BBC Studios has teamed up with Web3 specialist Reality+ to launch a collection of immersive metaverse experiences in The Sandbox, a virtual world that’s part virtual real estate, part amusement park. Fans will be able to interact with content from their favorite brands, including Top Gear and Doctor Who, and enjoy a BBC events space.
This joint venture marks the first time BBC will have a home in the metaverse, following a handful of brand activation experiments with metaverse platforms. The Sandbox fully embraces the idea of the metaverse as a continuous shared digital space in which players and brands can build, own, and monetize their experiences on the blockchain.
“While the metaverse is still in its infancy, it may shape how we consume and experience entertainment in the future and I’m looking forward to seeing how fans interact with our brands in this space,” says Nicki Sheard, President of Brands & Licensing for BBC Studios. “This project forms part of BBC Studios’ broader ambitious plans to grow our brands into new categories, with innovative technology and platforms forming an integral part of this.”
BBC Studios joins over 400 entertainment brands that have already entered The Sandbox, including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, and Adidas.
Reality+ helps worldwide brands transition to Web3 with product, community, and development strategies backed by an award-winning technology platform. It had previously partnered with BBC Studios to develop the Doctor Who: Worlds Apart digital trading card game.
“We’re excited to have extended our partnership with BBC Studios, not only to help them push the boundaries of what’s possible in the metaverse, but for the opportunity to deliver exciting new experiences for the fans of these world-renowned TV shows,” says Tony Pearce, Co-Founder of Reality+. “We’ve already achieved so much with the digital trading card game Doctor Who: Worlds Apart, and now with a fantastic platform like The Sandbox, there’s much more to come.”
BBC Studios’ metaverse space in The Sandbox will launch later this year with sustainability at the forefront of the exciting project. The Sandbox has partnered with Offsetra and Nori on carbon offsetting, plus WeForest to help reforestation efforts across the globe.
BBC Studios will be present at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas next month to show properties from its full portfolio, including Bluey, Doctor Who, and more.
The Toy Book and its sister publication The Pop Insider will also be in attendance at the show. Stop by Booth No. N249 to meet the team and grab the 2023 Licensing & Entertainment Issue of The Toy Book and our spring issue of The Pop Insider.
To register to attend Licensing Expo 2023 for free, visit www.licensingexpo.com.
