In General XR News
October 23, 2023 – Ready Player Me, an avatar platform for the metaverse that allows users to explore virtual worlds with one consistent identity, has recently announced that it is launching its ‘Premium Skins Catalog.’
The new Catalog provides developers with the opportunity to sell premium skins for Ready Player Me avatars from top brands and artists. Developers can list these items for sale in their own custom storefronts or utilize the Ready Player Me Avatar Creator to sell items directly to their player base.
“Ready Player Me aims to make it easy for every developer to add avatars to their games, just like big AAA studios can. And, these same game studios, who produce mega-hits like Fortnite and Roblox, earn billions of dollars a year by selling premium branded skins and other assets to their players,” said Ready Player Me CEO and co-founder Timmu Tõke. “Now, with the release of the Premium Skins Catalog, every Developer has the ability to sell skins featuring some of the biggest brands in the world with just a few clicks.”
Ready Player Me stated that its new Premium Skins Catalog is a critical step in allowing developers, regardless of size, to tap into the direct-to-avatar economy and in-game purchases market, which it noted is a multi-billion dollar industry.
According to the company, the Catalog will bring content from Warner Music Group (WMG), Universal Music Group’s (UMG) merchandise arm Bravado, Rovio’s Angry Birds, McLaren Racing, and ITV Studios’ “The Voice” (in collaboration with the Virtual Brand Group) to thousands of games and apps already integrated with the Ready Player Me platform.
“At Warner Music Group, we are committed to enabling our artists and songwriters to connect with their fans wherever they may be, and in the interactive formats they demand,” said Jillian Rothman, Vice President, New Business & Ventures, WMG. “Through this partnership with Ready Player Me, we’re empowering thousands of developers to offer fans a way to express their unique identities in digital spaces. The creative possibilities are endless, and we look forward to seeing what they build.”
Two of the first skins made available by UMG’s merchandise arm Bravado are by German metal band Electric Callboy and by STOKED, a UMG-owned HipHop lifestyle brand. “Many music fans are gamers and most gamers are music fans so it feels obvious to make official merchandise available digitally to allow users to express themselves and show off their fandom just like in the real word,” explained Philippe Koenig, Senior Director A&R, Operations and Strategy at Bravado Merchandize Germany. UMG Germany also recently launched its own interactive fan platform YOUniverse Berlin which utilizes Ready Player Me avatars.
Ready Player Me did not give an exact release date, but simply stated that Premium Skins Catalog will be “available soon.” For more information on Ready Player Me and its avatar platform, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Ready Player Me
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.