Disney has appointed an executive to lead its metaverse plans. Mike White, who previously served as SVP of consumer experiences and platforms, will now be SVP of next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences.
In a memo to staff (via Variety), Disney CEO Bob Chapek said: “For nearly 100 years, our company has defined and redefined entertainment by leveraging technology to bring stories to life in deeper, more impactful ways.”
“Today, we have an opportunity to connect those universes and create an entirely new paradigm for how audiences experience and engage with our stories,” he added.
“This is the so-called metaverse – which I believe is the next great storytelling frontier and the perfect place to pursue our strategic pillars of storytelling excellence, innovation, and audience focus.”
White, who has worked as an executive at Disney since 2011, is set to “establish our overall vision and strategy for the consumer journey through these new story worlds,” Chapek said.
Chapek said White will “allocate resources, explore partnerships, and facilitate knowledge sharing” in his new role. He will lead a team of senior leaders with skills including technology, strategy and storytelling.
Mike White to oversee metaverse strategy
The metaverse is a virtual world where users can play, build and own digital experiences, often using virtual reality (VR) headsets.
Last year, Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta, with plans to spend more than $10bn (£7.4bn) on developing VR software and hardware.
Tilak Mandadi, who previously served as head of digital and technology for Disney parks, experiences and products, unveiled the company’s vision for a ‘theme park metaverse’ during IAAPA in November 2020.
Mandadi described the metaverse as a space “where physical and digital worlds converge, with wearables, smartphones and digital access points immersing the guests in the metaverse experiences”.
Earlier this month, Chapek revealed that Disney’s theme parks division posted its “second best quarter of all time”. Disney has also been granted a patent for technology that would allow visitors to experience a virtual world without VR or AR.
Elsewhere, Ocean Park has teamed up with The Sandbox, an Ethereum-based decentralised NFT gaming metaverse, to create new digital entertainment experiences as part its $876m transformation project.
Images: Disney
