Disney is considered a front-runner when it comes to cutting-edge technology.
©Disney
We have seen some of Disney’s most advanced technology in the parks including at Rise of the Resistance and in Avengers Campus where there is a flying Spider-Man animatronic. But Disney has been talking about things beyond theme parks including NFTs and the metaverse, and now we’ve got a major update on the future of the metaverse at Disney.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Disney has eliminated its plans for a metaverse amid the company layoffs. Shortly after Bob Iger returned as Disney CEO, he announced that the hiring freeze announced by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek would still be happening. Then in February 2023, Iger announced that job cuts would impact about 7,000 jobs across The Walt Disney Company.
©D23
Part of these layoffs includes the team of about 50 members on the next-generation storytelling and consumer-experiences unit. This is a small part of the company where employees were working on developing a metaverse at Disney.
Former Disney consumer products executive Mike White was the head of this division, however, he will remain with Disney in a new position. This new role is still unclear.
©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger
If you’re wondering what the metaverse is, USA Today describes it as “a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality, augmented reality and video where users ‘live’ within a digital universe.” Disney had shared plans about a Disney Theme Park metaverse that would mix visually enhanced physical reality with a virtual space.
©Disney || Metaverse Windows to the Wild Experience
Although Chapek had described the metaverse as “the next great storytelling frontier,” Iger did have some concerns about the project. He warned that toxic behavior could be an issue due to the amount online already and pointed out that monitoring these things is something that Disney will have to take into consideration.
Bob Iger ©Bloomberg
For more information on the metaverse and the recent Disney layoffs, check out our posts below.
- Disney Is Creating Its Own Metaverse. Here’s How.
- “There Will No Doubt Be Challenges Ahead” — Disney CEO Bob Iger Gives Huge UPDATE on Job Cuts
- How Job Cuts Will Impact Disney (And Who Won’t Be Affected)
Stay tuned to DFB for more updates.
What is a Disney theme park “metaverse” and why should you care? Click here to find out!
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While I do not like the idea of lay offs I am thankful they’re not customer facing workers. We need all of the cast members in the parks.
Probably a good thing– people already walk around the parks with their heads down in their phones. Add in people walking around with VR headsets on, and you have a recipe for physical injuries and lots more people bumping into you, literally unaware of their surroundings.
Also, as Iger noted, the potential for “bad behavior” in such a scenario is a huge concern. Young kids in an online “world” populated by adult predators? Nope. This has already happened in other VR “worlds.” It’s a valid concern.
So West World Disney is gonna have to wait until streaming can stand on its own and stop syphoning revenue away from the parks, huh?
I cracked in an earlier post about being hastled by an Imperial Storm Trooper on a big display, or greeted at the turnstile by a cast member’s face on a screen. Will I know in the future whether I’m talking with a CM or a souped-up, walking, talking animatronic?
Let’s just hope that they bring back some of the Horizons-style inspiration generation, or CoP-like immersion in what came before and what’s to come. Please don’t base this far-off concept on more cutesie, brain-dead, animated movies. Let’s put some well-conceived STORY into the product. Current Bob says that’s their direction.
Meanwhile, what do you bet we see breakthroughs at Universal first since Bob chopped off the arm that was developing it? My condolences to the 50 men and women Disney canned. Go out there and make it another giant Disney misstep!
Don’t need imagineers when you just keep making different versions of the same movies. Will be interesting to see how many of them turn up at Universal.
I’m sorry people got laid off but – no, I don’t think we need a metaverse.
Where or what was the “huge project” that was canceled?
Hooray… stop the insanity of high tech dark attractions that provide not moral importance. Get back to the basics that guests love. The Tron and Galaxy attractions are a huge waste of money and talent. Disney needs to re-address its future goals and guest expectations.
Hi Sherrie! It’s this one.
Re-hire the workers and re-imagine Disney Quest. An old fan favorite that is truly missed.
Layoffs happen to everyone, it’s normal in the business world. I’m glad Metaverse isn’t happening, Iger had reasons to be concerned. Thank you DFB for your excellent coverage and information.
I wonder if they were going to use this technology to create a Zootopia world, where Dino land is/was???? Hmmm??
Is it true there will be a new Disney villian added, Ronnodasantis, it tries to spread evil and loneliness where ever it roams, and its main goal is to be ruler of all. It breeds hate and ideas of censorship, it burries truth and enlightenment of past generations.
But there is hope and a light burning that retains the ideas and principles of all men and women being equal with the hope of this light burning bright for years to come, less we become robots.