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Streaming leader Netflix is stepping into the metaverse with “Nextworld,” a collaborative theme park experience built within the popular online gaming platform Roblox.
Unveiled on May 9, 2024, Nextworld offers users a deeper dive into their favorite Netflix shows and movies through interactive activities and social spaces.
Users can engage in minigames directly tied to specific shows. This includes an escape room challenge inspired by “Stranger Things” and combat battles based on “Rebel Moon.”
Popular characters from various Netflix properties also make an appearance within Nextworld. Avatars of beloved figures like Dustin from “Stranger Things,” Luffy from the long-running anime “One Piece,” and Jimmy from “Rebel Moon” act as guides and guardians, assisting users in quests and exploration.
As users navigate Nextworld, they can collect virtual items and wearables inspired by different Netflix shows and movies. These collectibles can then be used to decorate their own “Fan Pod,” a private space that functions as a virtual fan cave. Users can choose to keep their Fan Pod private or open it up for friends to visit and socialize.
The “Streamship,” a central hub within the theme park, provides a platform for users to connect and participate in shared experiences. This includes attending virtual premieres and viewing parties for upcoming Netflix releases, or catching up on daily content snippets at the “Tudum Theater,” named after Netflix’s official fan event.
Nextworld’s launch signifies a further step in Netflix’s growing interest in Web3 technologies, a trend that began in 2022. Back then, the company gauged user sentiment on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through X (Twitter).
This was followed by a partnership with Candy Digital in July 2022 to release a series of “Stranger Things” NFTs. More recently, Netflix UK acquired the documentary “NFT:WTF?” in March 2024, which explores the impact of NFTs on the art market.
