The headline of this news article looks like it was written incorrectly, but it was not. Walmart does have a unique partnership with Unity. The goal of this cooperation is to allow Walmart to help game companies using the Unity engine develop games that allow players to purchase real-life items seen in the game.
For example, a player is playing a house-building simulator, and there is a sofa in it that people like very much. At this time, players will think, it would be great if I also have a set of sofas like this at home. After the cooperation, players can easily buy the same sofa in the game at Walmart. This will bring the virtual world closer to real life.
Walmart has already partnered with other companies on similar projects, and this partnership with Unity will make its impact even greater and further boost sales.
The person in charge of the cooperation said: "We connect the physical world and the digital world in a unique way of Walmart, providing customers and members with a real experience and easy purchase. By opening Walmart's business API to the Unity development community, we give developers new mechanisms to further promote user participation, while allowing players to easily and conveniently complete transactions for purchasing physical products in games, virtual worlds or APPs."
This design seems to be better used for peripheral sales. Of course, Walmart can’t buy the giant sword now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be possible in the future.
Then again, aren't games a form of entertainment that is used to break away from the real world? What's the point of trying to connect it to the real world now?