The LEGO Group and Epic Games announced a new partnership where they intend to somehow make the metaverse safe for kids.
While it remains to be seen how two companies can make the metaverse safe for kids, it’s also worth pointing out that the very definition of the “metaverse” also changes depending on who you ask.
The joint statement notes both companies want to “shape the future of the metaverse to make it safe and fun for children and families.” The new collab suggests Epic Games will be working with LEGO to provide some kind of kid-friendly online space.
“The two companies will team up to build an immersive, creatively inspiring and engaging digital experience for kids of all ages to enjoy together,” the statement reads.
It goes on to describe a “family-friendly digital experience” that 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.”
“The LEGO Group has captivated the imagination of children and adults through creative play for nearly a century, and we are excited to come together to build a space in the metaverse that’s fun, entertaining, and made for kids and families,” said Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney.
LEGO Group CEO Niels B Christiansen added, “Kids enjoy playing in digital and physical worlds and move seamlessly between the two. We believe there is huge potential for them to develop life-long skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication through digital experiences. But we have a responsibility to make them 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. We look forward to working with Epic Games to shape this exciting and playful future.”
LEGO is advancing more into the digital space, between their latest licensed offering in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and the all-new digital adventure game LEGO Bricktales (pictured), so it makes sense they’re trying to also get their hands in on the sandbox/sim craze that still brings in tens of millions of kids to Minecraft.
This is Niche Gamer Tech. In this column, we regularly cover tech and things related to the tech industry. Please leave feedback and let us know if there’s tech or a story you want us to cover!
