Walmart arrives on Roblox for the first time with two new virtual worlds to engage young shoppers

techcrunch.com:

Walmart announced today that it is stepping into the metaverse with two new experiences on Roblox: “Walmart Land” and “Universe of Play.” The virtual worlds are aimed at younger Walmart customers and let Roblox players collect new virtual merchandise, play games featuring toys and characters, earn toys from a blimp, attend live concerts, win fashion competitions and more.

This marks the retail store’s first time trying virtual worlds as it continues experimenting with new ways to reach the next generation of shoppers, Generation Alpha and Gen Z.

Walmart has tried other virtual tech before, such as its new AI-powered virtual try-on technology.

William White, chief marketing officer of Walmart U.S., said in a statement, “This is another step of reaching our customers in unexpected ways and in the places where they’re spending their time. We are excited to be one of the first major retailers to do this.”

Other retailers on Roblox include Nike with “Nikeland,” American Eagle Outfitters and Ralph Lauren. However, major retailer Walmart appears to be making the biggest effort with Roblox.

“I think that Walmart showing up in this way is just another example of how we’re thinking about what’s next, how we’re reimagining unique, innovative ways to engage with our customers,” White added.

Starting with Walmart Land, Roblox players will enter a colorful amusement park with a Walmart-themed Ferris wheel, slides, beaches and more. The island is shaped like the Walmart logo with a circle-shaped center and six branches with different themes and activities.

There’s also a monorail that takes players on a tour of the virtual world, giving them a bird’s eye view of everything. The four other sections/branches are blank, as of now, but have signs