Neal Stephenson Partners with Wētā Workshop to Pioneer New Era of Digital Worldbuilding
Staff Writer • 2024-08-22
LOS ANGELES, — Lamina1, a platform and protocol built to incubate, distribute, and monetize the next era of digital content for creators, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Wētā Workshop, the world-renowned special effects and design company best known for their work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This collaboration, titled Artefact, is set to redefine the framework for intellectual property (IP) development and participatory worldbuilding, spearheaded by the acclaimed author and futurist Neal Stephenson. Artefact introduces an innovative blueprint for IP expansion through immersive experiences that incorporate fan engagement and input. This fall, Stephenson and the Wētā team will begin engaging a global community of creators and fans on the Lamina1 platform. They will invite participants to unravel the lore behind a mysterious set of "Artefacts," building upon themes from Stephenson’s critically-acclaimed body of work. In a novel approach to fan engagement, superfans will evolve into creators, utilizing their discoveries to contribute directly to the expansion of this rich universe. With Neal Stephenson serving as both a co-founder of Lamina1 and the creative force behind the platform’s first major IP universe, the Wētā Workshop project will stand as the flagship initiative for Lamina1. It will be the inaugural showcase of a significant multimedia property launching on Lamina1's blockchain infrastructure. Since the project's inception in 2022 and the Mainnet launch in May 2024, Lamina1 has rapidly grown, onboarding 65,000 active users into a global community of makers and open metaverse enthusiasts. "This is more than just a new virtual world—it's a new way to build worlds. It’s a promising new way of looking at what we can offer to both creators and their communities," said Neal Stephenson, Co-Founder of Lamina1 and New York Times Best-Selling Author. "By collaborating with Wētā Workshop, we’re forging a new path in digital worldbuilding. Lamina1's commitment to a creator-driven economy and open metaverse provides a foundation that ensures long-term value and creative quality.” Stephenson and Lamina1 Co-Founder Rebecca Barkin bring a proven track record of innovation in immersive and digital media. Their collaboration with Wētā Workshop dates back to their work together at Magic Leap. This new partnership leverages blockchain technology to enable a pioneering approach to IP development and fan engagement. The collaboration is set to establish a new system for IP expansion through digital item drops, questing, co-creation, generative AI tooling, and experience/game development. “To collaborate with people who share our absolute passion for creativity and storytelling, and to make things that can inspire and connect, has long been at the heart of Wētā Workshop,” said Richard Taylor, CEO of Wētā Workshop. “What an opportunity to be able to do this alongside Neal Stephenson, a visionary with whom Wētā Workshop has built a long-standing relationship and friendship. We can’t wait to see what’s to come.” "We built the Lamina1 platform to realize the kind of creator-owned infrastructure that we’d like to build on ourselves, and our collaboration with Wētā & Neal provides first-class pressure testing of our feature set and capability,” said Rebecca Barkin, CEO and Co-Founder of Lamina1. “Together, we’ll not only showcase that outstanding creative quality can be delivered on decentralized networks, but we’ll mature an alternative, contemporary path to IP development and distribution that delivers agency and better economics to creators and their communities." For more information on Lamina1 and the Artefact project, visit lamina1.com. About Lamina1 Lamina1 is a platform and protocol for the next era of digital content, co-creation, and distribution. Founded by legendary author/futurist Neal Stephenson, crypto pioneer Peter Vessenes, and immersive entertainment executive Rebecca Barkin, Lamina1 provides the tools and infrastructure for builders and creators to make, share, and monetize multimedia content –– enabling fan participation in the storyworlds they love. About Wētā Workshop Wētā Workshop is a world-leading design and effects facility that has designed and produced some of the most celebrated film projects, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Avatar, and Blade Runner 2049. With a passion for storytelling and innovation, Wētā Workshop continues to push the boundaries of creativity and imagination in film, television, and interactive entertainment.
See More Posts
A look at how NFTS, Web 3, Gaming, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain are reshaping businesses across the globe.
@NFT Today Magazine
