Chinese looking person to criticize China🤣🤣

[@ElectrickSoundz]

OshKosh b'gosh I remember wearing that growing up

[@JasonB808]

I don’t need Metaverse. I want to travel the real world.

[@alexraszeja9266]

You think the internet is any different? This analysis is skin deep.

[@charlech]

In China metaverse, the Party plays you 😂

[@TheLinama]

spent about 3 hours with a headset, never picked it up again. That includes my teenage kids

[@secienaa6012]

yas, i think so. Many gamefi develop more and more. Such as, DeFi Warrior will #metaverse and have many new. #defiwarriormetaverse #DWM #landNFT

[@Crom21]

no control means gun shooting everywhere until it's yours hurt.

[@inuwooddog3027]

Oh.. You youngsters calling it Metaverse? We called it multiple-players online game back then. I used to login to Runescape just to hanging around the market and tricking some random suckers to hand over items.

[@Usrthsbcufeh]

the lighting could not be worse

[@tejasam1]

You guys heard of second life? I used to play in 2009

[@Thebreakdownshow1]

Just as I was getting over trying to understand bitcoin here comes metaverse. As a content creator, I am excited this could mean a whole new world of creativity for many people across the globe.

[@aliciap6329]

I still don't get it what's metaverse about other than big tech companies trying to build a platform to control everything.

[@doords]

It's a place of entertainment where people can go and do things as an alternative to real life meetings, concerts, events. So you are basically selling new realestate, accessories that would have taken place in the real place. To simplify you can think of this as a classic tech company going from sell ads to selling land.

[@iambador611]

who plays these i just wanna know

[@SylentLight]

Why did meta not just hit up the team behind VRchat

[@huhwoah4115]

One reason why I'm never getting on the metaverse is its carbon emmisions. we're already living in the real world, why waste more energy to live in a digital one?

[@auro1986]

wsj among rule framers

[@GyanPrakash]

Meta verse = Multiplayer Video Games

[@oaken8110]

western vs eastern standards aside the idea of big tech companies (or just companies in general) creating "metaverses" and expecting them to become like second realities to the general population creeps me tf out. i don't think I'd want to live in a world where instead of people actually living and functioning in the real world everyone is constantly in a vr game. vr or a metaverse isn't a substitute for real life. at the very most i think it should just be for gaming/entertainment purposes like most vr is now. i can't even begin to imagine how kafkaesque it would be if people had to work and do their jobs in a metaverse. it sounds a little nightmarish to me.

[@gzngahrofthenorth]

VR chat blows all this out of the water.

[@zetajolyne3689]

Don't the investors know about FF14 and Animal Crossing？

[@alexmalt]

What’s worse having the Chinese government in your headset or Zuckerberg? Wash?

[@ElectrickSoundz]

Plus the grandkids we had are already almost in their 30s by ID standard that was all

[@Brodragon2225]

epic has best metaverse

[@JohnSmith-wn1ms]

In the US they breed spree shooters. That's what freedom is in the US.

[@Hi-eu5mv]

🇨🇳 Is deserved to be the world next supper power as 🇨🇳 has the largest human suffering, forbearing, hard working, and accept discipline people! And the most important of all is oeaceful infrastruture developments contributed to the global growth of better futures!

[@wangstick]

Of that $8T tam, none of it is coming from me nor anyone that I know

[@gorkarullan]

Exactly the same thing has happened to you with cryptocurrencies, right?

[@genek6056]

Buy NIO now!! Coming out with $24K EV to be built in USA. SEMPER FI!

[@turkishdelight6032]

Isn't the purpose of technology or profitable business to satisfy a need? Most people don't need augmented reality; seems like this is being forced fed to consumers. Great video, though

[@coldham77]

I can think of no bigger waste of time than spending time inside of some companies' "meta-verse". Plus, I'd probably vomit if I wore a visor for more than 5 minutes.

[@PhillipAmthor]

Metaverse < VRchat

[@villejantunen4049]

I am 100% sure that 2040 i am glad that i did not invest in metaverse bubble!

[@Messi-rw9ng]

So...all of these "metaverse" stories seem to leave out the original and popular metaverses ? I.e Second life and VRChat respectively. Like do these not exist for journalists? Lack of research apparently...or they just avoid acknowledging them for some reason. There's 20,000+ concurrent users on VRChat in any given day and that's ONLY accounting for steam users. Quest users in the game likely double that amount. There is no metaverse platform or similar that gets these types of numbers...it boggles my mind why they don't talk about it except for the occasional hit piece about Ugandan Knuckles.

[@CromwellCutaran]

Based

[@markegg7680]

*"METAVERSE" = FANCY WORD FOR IMAGINATION*

[@ElectrickSoundz]

Even his kids we had hush puppies the shoes

[@maribethcondrillon1079]

Hello world metaverse

[@liamm8447]

I feel like all the meta verse stuff is gonna flop, like Roblox has been around and is basically way ahead of everyone else. Also what is even the point

[@angelwhite376]

With China metaverse you won't need a phone which damages the environment. The clears with chip is the new glasses controls by the owner not the usa...

[@t_q1799]

The US has already been and will always be ahead of China in technology. 🙂

[@edwardscott8923]

I’m getting excited with Metaversus by just watching this! Can’t wait for it to pump this year! 🥳🚀

[@shalimlucy8402]

China is very best 😘😘

[@ianbuick8946]

The moment when China government is actually doing good by reduce video game addiction.

[@aachal304]

I feel happy watching your videos Because a friend recommended me to watch your video and I met someone talking about Frederick Kurt an expert trader that have changed my life. I have been able to bought my house here in New York City 🇺🇸. Thanks