Warner Bros. Discovery Teams Up With Futureverse And ‘Ready Player One’ Author Ernest Cline To Launch “The Readyverse” Metaverse
Ryan Pearson
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Ready Player One creator Ernest Cline has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the producers of the eponymously named live-action adaptation, and Futureverse in order to launch “The Readyverse” metaverse later this year.
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Via a press release, Futureverse — an AI and metaverse company focused on technologies and content — announced the launch of Readyverse Studios and introduced its respective co-founders Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, including Cline himself and 2018’s Ready Player One film producer Dan Farah.
The new studio’s launch also came with the announcement of their first product; “The Readyverse.” Based on the world of Ready Player One (which would also include the OASIS VR world), it promises to be “a dynamic interactive platform of interconnected digital experiences.”
Warner Bros. Discovery partnered with the studio to grant exclusive metavese and web3 rights of the franchise. Readyverse Studios also has “exclusive web3 rights to all future IPs from the legendary futurist, Ernest Cline.”
Those who remember the film may also remember the myriad of characters from various IP that made a cameo. At this time, Readyverse Studios would only state “Additional brands and franchises joining The Readyverse will be announced soon.”
Boasted as being “a first-of-its-kind studio,” Readyverse Studios aims to “bring the promise of the open metaverse depicted in Cline’s Ready Player One novel and the blockbuster film adaptation into a tangible reality; a multi-world, multi-IP, interoperable open metaverse experience for mass consumers.”
“No IP has shaped the global culture and conversation around the metaverse more than Ready Player One,” the statement elaborates.
Developed over five years via Futureverse’s “sophisticated technology stack,” Readyverse Studios aim to be pioneers in the metaverse market. Said market is also predicted to be worth $13 trillion by 2030, according to information provided by Citigroup.
The Readyverse also promises to uphold the open metaverse principles; “provable digital ownership, community-owned infrastructure, decentralization, security, and interoperability.” In short, the power will be in the hands of players — a prominent theme that ran throughout Ready Player One, with both players and IOI vying for control of OASIS.
Moderation of such user-controlled content was not discussed during the announcement.
The founders also shared their thoughts on the launch and future plans. Senderoff and McDonald jointly stated, “We could not be more excited to be sharing this unprecedented news with the world today. With Ernie, Dan and our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery – we have the unique opportunity to help bring the metaverse to life beginning with the IP that first showcased its potential.”
“This is just the beginning of our collaboration with both Hollywood and global brands as we set out to develop a path for beloved commercial IP to shape the future of online entertainment, gaming, and social experiences,” Senderoff and McDonald swore.
Farah added “Readyverse Studios will offer exciting new metaverse opportunities for Hollywood studios, talent, and brands to create new revenue streams and creative outlets for brand expansion while offering consumers the ability to enjoy the promise of the open metaverse.”
Warner Bros. Discovery SVP Franchise Development Josh Hackbarth also had high faith in the future of Ready Player One via this newly emerging medium. “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of technology, embracing its potential while continuously exploring new and exciting ways to integrate it within fan experiences across our brands and franchises.”
“Ready Player One has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring technology innovators, creators, and visionaries and we’re excited to be partnering with Readyverse Studios to introduce these unique characters, immersive environments and more, to the metaverse across web3,” Hackbarth beamed.
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It should be noted that while Ready Player One received high praise and awards after publication in 2011, the sequel- Ready Player Two, published in 2020, was met with brutal negative reception. Issues included an overload of geek and pop-culture references, prose that bordered on self-parody, and attempts at diversity feeling superficial to readers.
Nonetheless, Ready Player One author Cline marvels at what can be achieved with The Readyverse, declaring, “The future has arrived even more quickly than I imagined. With Readyverse Studios, we have the opportunity to leverage the revolutionary technology Futureverse has been building for several years to bring to life the best possible version of the metaverse.”
“I’m confident with this team, we have the brightest minds and biggest hearts in place to lead us into the next chapter of our collective future… a future that would make Wade Watts and James Halliday proud,” Cline wistfully hoped. The Readyverse is set to launch some time this year.
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