How do you get a technology executive all giddy and excited? Talk about the Metaverse and a new era for the internet, of course, and now two giants in the entertainment and toy space are teaming up on a major new project in that space. In what could become a significant partnership, Epic Games is working with LEGO.
The big focus is the metaverse, and a concept that could perhaps be very similar to Roblox, which is now an enormous hub for playing and also making games. While Roblox is hugely successful and profitable, in recent months it has faced criticism for its business model and question marks over whether it's a safe and fair environment for children developing games on the platform. The announcement posted by Epic Games repeatedly emphasizes a focus on building a safe space for young creators.
As the metaverse evolves, it is reshaping how people meet, play, work, learn and interact in a virtual, 3D world. The LEGO Group and Epic Games will combine their extensive experience to ensure that this next iteration of the internet is designed from the outset with the wellbeing of kids in mind...
The LEGO Group and Epic Games have agreed to three principles which will ensure the digital spaces they develop deliver engaging play opportunities safely:
- Protect children’s right to play by making safety and wellbeing a priority.
- Safeguard children’s privacy by putting their best interests first.
- Empower children and adults with tools that give them control over their digital experience.
It'll be fascinating to see how this takes shape, and indeed whether it'll be a success. Not all big-brand projects take off, even when it's the world's most popular toy company, with existing competition from the likes of Minecraft and creator-led platforms like Roblox already well established. Of course, Epic will also leverage its experience and the popularity of Fortnite for its work with LEGO.
We'll see what emerges in the coming months; let us know what you think in the comments.
[source epicgames.com]
Comments 42
Why do these companies have to use words like 'metaverse' instead of just talking like normal people
"Metaverse" is the marketing buzz word for the decade.
Metaverse = second life.
Doesn't sound so cool now huh?
That being said, a Lego virtual world to just hang out and build stuff in could be fun. Just keep out all the blockchain and NFT garbage ok?
Probably better not to model anything aimed at protecting kids after Roblox. Roblox these days is basically a grooming app.
This is totally disgusting, kids and online safety has never worked and never will.
Governments should not be allowing corporations to use this PR to lie about the truth.
@Dogorilla
Marketing buzz for "really big social platform".
That's pretty much all it is.
Think about it, something like Club Penguin is, or was a "metaverse".
@Dogorilla Synergy! Capitulation! Divergence! I'm a businessy person with businessy words.
Investors, rejoice!
Also, haven’t Nintendo been adhering to those three principles for years now? That’s why their online has always been a bit ‘meh’.
Past generations paved the way for a great thriving society and this is how we thank them?
Ha, sorry they aren't killing Roblox
Ick… don’t trust much outside of cash grabs from epic
Can someone explain the difference between a “Metaverse” and just standing around in an Among Us lobby or ANY ONLINE GAME EVER? I’m not even joking here. Cuz it sounds so significant and futuristic, like some Ready Player 1 stuff, and I’m aware that big companies seem to like using it a lot, but what actually IS it?
So now that adults are losing whatever little interest there was in NFTs, is Epic now going to try marketing NFTs to kids?
This is disturbing and should not be trusted.
@CharlieGirl Leave it to adults to scam kids. Something about this sounds as ominous as EA's "Surprise Mechanics" and "Lootboxes are just like Kinder eggs and they're fun"
Epic’s three principles:
I hate this universe. 🤦♂️
This is BEYOND DISGUSTING to see LEGO x EPIC.
As long as they don't sell NFTs to kids and don't become as bad and unsafe for kids as Roblox, I'm fine with it.
This is just one step closer to a Lego game akin to Minecraft. I'm very exciting for the future in this partnership.
Yet another reason to hate Epic Games, and literally everything they do. This is a con, aimed at children, and it’s disgusting.
Some day, some body, is going to get "Free Realms" up and running again. Is what I'm sure all of these companies tell themselves internally.
For those who missed FR 15 minutes of fame:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Realms
Lego had at least 2, maybe 3 games recently, and I don't think any of them really took off. And I'm not even including Lego Dimensions in that. While I'm sure a Lego x Epic game could work, I think it's called Minecraft, this seems a little late to the party. Can't fault them for trying though, not my money. But it does make me wonder how much younger than Fortnite players is Lego going after? Some of those Fortnite players are pretty young.
Are we really at the point in society where we are so against going outside and doing anything, that we are making virtual worlds so we don’t have to go outside. What a joke.
