KEY POINTS
The Virtual Society Foundation (VSF), a project led by startup Improbable, has introduced “Somnia,” an L1 blockchain and suite of omnichain protocols designed to interconnect metaverses.
Somnia seeks to mitigate the issue of metaverse fragmentation, allowing users to move easily between different experiences with their avatars and belongings. This interoperability liberates users from being confined to a single metaverse platform.
The protocols of Somnia empower existing non-fungible token (NFT) collections to evolve into interoperable 3D objects compatible with metaverse experiences, thereby augmenting their value.
Users can leverage Somnia to recycle content and expand upon the creations of others. This could mean incorporating elements from past metaverse events into new ones, streamlining the production process, and reducing costs.
Early prototypes of Somnia, built on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), have demonstrated impressive performance, handling hundreds of thousands of transactions per second. This showcases its efficiency and scalability — crucial attributes for realizing a cohesive metaverse accommodating millions of users globally.
Moving forward, Somnia will roll out its Betanet protocol. Collaborating with avatar creator system Avaturn, Somnia will focus on the development of interoperable avatars, enriching user identity within the metaverse. Integration with MSquared’s Origin experience engine will further bolster this endeavor, facilitating large-scale events spanning music, sports, and gaming.
Improbable has established itself as a prominent figure in the metaverse and gaming industry. In July 2023, the company teamed up with Major League Baseball (MLB) to launch a virtual ballpark in the metaverse. In December 2023, Improbable finalized a $97.1 million deal, selling its gaming unit, Multiplayer Group (MPG), to Keywords Studios.
