Metas Horizon worlds VR social network gets quests. No, not Quest headsets, but in-game missions with rewards that make the experiences more fun to visit and more interesting to return to.

With the new quests, which are now testing, you can complete certain tasks in a certain world to earn in-game rewards, such as clothing for your avatar. Meta’s test takes place in an experience called Giant mini paddle golf, which takes place on a whimsical miniature golf course where you use a paddle to hit a ball to each hole. When you take the test, you can access the assignment screen through a new icon that you see on the card with your profile picture. When you complete an assignment in that screen, you receive a prize.

In case of Giant mini paddle golfBy completing missions such as completing the course or getting a hole-in-one, you earn various nautical themed items of clothing for your avatars by doing things. But it’s easy to see how quests can be used in other experiences and provide themed rewards to match. (I suspect some of the 20 new Horizon experiences Meta is reportedly in the works will use quests in some way.) However, I also envision a grim future where major brands create worlds, quests, and special items to promote themselves in Meta’s metaverse. (Perhaps the next metaverse world of Walmart will arrive Horizon.)

The quests can also help Meta keep Quest headset users engaged, something that has already been proven to be a problem Horizon worlds. Many of the experiences came out for me Horizon worlds show player numbers in the single or low double digits, so quests can give players reasons to spend more time in more worlds. Be able to make quests Horizon worlds experiences more interesting to a wider audience as the platform expands to web and mobile, which is expected to happen this year.