Sony and Lego invest $2B into Epic to help build the metaverse

pcgamer.com:

Sony has invested $1 billion dollars into Epic Games to further expand the relationship between the two companies and help support the development of the metaverse. A separate $1 billion investment into Epic was made at the same time by Lego parent company Kirkbi.

«As a creative entertainment company, we are thrilled to invest in Epic to deepen our relationship in the metaverse field, a space where creators and users share their time,» Sony Group Corporation chairman, president, and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said. «We are also confident that Epic’s expertise, including their powerful game engine, combined with Sony’s technologies, will accelerate our various efforts such as the development of new digital fan experiences in sports and our virtual production initiatives.»

This is Sony's second round of investment into Epic Games, following an initial $250 million investment(opens in new tab) made in July 2020. Kirkbi's investment, meanwhile, comes less than a week after the Lego Group announced a long-term partnership(opens in new tab) with Epic to «shape the future of the metaverse.»

«A proportion of our investments is focused on trends we believe will impact the future world that we and our children will live in,» Kirkbi CEO Søren Thorup Sørensen said. «This investment will accelerate our engagement in the world of digital play, and we are pleased to be investing in Epic Games to support their continued growth journey, with a long-term focus toward the future metaverse.»

Unfortunately, the announcement does not address the most fundamental lingering question about the metaverse: What exactly is it? We have our own thoughts on the topic (it's bullshit(opens in new tab)), but Epic said that the three companies «aim to create