Meta Tees Up K-Pop Artists for Metaverse Concert Series

Meta enlists a slew of K-pop artists for a series of metaverse concerts to vie with virtual concerts in games like Fortnite and Roblox.

With K-pop ever on the rise and metaverses in games such as Fortnite and Roblox featuring virtual concerts galore, Meta understandably wants a piece of that pie. The Facebook parent company has been champing at the bit to harness the same je ne sais quoi Fortnite possesses that has led to it hosting a cornucopia of big-name virtual concerts.

Meta’s solution? The K-pop stans. Meta is hosting a series of virtual K-pop concerts in the recently launched “Arena” section of its Horizon metaverse. The collaboration taps NCT Dream, Stayc, and Riize.

The NCT Dream “The Dream Show 3 in VR” actually debuted on September 26, but a replay is scheduled from November 14 through December 4. A virtual version of their live tour, which was praised for its choreography, production, and fan interactions, the show enabled fans to experience the live energy of the group’s show from the comfort of their own home.

Stayc “Stay Tuned: A VR Experience” debuted over the weekend, featuring new K-pop avatar customization options—including wearables, stickers, and backgrounds users can claim in the Meta Horizon app. There’s also limited-time rewards available for fans who head to the K-pop companion experience, which is accessible directly from the virtual concert.

Next up, Riize is slated to take the virtual stage soon, with details from Meta forthcoming.

According to Meta, the Horizon Engine supports “higher concurrency in worlds,” making the ambiance in Arena “more vibrant and active than ever before,” with improved load and travel times so users can jump right into the action.

And if you don’t have a VR headset, no worries! All three virtual concerts will be available on mobile via the Meta Horizon app on both iOS and Android.

Other artists who have graced the Meta Horizon virtual stage in the past include Blackpink, Doja Cat, and Charli XCX. K-pop acts that have featured in other virtual experiences include Twice in Roblox, Aespa in Zepeto, Tomorrow X Together’s AmazeVR tour, and many more.