Brick toy company LEGO has announced that it will be partnering with Fortnite maker Epic Games for a metaverse initiative for children. In the announcement, the companies say that they will be working together to “shape the future of the metaverse to make it safe and fun for children and families”.
The companies say that having a family-friendly digital space “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”. LEGO and Epic Games also outline three principles for their kid-friendly digital spaces:
- 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.
We’re excited to team up with @EpicNewsroom to build a fun and safe place for kids to play in the metaverse. 🤩
Find out more here: https://t.co/1P6lENuTG1 pic.twitter.com/Edit0WtVEV
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) April 7, 2022
All these sound as vague as it can be. But if comparisons were to be drawn, this sounds quite like what the likes of Minecraft and Roblox are doing. And even with the involvement of LEGO, the similarities go beyond just their blocky nature,.
LEGO already has a healthy catalogue of video game tie-ins, even if each one of them are self-contained experiences. Ditto the other way around, recreating vertical slices of video games with bricks. Though overall, this could be another attempt at creating a brick-based MMO, and perhaps one that stays in existence for longer than the extremely short-loved LEGO Universe.
(Source: LEGO)
