In an exclusive interview for us at GAM3SS, Aleissia Laidacker, Head of Tech and Product at Crucible, shared her perspectives on how her extensive background in immersive technologies and game development informs her approach to shaping the future of the Open Metaverse. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Laidacker has played a pivotal role in the development of cutting-edge technologies that drive immersive experiences, particularly through Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR).

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Crucible x Emergence

Currently, Aleissia is working as the Head of Tech and Product at Crucible. The company is laying the foundations for the Open Metaverse and has developed the Emergence SDK, a developer toolkit that has been downloaded over 55k times by developers building in both Unity and Unreal Engine (allowing for interoperability of in-game assets and avatars between game worlds).

In addition, the Emergence Marketplace will enable game developers, content creators, artists, and more to buy, sell trade, and collaborate with 3D digital assets. Importantly, Crucible and Emergence have strategic partnerships with both Neal Stephenson’s Lamina1 and also Futureverse. The team has announced a $6 million raise, led by prominent VCs such as Polygon, YGG, and Animoca Brands.

Emergence Raises $6 Million

Leveraging Experience in Game Development and XR

Laidacker’s experience in game development and XR technologies has significantly influenced her role at Crucible. Having led the technology, gameplay, and AI direction on major game franchises such as Assassin's Creed at Ubisoft, she brings a deep understanding of both technical and creative processes to the table.

"Having a background in game development and XR technologies has given me a deep understanding of both the technical and creative processes involved in building immersive experiences," Laidacker explained. "This experience has been instrumental in shaping the Emergence SDK. At Crucible, we focus on making blockchain mechanics accessible and easy to integrate into games, allowing developers to leverage web3 capabilities without getting bogged down by the complexities."

This expertise has been crucial in the development of Crucible's Emergence SDK, a developer toolkit designed to facilitate interoperability between Unity and Unreal Engine, enabling seamless integration of blockchain mechanics into game development.

Emergence Marketplace Screenshot

Bridging Game Worlds and Building The Open Metaverse

The Emergence SDK stands out as a pivotal tool in supporting the interoperability between Unity and Unreal Engine, two of the most widely used game development platforms. This engine-agnostic approach allows developers to work within their preferred environments while ensuring that assets and avatars can move seamlessly across different game worlds and engines, a cornerstone for the Open Metaverse.

Laidacker elaborated on this, stating, "The Emergence SDK is designed to be engine-agnostic, supporting interoperability between Unity and Unreal Engine and across games and worlds. By providing a unified framework, we ensure that assets and avatars can move seamlessly across different game worlds and engines. This interoperability is a cornerstone of the Open Metaverse, enabling a more connected and versatile gaming ecosystem."

Emergence Marketplace

Emergence vs Crucible: Understanding the Distinction

Clarifying the distinction between Crucible and its flagship product, Laidacker noted that while Crucible is the company behind the technology, focused on creating tools and solutions for the Open Metaverse, Emergence is the specific SDK and technology stack that enables blockchain integration and interoperability for game developers.

“Crucible is the company behind the technology, focusing on creating tools and solutions for the Open Metaverse. Emergence, on the other hand, is our flagship SDK and technology stack that facilitates blockchain integration and interoperability for game developers. While Crucible encompasses our broader mission and various projects, Emergence is the specific product that delivers the technical capabilities we’re known for.”

Emergence Developer Portal

Launching the Emergence Marketplace

A key milestone for Crucible is the upcoming launch of the Emergence Marketplace. This platform aims to support developers, content creators, and artists by simplifying the creation and distribution of interoperable assets across various games and platforms. The marketplace will also offer back-end tools for game engines, promoting a more interconnected metaverse.

Laidacker highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, "The Emergence Marketplace will offer tools to ensure that assets are interoperable and can be used across various games and platforms. We also think it will provide a fun experience for our users with a focus on 3D and interaction."

Strategic Partnerships with Lamina1 and Futureverse

Crucible's partnerships with Lamina1 and Futureverse are instrumental in advancing the company’s vision for the Open Metaverse. Both organizations utilize the Emergence toolkit to support their developers and projects, aligning with Crucible’s mission to foster a more connected digital ecosystem.

"Our partnerships with Lamina1 and Futureverse are pivotal in advancing our vision for the Open Metaverse," Laidacker remarked. "By doing cross-over collaborations with their communities and nurturing creators, we hope to accelerate our shared vision."

Partnerships with Emergence

Fostering Innovation and Setting Standards

At Crucible, innovation is driven by a culture of continuous learning and experimentation. The company encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and regularly engages in hackathons and partnerships with other innovators in the field to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. This environment ensures that Crucible is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with the Emergence SDK and other projects.

Looking forward, Laidacker emphasized the importance of setting standards and protocols for the Open Metaverse. Emergence aims to provide a consistent framework for blockchain integration, setting benchmarks for how digital assets are created, used, and transferred across platforms.

"Collaboration with industry stakeholders is key to this process," she noted. "We engage with other developers, blockchain networks, and regulatory bodies to ensure our protocols are widely adopted and meet the needs of the broader community."

Web3 Made Easy for Game Developers

Addressing Challenges and Future Trends

Scaling the Emergence platform to support a diverse range of digital assets and developers presents several challenges, including ensuring interoperability across a wide range of assets and maintaining performance and security at scale. Laidacker and her team are committed to optimizing infrastructure and tools to meet these challenges while staying adaptable to evolving industry standards.

“AI and immersive technologies are set to revolutionize the Open Metaverse by enabling more dynamic and interactive experiences. AI can enhance narrative development and character interactions, creating more engaging and personalized gaming experiences."

In discussing future trends, Laidacker pointed to the growing role of AI and immersive technologies in shaping the Open Metaverse. Emergence is positioned to integrate these advancements, providing tools that enable developers to harness AI for creative purposes and leverage immersive tech to build more compelling and interactive metaverse experiences.

"Immersive technologies, such as XR, will further blur the lines between the virtual and real worlds. Emergence will continue to integrate these advancements, providing tools that enable developers to harness AI for creative purposes and leverage immersive tech to build more compelling and interactive metaverse experiences.”

Gaming Set Up

Final Thoughts 

Aleissia Laidacker’s expertise and leadership at Crucible are pivotal in driving the development of the Emergence SDK and advancing the broader vision of the Open Metaverse. Her deep-rooted experience in game development and immersive technologies, combined with Crucible’s innovative approach, is setting new benchmarks for interoperability and blockchain integration in the gaming industry. 

As Crucible continues to forge strategic partnerships and foster a culture of innovation, it is well-positioned to lead the charge in creating a more connected, versatile, and immersive digital future. More information is available here.