State-owned public transit operator MTR Corp has jumped on the metaverse train with The Sandbox to offer virtual rail transit experiences.
MTR Corporation has partnered with The Sandbox to launch a virtual rail service that allows users to participate in experiential gaming activities. The state-owned public transportation and real estate development company announced Thursday that it is launching its Web3 journey to create new, immersive experiences in the virtual world.
MTR Corporation is starting its Web3 #Metaverse journey by partnering with The Sandbox!
The MTR Corporation will build a railway-focused virtual space to create unique, fun and immersive experiences through gamification.
Learn more 👇https://t.co/ovU6ZsGEhl
— The Sandbox (@TheSandboxGame) April 21, 2022
“The next station is: the sandbox!” wrote MTR in a statement announcing its entry into the metaverse craze. It will be the first global transport operator to join The Sandbox metaverse and aims to build a virtual space centered around the railroad to create unique, fun and immersive experiences.
The latest product announcement is part of MTR’s mission, dubbed “Go Smart Go Beyond,” which aims to embrace advanced technologies and innovative initiatives to keep cities moving in step with industry trends.
MTR has tapped into the buzzword called metaverse, which is an immersive 3D space with interactive virtual worlds, to bring its imaginative ideas to life. MTR has purchased a plot in The Sandbox metaverse, where it will be able to interact with its customers, especially the younger ones.
The company is building an immersive virtual station on the digital plot, which will mimic and gamify the physical railway environment, allowing its users to “enjoy an MTR journey on many levels that extend the imagination beyond taking a train ride.”
“There will be endless new possibilities, such as driving a train or even operating a train station and unlocking exciting adventures in this ever-evolving space,” the company wrote in a statement.
MTR is also planning to introduce a railway museum to showcase the moments when MTR intersects with Hong Kong’s communities and cultures.
Commenting on the company’s plans for Web3 and the metaverse, Dr. Jacob Kam, CEO of MTR Corporation, said:
“To pursue continuous improvement, we challenge our status quo and keep abreast of new technology trends. This foray into the metaverse allows us to venture into the virtual space to build a fun place to interact with our community while taking advantage of opportunities that would add to our real-world experience beyond the boundaries.”
Sebastien Borget, COO and co-founder of The Sandbox, emphasized the important role that public transportation will play in shaping the future of the real world and metaverse.
“I remember my first time in Hong Kong started with an MTR train ride and I’m looking forward to seeing MTR Corporation play this role in embarking people on the new opportunities that the metaverse offers and connecting them through digital interactions and creative expression that are built and owned by the community,” said Borget.