Ready Player One Author Unveils ‘Open’ Metaverse Game

Readyverse Studios, the venture co-founded by author Ernest Cline and blockchain firm Futureverse, has officially unveiled its debut project: a third-person battle royale game titled “Open.” The announcement, which took place at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, marks the first major interactive experience built for “The Readyverse,” a platform designed to host various web3-integrated games.

Gameplay and Mechanics

“Open” introduces a competitive, game-show-inspired format where players engage in multi-round matches. The gameplay focuses on tactical maneuvers, precision shooting, and vehicle mechanics. According to the studio, the project is intended to be a AAA-quality experience, specifically designed to demonstrate the potential of interoperable intellectual property within a decentralized framework.

The game’s development is supported by Walker Labs, a studio recognized for its previous work on the multiplayer shooter Walker World. While the experience is currently in development for PC, the team has opened registration for early access via their official website.

A Multiverse of IP

Central to the experience are distinct biomes, including one dedicated to the world of Ready Player One. The debut trailer showcases iconic imagery from the franchise, such as protagonist Wade Watts (Parzival) navigating environments filled with nostalgic artifacts like the DeLorean and vintage gaming consoles. Beyond the Ready Player One setting, the studio plans to incorporate other recognizable brands and characters into the game’s various biomes.

The project leverages the technical infrastructure provided by Futureverse, a collective of 11 companies specializing in blockchain and gaming. By utilizing web3 technology, the studio aims to uphold four core pillars:

• Asset interoperability
• Digital ownership
• Decentralization
• Security

The Readyverse Context

This project follows the earlier announcement of the Readyverse platform, which resulted from a partnership between Readyverse Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery. The collaboration aims to bring the popular Ready Player One franchise into the web3 space, building upon the legacy of the 2018 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Ready Player One envisions a 2045 society where the population finds refuge in the OASIS, a virtual reality simulation. The narrative follows an orphan named Wade Watts as he competes against corporate entities for control of the digital landscape, a theme that mirrors the studio’s stated focus on digital sovereignty and the evolution of the virtual metaverse.