Jeff Nicholas, former creative director at Yuga Labs over the Bored Apes Yacht Club (BAYC), has excitedly announced that he's joining Meta's Reality Labs as an executive producer. According to the announcement on social media platform, X, his new role at Meta will see him develop innovative virtual reality (VR) entertainment products for Meta.
This position signals Nicholas' first role at a leading tech company. Meta, which ranks as the seventh largest company globally based on market capitalization, is expected to welcome Nicholas in September.
As an executive director, Nicholas would lead “complex development projects” at Meta and provide “guidance” on the platform's “social and interactive music, comedy, sports, and film/TV related content.”
Jeff Nicholas Joins Meta's Reality Labs Amid Massive Layoffs
Nicholas' Meta employment comes amid calls within the company to tighten its outside strings for Reality Labs, the subsidiary dedicated to VR, augmented reality (AR), and the metaverse.
The announcement follows a string of massive layoffs within the organization over the last year that saw middle and senior management personnel take the exit door. Meta also laid off over a dozen vice presidents and directors last month, with the CEO, Mark Zuckerberg calling 2023 “a year of efficiency” .
However, Mark Zuckerberg had placed a long-term bet on a metaverse project that has gulped over $40 billion in investment. The project holds significant value to the firm, as Meta's CFO emphasizes a potential $1 trillion opportunity in AR and VR.
Meanwhile, Meta CFO's claims also suggest the scale of Reality Labs' mission for the coming days, despite costing the organization billions of dollars every quarter. During the organization's second-quarter earnings report, Meta Reality Labs division announced a $4.48 billion operating loss. According to reports, Meta Reality Labs' tech hardware subunit was tasked with reducing spending by nearly 20% from 2024 through 2026.
Meta offers advanced AR gadgets from its Quest Line collection of VR headsets and Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses. More advanced AR spectacles are expected in the future.
Nicholas Maintains Enthusiasm for “Apes”
Nicholas' move sees him transition from the closely-knit community of Bored Apes and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to the Big Tech world. For his social media audience, this move could mean a remarkable shift to Reality Labs' vision in his public demeanor.
However, Nicholas has assured social media followers and well-wishers that he intends to continue engaging the BAYC community.
In his words: "As for me, I'm not going anywhere. I minted Apes, I'm an Ape till I die, and I'm looking forward to continuing to be part of the community as this club, brand, and legacy unfold in the days, months, and years to come."
Final Thoughts
Jeff Nicholas, former Creative Director at BAYC, joins Meta's Reality Labs department as Executive Director in September. Nicholas' employment comes amid massive layoffs of Meta's middle and senior management staff over the past year. However, Meta maintains a strong belief in the long-term benefits of the Metaverse, despite costing billions of dollars quarterly.