Takeaway Points
- ReadyPlayerMe is a Cross-game Avatar Platform for the Metaverse.
- The Platform interoperates more than 100 projects as of press time.
- It connects to multiple platforms within 10 seconds
Building an Open Connected Metaverse.
Identity is an important factor in the development of the Metaverse and Web3. To achieve this in the metaverse, identity will be narrowed down to that of the avatar. Web3 will integrate names and identities tied to wallet addresses to be used across platforms.
As Analysts predict, the Metaverse will be a collection of virtual worlds interoperable for a single purpose: To give users freedom and an immersive decentralized social experience. The resultant implication is that builders will have to work with one another and find a common ground to help users interact freely between ecosystems.
However, one of the tools that will ensure this is obtainable is Avatar. This is because it is the sole element every metaverse platform has in common: many metaverses will be accessed through a digital representation of the user.
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Many of the metaverse platforms functional today run divergent Avatar graphics. Roblox and The Sandbox run boxlike-looking Avatars. Meta’s Avatars are without legs. Decentraland’s Avatars are like many other avatars from most platforms.
The problem, however, is not the diversity of the avatars, but the inability to use or connect one avatar across multiple platforms. This is to say one cannot use The Sandbox Avatars to interact in Decentraland and vice versa.
But, what is obtainable today is a multiplicity of platforms competing and disconnected from each other. If true, open, and interoperable metaverse is to happen, one thing will be constant, and that is, its ability to transcend multiple platforms. This is the focal point of both the Metaverse and the Web3 ecosystems.
The ReadyPlayerMe Avatar Solution
ReadyPlayerMe is a Cross-game avatar platform for the Metaverse, with a vision to build a more open and connected metaverse, and break down the walls that disconnect metaverse platforms.
According to its official website, The company was started in 2014 by Timmu Tõke (CEO), Rainer Selvet (CTO), Kaspar Tiri (CCO) and Haver Järveoja (COO). The founding team has been working together on avatars for almost 9 years.
They started with 3D scanners that helped them capture more than 20,000 human samples used for learning and development. This prepared the team to launch ReadyPlayerMe in 2020 “with the aim of becoming the default avatar system for the builders, creators and residents of the metaverse”.
ReadyPlayerMe has become one of the most prominent metaverse platforms in the industry and is backed by many experienced industry leaders.
ReadyPlayerMe has worked with top brands like VRChat, Spatial, Hiber, Pixelynx, Adidas, RTFKT and Dior among many others.
On August 23, the company announced a $56M Series B funding round led by a16z GAMES FUND ONE and a16z crypto, with participation from Plural, David Baszucki, co-founder of Roblox, Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch and Fractal, Robin Chan, co-founder of Fractal, Henry Ault, co-founder of Eco, Sebastian Knutsson & Riccardo Zacconi, King Games co-founders, Collab Currency, Endeavor, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures, D’Amelio family, Punk6529, Snowfro, Nordic Ninja, Konvoy and more.
What Makes ReadyPlayerMe Unique?
Avatars are the soul of the metaverse, and they will play a significant role in the realisation of an open and connected metaverse.
Although, most metaverse platforms are still struggling with making their Avatars realistic, flexible, good-looking, and easy to set up. On August 16, Meta came under criticism on Twitter due to its poorly looking avatars for their metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, reacted to the criticism and promised that the Avatars will be improved.
One other challenging factor with platform-specific avatars is that they do not interconnect with other metaverse platforms. ReadyPlayerMe Avatars are built to be used across multiple platforms, and the ecosystem keeps changing.
while most metaverse platforms focus on building the games, ReadyPlayerMe is drawn to connecting metaverse worlds through their expressive Avatars.
Currently, It takes 5-10 seconds to connect your ReadyPlayerMe Avatar to any Metaverse platform. As of press time, ReadyPlayerMe has more than 100 projects compatible with their Avatars.
With a series B funding, and expansion plans on the way, ReadyPlayerMe is on its way to establishing itself as the goto avatar platform in the metaverse industry.
A little caveat, this spotlight is not financial advice, and you should not as a matter of importance take it as one. Please do your own research.
