Readyverse Studios, a publisher focused on games and digital worlds, has launched Promptopia, a new generative AI-powered creation tool. The announcement was made during the Blockworks tech conference, Permissionless III, where Readyverse CEO Aaron McDonald provided insights into the platform's capabilities.

Readyverse Studios Reveals New AI Tool Promptopia

What is Promptopia?

Promptopia is designed for players looking to create their own immersive environments. By utilizing text prompts, users can generate digital assets and environments. McDonald described Promptopia as an innovative sandbox experience that empowers players to bring their ideas to life. The tool allows for the creation of game-ready objects, music, and environments, all generated by a sophisticated AI model.

The foundation of Readyverse is inspired by Ernest Cline’s acclaimed franchise, Ready Player One, which began as a novel in 2011 and was adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg in 2018. McDonald emphasized the goal of integrating generative AI technology into a gaming experience, making the tools integral to gameplay rather than simply providing generic building tools. “We wanted to make the tools part of the game. That’s how the idea of Promptopia came together,” he stated.

Promptopia will exist within the larger Readyverse ecosystem, offering a metaverse-like experience akin to the world depicted in Ready Player One. Players can customize their avatars to resemble characters from the franchise or create entirely unique designs. McDonald likened Readyverse to a launcher that facilitates access to various games, emphasizing that Promptopia will always be available for casual fun or more in-depth exploration.

Readyverse Logo

AI Features and Functionality 

Promptopia combines multiplayer gameplay with real-time AI asset generation, allowing users to build, share, and engage in a world shaped by their own ideas. By leveraging advanced AI technology, Promptopia blurs the lines between creators and players, enabling users to easily design game environments.

In a demonstration of the platform, McDonald showcased a personal lobby reminiscent of Aech’s garage from Ready Player One. In this space, players can store items won during competitions or created and purchased assets. Users can interact with various arcade machines to enter worlds such as Surreal Estate or Promptopia, where player-generated content plays a central role.

Readyverse Key Art

Power of IPs, Branding and UGC

The gameplay within Promptopia includes mechanics similar to those found in first-person shooter games. Players can capture flags and control central consoles to modify their environments, including changing music and generating objects on the fly. “These objects are examples of what happens when you win the right to prompt the environment, like changing the sky,” McDonald explained.

Readyverse has incorporated well-known intellectual properties into the Readyverse platform, including brands like Reebok, Cool Cats, and DeLorean. Promptopia is envisioned as a new experimental game experience, allowing for creative expression through gameplay. McDonald and cofounder Shara Senderoff highlighted the potential for user-generated content (UGC) as a cornerstone of the Readyverse experience. They aim to provide players with the tools to realize their ideas in an immersive environment, emphasizing creativity and fun.

Readyverse Founding Team

The Future of Gaming with Promptopia

As tech giants explore AI applications, Promptopia sets a new benchmark by integrating these capabilities into gameplay. By utilizing the "Altered State" Generative 3D model developed by Futureverse, along with the music AI platform JEN, players can create real-time, game-ready assets, environments, and soundtracks simply through text prompts. This democratizes the process of game creation, allowing individuals of varying technical backgrounds to become creators.

Readyverse Studios is a next-generation technology and experience studio founded by Aaron McDonald, Shara Senderoff, Ernest Cline, and film producer Dan Farah. The development of Promptopia has been a multi-year endeavor, focusing on creating AI models that encourage creativity while ensuring user safety. McDonald noted that the game structure, which underpins Promptopia, has drawn from popular gameplay elements, including first-person shooter and capture-the-flag mechanics.

Readyverse Explained

Final Thoughts

Looking ahead, McDonald mentioned that players would soon be able to wishlist the Readyverse experience, with closed testing expected later this year and open testing likely in 2025. The Readyverse environment will incorporate elements created by the company, players, and third-party developers, all built upon open metaverse technology supported by a team of over 200 experts.

In summary, Readyverse's Promptopia represents a significant advancement in the integration of generative AI within gaming. By providing players with the tools to create and engage in dynamic digital worlds, Readyverse aims to redefine the gaming experience, fostering creativity and collaboration in an immersive environment.

Source: GamesBeat