Epic Games, the game developing studio, and Lego, the famous construction block company, have announced a partnership to develop a metaverse designed for kids. This metaverse world aims to allow kids of all ages to become builders and design their own experiences while protecting their right to play by putting online safety as one of its main objectives.
Epic Games and Lego to Launch Joint Metaverse
Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, and Lego, the famous toy building block company, have inked a partnership to produce a joint metaverse. The metaverse initiative will be designed from the ground up to be suitable for kids of all ages who, according to the press release issued on the Epic Games website, will be able to create their own experiences.
The press release detailed:
The family-friendly digital experience will give kids access to tools that will empower them to become confident creators and deliver amazing play opportunities in a safe and positive space.
Neither of the companies indicated the theme or characters that the metaverse will include. However, the two companies already have experience in building metaverse-inspired worlds, with Fortnite being one of the most popular online games. Lego was also behind an online game called Lego Worlds, which was launched in 2015 as a direct competitor to Minecraft.
Protection of Children a Priority
The jointly-built metaverse will be designed to be an age-appropriate experience, with the objective of protecting kids from unmoderated content coming from other sources on the internet. Parents will also be able to be participants and control these interactions.
On the importance of this focus, Niels Christiansen, CEO of The Lego Group, declared:
We have a responsibility to make [these experiences] safe, inspiring, and beneficial for all. Just as we’ve protected children’s rights to safe physical play for generations, we are committed to doing the same for digital play.
Epic Games has the tools for solving the task at hand. The company acquired Superawesome in 2020, a company whose business model has to do with connecting kids with safe digital experiences while monetizing these interactions.
For building this new metaverse, the companies have defined three important principles, that include “protecting children’s right to play by making safety and wellbeing a priority, safeguarding children’s privacy by putting their best interests first, and empowering children and adults with tools that give them control over their digital experience.”
What do you think about the metaverse proposed by Epic Games in partnership with Lego? Tell us in the comments section below.
