Virtual Worlds
Ongoing coverage on Virtual Worlds.
Latest coverage
Why the world needs a Club Penguin successor – that isn't Roblox
Stephen MacDonald, a former senior manager at Disney for Club Penguin, discusses the need for a safe, successor virtual world for children, arguing that Roblox does not adequately protect its young users. He has founded Magic Potion Games to develop Imagine Island, a new game focused on robust moderation and child safety, aiming to fill the void left by Club Penguin's demise.
Pixels Brings Back the Neon Zone: Rebuilt Layout, a Pool Table and Flat-Priced Wheel Spins
Pixels has reopened its Neon Zone with a rebuilt layout featuring a dance floor and a pool table, alongside a new candy-themed stock at the 3rd Dimension Redemption Store. The dynamic pricing for wheel spins has been replaced with a flat rate of 2,500 Stuff Stubs per spin, with no limit on the number of spins a player can take. The game's economy has seen previous adjustments, including changes to ranked games and Stuff Stub output.
Toymaker Mattel launches a new game studio with a focus on Roblox and Fortnite that could signal a growing shift in…
Toy company Mattel has launched Mattel Game Studios, a new division focused on developing and operating interactive experiences inspired by its brands. The studio will create original games for platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, moving beyond its previous mobile-focused joint venture with NetEase. This strategic shift reflects the growing importance of virtual worlds and creator platforms in the gaming landscape.
'A first step, not a finish line' — Disney and Epic Games have connected Disney World’s and Disneyland’s Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to a brand-new Star Wars adventure in Fortnite
Disney and Epic Games have launched a new integration between the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride at Disney parks and the game Fortnite. This collaboration allows players to unlock in-game rewards in Fortnite by completing missions on the physical ride, marking a significant step towards a persistent, interoperable virtual universe promised by their partnership. The system uses Unreal Engine technology and aims to carry progress and story elements between the park experience and the game.
Decentraland Friendzone buildathon pre-registration goes live, but terms are missing
Decentraland has opened pre-registration for its "Friendzone Mobile Buildathon" contest, as announced via its official X account. However, crucial details such as dates, prize amounts, and entry rules are currently missing from the announcement. The contest appears to be focused on mobile development, aligning with Decentraland's recent push for its phone client.
EVE Online studio hires former Icelandic minister to lead autonomous AI efforts
Fenris Creations, the developer behind EVE Online, has appointed former Icelandic minister Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir as its senior director of AI partnerships. She will lead the studio's initiative to test advanced AI systems within the persistent virtual world of EVE Frontier, aiming to create a live proving ground for autonomous agents in complex economic and social environments.
New Kingdom Come trademark filings mention 'online' virtual worlds—but we shouldn't assume Warhorse is making a multiplayer game just yet
New trademark filings for Kingdom Come Salvation suggest potential online functionality, including virtual environments for user interaction. However, an IP expert clarifies that such broad classifications are standard practice for protecting trademarks and do not guarantee a multiplayer component for the next Kingdom Come game.
Otherside Maps Out 74-Resource Economy Spanning 100,000 Otherdeeds
Otherside is developing an interconnected economy featuring 74 resources across its 100,000 NFT land plots, known as Otherdeeds. This system aims to deepen player engagement by directly linking land ownership to a broader resource framework. Yuga Labs recently acquired Unreal Engine technology from Improbable to support the virtual world's foundation, with upcoming updates promising development diaries and community feedback channels.
The Sandbox to Broaden LAND Utility Ahead of Q4 2026 Studio Rollout
The Sandbox is enhancing its LAND utility features, with significant upgrades planned for Q4 2026 coinciding with the public rollout of The Sandbox Studio. These changes aim to increase the visibility and monetization options for games published on LAND, allowing creators to earn a larger share of revenue. LAND owners will also gain the ability to host and curate games developed by others, effectively acting as digital publishers.
Decentraland Reels In Cozy Fishing, a New Minigame With Exclusive Wearables
Decentraland has launched Cozy Fishing, a new minigame designed to increase user engagement within the metaverse. Players can fish to earn coins, which can be used to purchase better equipment or traded for exclusive cosmetic NFTs called Wearables. This initiative aims to boost player activity during a challenging market for metaverse tokens.
Merge a Black Hole codes (July 2026)
This article provides a list of active codes for the Roblox game Merge a Black Hole, which allows players to create and expand black holes to interact with other players' universes. It also explains how to redeem these codes within the game and where to find future updates, primarily through the game's official Discord server.
Fish Tanks for Xundra's or XS Fishing Breedable Fish!
This guide explains how to obtain and use fish tanks for XS Fishing's breedable fish within the virtual world of Second Life. Players can acquire a free XS Fishing Rod and catch breedable fish without needing bait, saving in-game currency. The article details how to create or purchase fish tanks and offers an affiliate program for earning Linden Dollars.
KOMPETE Golf Early Access Launch on PC, iOS, and Android
KOMPETE Golf has launched in early access on PC, iOS, and Android, offering players a driving range for practice and competition. The game features a unique economy model that integrates traditional gaming with optional web3 features for player ownership and cosmetic customization, built on Unreal Engine 5 by Modernize Games.
Second Life Land Owners and Their Weird Power Trips LOL!
A long-time Second Life player expresses frustration over a land owner's strict rules, which led to them being ejected from a Virtual Fishing event. The player questions the logic behind rules like not logging out from the last location, comparing it to perceived power trips by real-life officials. Despite understanding land owners' rights, the author finds the situation peculiar and shares their experience.
Game Crossovers and Collaborations
NASCAR is launching an update for its Roblox experience, Driving Empire, which will feature a San Diego Military Base track ahead of a real-world race. Separately, the director of the game Obsession expressed openness to a video game movie adaptation.
I thought text-only Grand Theft Auto roleplay sounded too intimidating—but GTA World is showing me why players are…
This article explores the appeal of text-only Grand Theft Auto roleplay servers, specifically GTA World, contrasting them with faster-paced, voice-based servers like FiveM. The author, initially intimidated by the seriousness of text-based RP, finds it offers more thoughtful, precise, and longer-form storytelling with genuine consequences, leading to more immersive and endearing experiences.
Roblox announces acquisition of Morpheus AI video world model lab as part of Roblox Reality push
Roblox has acquired the AI company Morpheus AI to enhance its new Roblox Reality architecture. This acquisition is part of Roblox's ongoing efforts to integrate advanced AI technologies into its virtual world platform.
Star Citizen tops $1 billion crowdfunding milestone as "$5000 JPEG" spaceship you cannot use yet goes on sale
Cloud Imperium Games' Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding from over 6.5 million players since its 2012 announcement. The milestone coincides with the sale of a new $5000 spaceship concept, the Anvil Odin, which is not yet available in the game. Founder Chris Roberts highlighted the ambitious scope of the project, which he believes would not be possible under traditional publishers.
Project Genie adds Google Street View integration and goes live for global AI Ultra users
Project Genie, an AI tool for creating virtual worlds, has added integration with Google Street View, allowing users to ground their creations in real-world locations. This feature is now live for global AI Ultra users.
Upland To Launch Genesis Week 2026 June 8
Upland has announced its Genesis Week 2026 event, scheduled for June 8-12, which will focus on system reveals and future content rather than a specific sale. Nominations for the 2026 Community Awards in Player, Broadcaster, and Designer categories are now open until May 29, with winners receiving in-game rewards and recognition during Genesis Week.
