Through a new partnership between Epic Games and Lego, two of the biggest names in entertainment come together to create a virtual space for kids. “We are excited to be coming together on Metaverse to create a fun space made for kids and families,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said in a statement.
Details are scarce (and the concept of a metaverse remains unclear), but the companies say whatever they build will be designed from the ground up as a family-friendly sandbox. “The Lego Group and Epic Games will combine their extensive experience to ensure that the next version of the internet is designed from the ground up with the well-being of children in mind,” the companies said in a press release.
While Epic Games has extensive experience creating virtual worlds primarily through the enduringly popular Fortnite, Lego has recently focused more and more on video games with the launch of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga this week. Meanwhile, Minecraft and Roblox, two of the most popular online video games, offer a sandbox building style similar to Lego bricks. Epic has also talked about creating a more kid-friendly metaverse in the past.
The new partnership joins projects that have created their own interpretations of the metaverse universe, which has so far included everyone from Pokémon Go maker Niantic to Facebook and major NFT brands.
There is no information on what this new Fortnite-lego world will look like, when it will be released, or on what platforms it is expected to launch. But the companies have outlined three principles they say will guide its creation: “protecting children's right to play by making safety and well-being a priority; protect children's privacy by putting their best interests first; empowering children and adults with tools that give them control over their digital experiences.”
News, next-gen version of Epic's Unreal Engine game engine put on the market It arrived within the same week.
