Apple won’t call its new Vision Pro spatial computing platform a VR headset. But it’s the Victoria VR that’s a VR headset, albeit one with the best augmented reality features released to date, and one that connects the dots between Mark Zuckerberg’s dream immersive metaverse and cryptocurrencies.
The upcoming game promises stunning graphics and immersive gameplay by leveraging the many features of Apple Vision Pro along with Web3 technology.
The game is described as “virtual reality’s first blockchain-based MMORPG with photorealistic graphics built on Unreal Engine and owned by the user.” And the developers want the game to be more than just a game, to fully embrace the concept of alternate realities.
And yes, it is. There is already a utility token with the same name. And externally, collectors appear optimistic.
The game’s token economics revolves around the Victoria VR token, which is the core of transactions, rewards, and user engagement within the platform. Its value grew from a modest $0.006 in September 2023, rising more than 106% between February 1 and 2, peaking at $0.046 before stabilizing at $0.04 as news of the upcoming app spread.
However, this surge pales in comparison to the peak that occurred between December 2021 and January 2022, when it reached a high of $0.6.
This means that OG Victoria VR token holders would need to see an upside of 1,400% to break even, a scenario that could go beyond mere optimistic expectations to pure belief.
Of course, Apple has had a difficult relationship with cryptocurrencies and the in-app economy, including banning token-gated content from other apps in order to maintain its massive App Store revenue.
Phillip Shoemaker, who played a key role in creating App Store guidelines with Steve Jobs, summarized Apple’s skepticism: decryption “Apple has had problems with cryptocurrency from day one.” This sentiment is reflected in Apple’s past actions, which have tended to ban or restrict cryptocurrency apps.
Given this situation, it remains to be seen whether Victoria VR will be able to launch as currently planned.
The Victoria VR model is described in a white paper that states the game is “designed from the ground up with a world that evolves and lives without its original creator, with citizens empowered to build and develop the world’s future themselves.”
Victoria VR has designed its in-app economy to reward active participation and contributions to the metaverse. Here, half of the revenue generated from in-game asset sales is redistributed to stakers and active Metaverse users. This approach encourages users to not only engage with the platform but also contribute to its growth and vitality.
Users can earn tokens by actively participating, moving towards a self-reliant economy where every action and interaction has the potential for reward.
Victoria VR is a powerful attempt to integrate Web3 and the metaverse using Apple’s Vision Pro. Could it open a new path towards the viability and mass adoption of cryptocurrencies? Or will it be relegated to the ranks of other cryptocurrency games that overpromise and underdeliver?
We’ll have better answers when the game releases this spring.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
