'Snow Crash' Author Neal Stephenson and Special FX Studio Wētā Debut New Metaverse Project

Neal Stephenson, the author who coined the term "metaverse" in his 1992 novel "Snow Crash," is debuting a new metaverse project called Artefact. It’s a collaboration between the blockchain platform he co-founded, Lamina1, and Wētā Workshop, the special effects company behind movies like “Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar.”

The new project aims to develop intellectual property (IP) for a blockchain-powered metaverse, according to a release shared with Decrypt. Lamina1, which Stephenson co-founded with Peter Vessenes, launched in 2022 to support digital content creators.

The platform has gained 65,000 active users since its mainnet launch in May 2024, indicating a growing interest in decentralized platforms for creator-driven content. Per the announcement, "Artefact" will serve as the platform's flagship project, leveraging Stephenson's literary works as the foundation for the "Artefact" metaverse.

"By collaborating with Wētā Workshop, we’re forging a new path in digital worldbuilding. Lamina1's commitment to a creator-driven economy and open metaverse provides a foundation that ensures long-term value and creative quality," Stephenson said in the press release.

After the project’s launch this fall, Stephenson and the Wētā team will invite creators and fans to participate on the Lamina1 platform. Users will explore a set of "Artefacts" connected to themes from Stephenson's books, potentially contributing to the expansion of this virtual universe.

This approach aims to blur the line between consumers and creators in the metaverse, offering users more involvement in the creative process than traditional IP development models. The platform also plans to include features such as digital item ownership, questing mechanics, co-creation opportunities, and artificial intelligence-powered tool integration.

Rebecca Barkin, CEO of Lamina1, promised that the partnership will demonstrate how decentralized networks can deliver creative content in the metaverse while giving creators and communities more control and better economic opportunities.

The report follows fast-food behemoth McDonald’s Singapore launching its version of the metaverse in early June. The metaverse world in question is called “My Happy Place” and was developed in collaboration with Bandwagon Labs—and people who own official Grimace NFTs launched in 2023 get special perks in the digital locale.

Edited by Stacy Elliott.