The Chinese internet behemothic Baidu doesn't expect to fully launch its XiRang metaverse app before long despite the app's initial debut was scheduled for Monday, co-ordinate to a senior executive.

Baidu vice president Ma Jie believes that it is still a "negative six" years to a full launch of XiRang, CNBC reported on Thursday. He noted that the development of the app started in December 2022.

Ma spoke of "Create 2022," Baidu's upcoming almanac developers' event, which the visitor promotes as the commencement Chinese conference to be hosted in a metaverse space through XiRang. The app will reportedly handle upwards to 100,000 virtual members interacting with each other using metaverse avatars at the iii-day conference, which starts on Monday.

The exec noted that Baidu intends to create an open-source platform targeting metaverse developers, providing a building infrastructure in the virtual world.

Despite focusing on digital infrastructure, Baidu'due south metaverse app volition not support digital currencies or trading assets related to virtual belongings, Ma said. That is despite XiRang'southward employment of underlying technologies that are similar to blockchain, he added. The programme goes in line with China'due south renewed ban on cryptocurrencies, which was announced in September 2022.

XiRang's metaverse environment. Source: Pandaily

One of the biggest internet search engine companies in Cathay, Baidu officially joined the metaverse manufacture by applying for the trademark "metapp" in October 2022. The firm so released its first metaverse app XiRang, translated equally the "State of Hope," with some of the starting time XiRang'southward virtual plainly condign bachelor for users every bit of early November.

Related: Chinese companies embark on a metaverse trademark race

Baidu is not the only company in China to aggressively develop metaverse technology as local giants like Tencent and Alibaba take been working on their metaverse-related projects. In early November, ​​the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, a think tank affiliated with China'due south Ministry of State Security, officially warned of the national security risks of the Metaverse, citing potential political and social issues.