Core: The Metaverse's Newest Hotspot?

A New Vision of the Metaverse: Introducing Core

Describing itself as an “endless arcade,” Core presents a strikingly vivid experience reminiscent of 90s cyberpunk aesthetics. This new platform functions as both a playable game library and a no-code game creation tool, all bathed in vibrant neon lighting. It represents a surprisingly comprehensive realization of the metaverse concept that is currently generating significant discussion.

Positioning as a Multiversal Portal

Core positions itself as a “portal to the multiverse,” and is designed to evaluate the long-standing idea: If you build it, they will come. While larger corporations like Roblox and Facebook possess well-established platforms, Core has established a strong foundation for both creators and players.

Navigating the Core Hub

Upon logging in, players are taken to Core’s central hub. This area is uniquely designed as a blend of a theme park, a modern shopping mall, and a casino. Entertainment and shopping opportunities are readily accessible in all directions.

Large, illuminated signs attract players to explore a diverse range of user-created virtual worlds. Changing attire and in-game equipment, or inviting friends to join, is streamlined and efficient. Simply observing the activity of other players is an engaging experience.

Powered by Unreal Engine and Backed by Epic Games

The visual similarities between Core and Fortnite are intentional. Core, developed by Manticore Games, utilizes Epic’s Unreal Engine. This connection extends further, as Epic Games led a $15 million investment round in the company last year. The platform is currently exclusively available through the Epic Games Store on PC.

In March, Manticore secured an additional $100 million in funding from a variety of prominent investors, and subsequently launched its creator platform.

Seamless Transitions Between Worlds

Core has already overcome a key challenge for any metaverse platform: providing a fluid user experience. During testing, the transitions between locations were often so smooth that accidental misdirection occurred. This can be attributed to user inexperience, but the ability to be instantly transported – to a Deadmau5 concert, a desolate dystopian landscape, or an isometric pirate adventure – after passing through portals, was among the most seamless online multiplayer experiences in over a decade.

A More Mature Aesthetic

Core’s visual quality is a significant advantage. This presents a contrast to Roblox, a highly successful company also developing metaverse experiences. Like Fortnite, Core’s graphics are stylized, but avoid excessive cartoonishness.

Roblox’s younger user base is maturing, a demographic shift the company is actively addressing. Consequently, older players may seek a new virtual environment with a more sophisticated atmosphere.

Customization and Avatars

Core offers a wide array of customizable outfits and avatars, allowing users to express themselves creatively. Players can create serious, edgy personas, or even embody a feline character.

Deadmau5 Establishes a Metaverse Presence

A significant portion of Core’s content originates from its users, known as user-generated content (UGC). This represents a defining trend in the online world, though the acronym might initially suggest mixed martial arts. Manticore, the platform’s developer, is also actively pursuing partnerships with musicians and brands to deliver immersive, themed experiences within the game.

This week marked the launch of a dedicated space by DJ and electronic dance music (EDM) artist Deadmau5. This initiative is described as a “permanent residency” within the metaverse. While Core primarily features games created by its community, it’s also proving to be a viable platform for entertainment and educational purposes – users have already begun hosting game development workshops.

A Persistent Virtual Residency

Unlike one-off events hosted in other virtual environments, such as Lil Nas X’s performance in Roblox or Ariana Grande’s concert in Fortnite, Deadmau5’s content will remain accessible after its initial debut. Manticore’s team draws a parallel to established performers like Penn and Teller who maintain ongoing shows in Las Vegas, a fitting analogy. Notably, Deadmau5 is also scheduled to appear at a music festival on Decentraland, a virtual platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, demonstrating the potential for artists to engage across multiple metaverse spaces.

I had the opportunity to preview the experience alongside Deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman. He was represented by his iconic oversized animal helmet – appearing as a cat, perhaps – and cyborg angel wings, while I chose a simple black hoodie as my avatar’s attire.

“The modularity of the platform and the expanded creative tools it provides were key factors in my decision,” Zimmerman explained, moving energetically within Core while comfortably seated in a gaming chair featuring the Deadmau5 logo.

