• South Korean tech titan LG Electronics is intensifying its metaverse activities with a new deal allowing LG smart TV owners to access virtual worlds.
• The deal with Oorbit will allow users to attend virtual concerts, play AI-powered multiplayer games, and buy and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
• LG’s telecoms arm, LG U+, has also signed a deal with Megazone and Gala Lab to co-build a metaverse service tailored for university students.
LG Electronics, the South Korean tech titan, has announced plans to step up its metaverse activities by introducing a new deal that will bring Web3 and metaverse experiences to owners of its smart TVs. Through the deal with Oorbit, LG smart TV users can attend virtual concerts on the music and games platform ELYNXIR, as well as play AI-powered multiplayer games on the Auxworld platform. Furthermore, it will allow Blade Wallet users to buy and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on LG smart TVs, using the LG Art Lab service.
This isn’t LG’s first foray into the metaverse. The firm has previously rolled out NFT trading functions on its smart TVs for users of its own crypto wallet, Wallypto. Also, at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG showcased “monster”-themed virtual sports shoes created using NFT technology, designed to be worn in metaverse spaces.
LG isn’t the only South Korean company to move into the metaverse. Late last year, LG U+, the company’s telecoms arm, signed a deal with the cloud provider Megazone and the gaming operator Gala Lab. The firms agreed to co-build a metaverse service tailored to university students, with a view to launching it early next year. SKT, one of LG U+’s biggest telecoms rivals, is already offering similar metaverse-based services.
As the metaverse continues to grow in popularity, LG’s move to offer virtual experiences through its smart TVs is an exciting development. Through the deal with Oorbit, LG smart TV owners will be able to access a range of virtual experiences that were previously inaccessible. This could open the door for a more immersive and interactive way of consuming content, and could even pave the way for more interactive forms of gaming, art, and commerce.