UE5 gaming metaverse NetVRk is now officially live in its first alpha release, open for everyone to enjoy while participating in 3 limited-time challenges packed with NFT prizes. Here’s everything you need to know about this early launch, its future phases, and the reward-packed events.
What’s Included in NetVRk’s First Alpha Release?
Launched on October 25th, the first alpha version of this $NETVR-powered platform lets you socialize with other players using text and voice chat, but also various emotes and dance moves. You can also form parties with other players if you don’t want to explore on your own.
Next to social features, you can spend your time having fun in various interactive maps and games. For this version, these include a Server Room Map, a Driving Track, a jumping game called Cube, and a more adventurous and challenging platformer called Aztec Jump. You can also explore Coolio’s Mansion, a luxurious place with unique experiences to enjoy by interacting with the NPC called Coolio.
NFT support is included as well, bringing exclusive NFT experiences for holders of Yachts, Roadsters, and Truck NFTs to enjoy. Yachts can be explored and boarded by NFT holders and their friends only, while driving the Roadster or Truck is only possible for NFT owners. Free to play players can navigate areas faster using the Buggy. Holders can link up to 3 wallets in order to experience in-game NFT utility and play with various custom avatars.
You can hop in for free by downloading the launcher from the official website, linked in the Twitter/X announcement. By playing now, you are taking part in this metaverse’s first alpha phase, where the goal is to improve the login system, find bugs, and stress test servers. This version is only playable on Windows PCs, and does not include VR support.
Future Alpha Phases
This release will be followed by 2 more alpha phases. The second alpha phase is planned for November 2024, in which the developers plan to introduce an in-game marketplace with seamless Unreal Engine wallet integration. This is also when the team will officially integrate Silk AI to allow players to experience “advanced AI interactions.” This AI will also have her own private apartment, where players can look forward to having a “rich single-player experience,” according to details revealed in the official release schedule. In a devlog from earlier this month, the studio shared their latest progress on developing the AI, mentioning upgraded visuals for a more polished look, significant improvements to her response times for faster interaction, and refined animations for smoother and more lifelike movements.
The third and possibly final alpha phase is scheduled for Q1 2025. In that phase, you can look forward to the alpha launch of the ecosystem’s own Creation Engine, a map-making tool that will allow players to use voxel terraforming features to create their world while switching to Builder Mode in order to create and edit 3D objects in real-time, so your friends can instantly see what you’re creating. Private Sessions are also set to be added, enabling players to build on their own personal plot and save their progress.
For more details on future plans, you can check out the new roadmap covering milestones all the way to Q2 2025.
Play to Earn NFTs in NetVRK’s 3 Alpha Challenges
There are 3 Alpha Challenges live right now until November 3rd, 11:59 PM PST. These include the following:
- Alpha Edit Challenge
- Best Gameplay Clip
- Best Picture Challenge
In the Alpha Edit Challenge, the goal is to record a creatively edited 30-60 second gameplay video. According to the tips given by the team, you’ll want to set up an engaging story and use editing tools to add music, transitions, and effects while maximizing your in-game graphics settings for the best visuals. It’s up to you what kind of video you want to make, “whether it’s an action-packed adventure, a beautiful montage, or a quirky moment in the metaverse,” so long as it’s among the most creative and graphically stunning entries, your editing skills could pay off with an NFT reward.
The top 4 submissions will be rewarded with differing NFT prizes:
- Yacht NFT
- Truck NFT
- Roadster NFT
- Motorbike NFT
For the Best Gameplay Clip Challenge, you don’t need any editing skills. The goal here is to submit unedited gameplay footage that is 4-30 seconds long. This means that you’ll want to send raw footage of exciting and engaging moments in the AI-powered NetVRk metaverse. These can include cool driving moments, beautiful scenic views, and even social interactions. The top 4 will win land of different sizes, with the best submission getting Large Land, while the 4th winner receives Standard Land, and 2nd and 3rd spots get Medium Land.
The Best Picture Challenge encourages players to take screenshots of amazing views and action-packed gameplay situations. You can get even more creative though, and submit a picture of a funny moment, an exciting event, and even group shots with your friends. A picture can speak a thousand words, so you’ll want your submission to convey some kind of story while focusing on lighting and composition, taking a memorable image from a cool angle and boosting your in-game settings to deliver a quality photo for submission. The 5 best images can win the following avatar NFTs:
- Adam & Eve Avatar
- Adam or Eve Avatar
- 2 Archetype Avatars
- 1 Archetype Avatar
- 1 Archetype Avatar
Submission instructions are the same for all 3 challenges: make a post on Twitter/X with your entry and the hashtag #NetVRkAlphaChallenge while including $NETVR in your post and tagging the metaverse’s official profile. You can send as many entries as you want, with judging based on quality and creativity, as well as on how good “the excitement and unique style of NetVRk” is shown through those submissions. Good luck!
