Director of ‘Rings’ sells effects firm for US$1.6b

Unity Software will use technology to create 3D version of internet called the metaverse

New Zealand film director Peter Jackson has announced the sale of his Oscar-winning Weta Digital special effects business to a US software firm intent on using it to develop the virtual-reality “metaverse”.

Unity Software said the US$1.6 billion acquisition would “shape the future of the metaverse”, an immersive 3D version of the web tipped to transform workplaces and online interactions.

The firm said Weta’s technology – used in blockbusters such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Avatar – would allow its subscribers to create their own ultrarealistic corner of a virtual world.

“We are thrilled to democratise these industry-leading tools and bring the genius of Sir Peter Jackson and Weta’s amazing engineering talent to life for artists everywhere,” Unity president John Riccitiello said.

Under the deal, Unity takes over Wellington-based Weta Digital’s technology and engineering assets while Jackson retains majority ownership of a stand-alone film effects company called WetaFX.

Jackson said the opportunity to use Weta’s groundbreaking programmes was a “game-changer” for those in creative industries.

“Unity and Weta Digital can create a pathway for any artist, from any industry, to be able to leverage these incredibly creative and powerful tools,” he said.

The metaverse is expected to develop into an online platform that makes virtual experiences – such as chatting to a friend or attending a concert – feel face to face. It made headlines last month when Facebook changed its parent company name to “Meta” to reflect founder Mark Zuckerberg’s commitment to the concept.

Zuckerberg’s firm has announced plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build the metaverse, but other tech players are also scrambling to stake a claim.

“The metaverse has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social, and economic opportunities. And Europeans will be shaping it right from the start,” Facebook said in a blog post.

Zuckerberg predicted in July that Facebook would transition from “primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company” over the next five years.