Wasn't there also recent news on the LEGO licensing deal coming to an end with Traveller's Tales or Warner Bros. (or both)? If LEGO Skywalker Saga was the end of an era, it'll be a bittersweet one; they really changed up the usual formula in such a strong way, and to just abandon that in favor of this metaverse scheme would be very disappointing...
This is a sad day tbh. So its going to be a lego like roblox (Even tho I used to think roblox were legos LOL stupid me right?), if thats the case, i'm still not sure, its just another way to get money by aiming it at kids. Just going to have to see where this evolves.
You've seen Lego Island, but what about Lego Archipelago?
As a parent im excited by this, and for myself im also excited about this. And they are not trying to scam kids, kids dont have money, parents do. And the parents of todays kids grew up with video games and are well aware pixels are useless but we can relate how it was for us when 8 - 64 bit pixels were the greatest joy in our lives. So ofc we gonna buy useless skins and whatnot for our kids.
Ugh. Isn't one reality ENOUGH?!
I wish I could set up some kind of algorithm that would flag any article, document, site, or slight mentioning of the word "Metaverse" and hide.. no, BLOCK..it from my view.
I'm so sick of the "INSERTNAMEHERE+" or "METAVERSE" or "INSERTNAMEHERE PRO MAX ULTRA" or "SEASON PASS" crap. It's really a sign of the slow dumbing down of society. I feel like the world around me is eroding.
I'm probably just old now but personally when I see a company throwing around that crap it turns me right off and makes me resent it.
why are people complaining about a virtual world lol isn't that kinda the point of a video game?
This sounds like it could be cool, but the more companies use the term "Metaverse" the more it loses its meaning (As if it already had any meaning to begin with...). This doesn't sound like a metaverse, it sounds like an online Lego themed game creation tool, perhaps with some MMO elements. Could be a fun way for kids to try their hand at game dev, could also end up being a way for kids to waste away their childhood playing copy/paste games created by bots like on Roblox. Either way, there's nothing separating it from already existing platforms that makes it a "metaverse."
Also, some people seem to think anything that claims to be a metaverse is also going to involve NFTs, which thankfully isn't the case, and it doesn't sound like NFTs will be involved here.
Lego has tried to make an mmo and have tried a sandbox open world. Both these things never made an impact. Lego games are great retellings of franchises because the humor and the destruction. They could implement with a lot of thought and heart and it would be a meta verse. But I highly doubt they will. People just have to treat these like any collectible/ art marketplace.
@Dogorilla cause they have tiny brains and only know one thing which is metaverse
Master Skywalker, there's too many metaverses, what are we going to do?
@Fizza
LMAO! CORAL!
Some of the responses to this seem more like what I'd expect to hear from my grandparents, not a group of people who have active accounts on a Nintendo fansite. Guess what, guys, the future is digital. And yes, it WILL be monetized. Oh, the horror.
I'm all for this if this ends up as a vastly improved Lego Worlds.
Maybe I just had a sheltered upbringing, but I don't think it's wise to encourage young kids to interact with strangers online through a social network like this. Lots of bad influence, cyberbullying, safety concerns...
Not sure if which is worse, Epic or Facebook trying to indoctrinate young children to their brand. Shame on Lego too, as I am sure this deal came down to a bunch of dollars being thrown at them.
I don't understand the outrage.
1. I highly doubt children will have free communication with strangers through this "metaverse". I would imagine communication will be limited to pre determined sayings or emojis.
2. Aren't all games sort of a "metaverse"?
3. It's not the gaming industry's job to parent children. It's their job to make games and profit. If you have a problem with children not doing other stuff in the real world, limit their screen time. I don't understand how this game's existence changes the current state of childhood & gaming. Kids spend too much time playing fortnite now.....but I don't blame Epic games. That's just lazy.
@dkxcalibur My perspective is this:
Epic has done a fantastic job with Fortnite when it comes to collaborations with other companies. They are arguably the only true metaverse at this point because they're combining as many different properties, ideas, and people into their Fortnite sphere of the gaming world.
Who does this sound very similar to? Lego.
I have long since praised Lego for the past few decades for accomplishing the same feat with their products. They tend to license as many properties as possible in both their Lego creations and gaming collabs.
For me, this is a dream matchup. Epic, who has an incredible handle on the gaming sphere can help Lego really capitalize in their game development department. My dream Lego game for the better part of the last decade is something akin to Minecraft. Having a vast open world game free to create anything you want with various properties (Harry Potter, Marvel, DC) and then fly, drive, battle around the worlds with others would be a fantastic game that I think has even higher potential than a game like Fortnite.
I'm all in on this endeavor.
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