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Walmart has unveiled “Walmart Realm” — a new immersive metaverse shopping experience.
The initiative is powered by the VR platform Emperia and was developed in collaboration with Sawhorse. It draws inspiration from contemporary social trends, incorporating the creative input of various digital creators.
The virtual environment comprises three spaces: “Y’allternative,” blending wild west and gothic elements; “Go Chromatic,” featuring bold metallic designs symbolizing modernity; and “So Jelly,” an underwater realm with bubbly styles.
Within each space, visitors will find curated selections of products falling into three categories: beauty, home, and fashion. Users can explore these offerings, read product details, add items to their cart, and complete purchases via Walmart’s main website.
In addition to browsing and shopping, “Walmart Realm” offers a gamified experience to users. For instance, by collecting six Sparks scattered throughout the virtual spaces, participants can unlock a reward. Furthermore, mini-games within each area, such as card matching, offer chances to win prizes, including entry into a $100 digital card sweepstakes.
“Walmart Realm” represents the retail giant’s ongoing commitment to providing customers with innovative shopping experiences. Since 2022, Walmart has been actively embracing the metaverse concept, evident in its filing of seven trademark applications with the USPTO for digital item creation and sales.
This move was followed by several ventures by Walmart into the metaverse, including the launch of two Roblox experiences in 2022 — “Walmart Universe of Play” and “Walmart Land” — followed by the introduction of “Supercampus” in 2023.
In September 2023, Walmart further entrenched itself in the metaverse by enabling in-game purchases of real-world items and expanding its virtual fashion offerings. Additionally, the company kicked off a Web3 Accelerator Program in collaboration with Outlier Ventures, supporting startups focused on decentralized solutions for retail and commerce, with a $200,000 investment and mentorship.
In January, Walmart further expanded its metaverse presence by partnering with Unity to integrate commerce APIs. This integration facilitates real-time 3D shopping experiences across 20 platforms, presenting new revenue opportunities for creators.