As is typical for virtual concerts, the interactive performance is rich with vibrant, psychedelic visuals, engaging mini-games, and a formidable mouse character with turntable ears. Zimmerman, along with Manticore co-founders Frederic Descamps and Jordan Maynard, had experienced the show numerous times, yet their enthusiasm remained palpable.

During the preview, I encountered various hazards, including falling into lava and being struck by a large metal fist, all while a Deadmau5-inspired antagonist was present. “This might be the only interactive concert where you can actually die,” Maynard remarked. The visual presentation was highly enjoyable, the interactivity was inventive, and the overall experience was comparable to the high standards set by concerts in Fortnite.

Exploring Oberhasli and Fan Creations

The expansive virtual experience, titled Oberhasli, also highlights unique worlds crafted by fans with limited or no prior game development experience. These range from a haunting jungle ruin to a spectral landscape filled with drifting space debris. The Deadmau5 performance within Core begins on Friday at 3 PM PT. It will be rebroadcast throughout the weekend and remain available on demand, offering others the chance to experience the event.

A Platform Empowering Creators

During a recent demonstration on Discord, the Core platform showcased its capabilities as participants navigated a concealed gateway behind a destructible barrier, seamlessly transitioning between diverse game genres. Each environment was remarkably refined, despite requiring no prior coding or game development expertise. Switching between these virtual worlds occurred rapidly, even with a suboptimal internet connection, exemplified by a journey through a portal reminiscent of World of Warcraft, culminating in a voyage aboard an isometric pirate vessel.

The allusion to World of Warcraft is likely intentional. Descamps fondly recalled the golden age of WoW machinima – narrative films constructed from captured gameplay – displaying a deep understanding only a dedicated, long-term player would possess. Both Descamps and Maynard previously contributed to Rift, another enduring fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO) that maintains a devoted player base even after a decade. While the metaverse is currently a prominent topic, few companies operating within this space can trace their origins back to the immersive virtual gaming worlds that have fostered community engagement for years.

To emphasize the ease of content creation within Core, Maynard swiftly assembled a first-person shooter for demonstration purposes. This drag-and-drop process, utilizing Core’s extensive library of original in-game assets created by its users, took approximately two minutes. Selecting a game mode from available templates – such as battle royale, racing, or dungeon crawler – alongside a collection of 3D objects, quickly results in a polished, playable game within Core’s adaptable sandbox environment. Changing the game's setting to a frigid, snowy landscape or a desolate desert is equally straightforward, contributing to the environments’ sense of scale.

Beyond the gameplay experience, Core games exhibit a significantly higher visual fidelity compared to user-generated content (UGC) commonly found on platforms like Roblox, although Roblox users haven’t typically expressed concern over this aspect. The sheer variety of visual styles and game genres available is also striking for those accustomed to the repetitive UGC found on other platforms.

Creators on Core have access to a comprehensive range of monetization options, termed “perks” by Manticore. These include the sale of in-game cosmetic items, as well as charging for premium games, offering Fortnite-style battle passes, or implementing a subscription service. The revenue sharing model is a 50/50 split, a more favorable arrangement than the 25% offered to creators by Roblox. Crucially, Core, like other modular game-making platforms, empowers all users to become creators, regardless of their technical background.

Currently, Core is exclusively available on PC, but Manticore intends to expand its reach to other platforms, including iOS, beginning next year. While game creation will likely remain PC-centric, the vision is to enable anyone to play Core games on any device, a platform-agnostic approach that proved beneficial for both Fortnite and Roblox.

“Game development is often akin to baking: a precise formula, technically demanding, and potentially requiring weeks of iteration,” Descamps explained. However, Core streamlines the technical aspects, accelerating a process that would typically be prolonged, and allowing more time for experimentation and creative exploration.

“What if a portal gun was integrated into Mario Kart?” Maynard proposed, suggesting that such a concept could be readily tested within the platform.