Scheduled to be provided free to local governments and schools
〜The second round of recruitment for beta testers started from August 26th!〜
HIKKY Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Yasushi Funakoshi, hereinafter referred to as HIKKY) announces the road map for their unique Metaverse development engine “Vket Cloud.” In the future, they plan to provide the engine to local governments and schools for free. In addition, HIKKY has started the second recruitment of beta testers from August 26th.
HIKKY has been experiencing a rapid growth in Virtual Spaces (also known as “Metaverse” products) through the four years of operating Virtual Market (Vket). By providing an environment where creators can develop their own Metaverses more freely, HIKKY believes various new forms of services will be born, bringing active growth to the market as a whole.Based on HIKKY’s vision of “building value of creativity by aiding creators,” they will be starting the free distribution of Vket Cloud SDK (a software development kit for creating virtual environments on home computers), as well as a second recruitment wave of beta testers.
Introduction to Vket Cloud
Vket Cloud is HIKKY’s independently developed Metaverse creation engine.
Metaverse created through Vket Cloud are accessible both from PC and smartphone with just a click of a URL, without a proprietary app.
The engine supports multiplayer connections across devices, along with voice and text communications with users in the same instances.
Vket Cloud Road Map
Since its establishment in 2018, HIKKY has operated the Virtual Market convention series, which has seen attendance from over 1 million people around the world. With its expertise in building corporate and business Metaverse, HIKKY has branched into businesses such as the development of Vket Cloud and consulting services that guide and support entry into the VR/AR field.
Interest towards the Metaverse has risen from both companies and individuals in recent years, but barriers to entry are still high in terms of cost and technology. In particular, HIKKY has received many inquiries from local governments and schools, and sees a strong need to engage with this emerging platform.
In order to make the Metaverse a sustainable industry, HIKKY believes that they can expand the possibilities by providing the engine to the general public through public institutions. In the fall of 2022, HIKKY plans to hold briefing sessions for local governments and schools to be able to provide the Vket Cloud platforms for free.
Vket Cloud continues to evolve as a Metaverse maker using the web to include functions such as collaborating with external services.
In the future, more functions targeting visitors to the Metaverse spaces, such as in-world payment systems and a goal of 10,000 simultaneous connections will be developed. As each function is added, selling unique items and holding limited time events will become frictionless.
HIKKY will continue to take on new challenges to make “open Metaverse that anyone can create and access freely” beyond the boundaries of platforms possible.
Second Recruitment of Beta Testers Starts
From August 26, 2022 (Friday), HIKKY starts the second recruitment of beta testers. Vket Cloud SDK will be distributed free of charge to those who apply. This will enable them to freely create their own Metaverse space.
In the first recruitment of beta testers held in May 2022, HIKKY received 175 applications within roughly one week. All the worlds that were created by the first beta testers and have passed the screening criteria are open to the public from the Vket Cloud web portal.
〇Vket Cloud HP：https://make.vketcloud.com/
Worlds created by beta testers
Added Avatar Upload Function
With this and subsequent Vket Cloud SDK releases, it is now possible to upload original avatars created in VRM format. Additionally, by using the Avatar Maker, you can easily create original avatars just by selecting facial parts and clothes.
Tester Application Guidelines
You will need an understanding of the following Unity concepts:
・Opening Unity scenes and placing objects
・Replacing texture images of materials
・Rough knowledge of what an FBX is
HIKKY also has tutorials and documents that show you how to create a world, so even beginners can participate. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to apply.
Schedule: August 26th (Friday) to the end of September
How to apply: Join Vket Cloud official Discord (https://discord.gg/cwvybpskmE).
Note:
- The schedule may be subject to change.
- The latest information will also be available on the official Twitter account.
Vket Cloud Official Twitter：https://twitter.com/VketCloud
About VR firm HIKKY
-Create a world where the value of creativity is widely recognized-
HIKKY Co., Ltd. is a VR firm that creates an open metaverse where anyone can create and access freely. With notable creators who lead the industry as our members, HIKKY provides VR services such as highly unique Metaverse solutions including Vket Cloud, plan and operate Metaverse events, and provide consulting services that support business entry into the VR/AR field. HIKKY aims to develop the living, economic, and cultural spheres of the virtual world and create a society where all creative people can live more freely and abundantly.
The world’s largest VR event, Virtual Market, hosted by HIKKY has acquired a Guinness World Record™ in 2021. In addition, HIKKY won first place in the marketing category of the “AIXR International VR AWARDS” and the highest award in Japan’s “XR CREATIVE AWARD 2020.”
CEO: Yasushi Funakoshi
Headquarters: 4F, Mitomi Building, 1-20-22 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013, Japan
Established: May 1, 2018
