HIKKY Reached Its 5th Anniversary! This Year Various New Steps Will Be Announced!

19 April 2023

HIKKY reached its 5th anniversary since its incorporation.

Our exhibition event in the virtual space, the Virtual Market, is going to reach its 10th round this summer.

With the vision of developing and enriching the virtual space, HIKKY has engaged in various new endeavors and challenges for the past 5 years.

For example, the Virtual Market started with 80 exhibitors 5 years ago, and since then expanded to become a large-scale event with more than 1,000 exhibitors, more than a million visitors from around the world, and numerous collaborations with various companies and IPs.

Still, HIKKY has a long way to reach our true destination; our dream since its inception has been to “live in the virtual world”.

While the virtual world may have become richer than 5 years ago, they are far from taking it for granted. There is no guarantee that what it is in the virtual world can persist for many years.

HIKKY believes they cannot slow down until life in the virtual world becomes an indispensable, crucial experience for many people.

Development of the Open Metaverse Until Now

HIKKY has previously stated, upon our 6.5 Billion Yen fund-raising round in November, 2021, that the primary objective of the funding is to develop an open metaverse centered around the Vket Cloud.

Virtual Reality Startup HIKKY Raises 6.5 Billion Yen In Series A Funding Round

Funding will go towards developing the open metaverse and international business expansion

HIKKY has defined the open metaverse as follows:

An open metaverse where anyone can create and access freely.

It is Vket Cloud that is of core importance for achieving this vision.

What is Vket Cloud?

Vket Cloud is HIKKY’s proprietary metaverse development engine. People can develop their own metaverse worlds that are accessible from smartphones and other devices without downloading an app.

HIKKY has developed most of these functionalities as envisioned at the time of the initial announcement.

HIKKY Calls for Beta Testers of Vket Cloud, a Metaverse Engine

HIKKY calls for Beta Testers of Vket Cloud, a metaverse engine.We are requesting testers to create an environment using the model data from Vket Cloud.

In August 2022, Vket Cloud SDK was released.

Metaverse Development Engine “Vket Cloud” Roadmap Announced

Scheduled to be provided free to local governments and schools〜The second round of recruitment for beta testers started from August 26th!〜

In December 2022, HIKKY has released the beta version of My Vket, a new virtual world service using Vket Cloud.

５億通り以上のアバター作成が可能！誰でも簡単にアバターやバーチャルルームを持てる、新メタバースサービス「My Vket」β版をリリース。｜株式会社HIKKYのプレスリリース

株式会社HIKKYのプレスリリース（2022年12月13日 12時15分）５億通り以上のアバター作成が可能！誰でも簡単にアバターやバーチャルルームを持てる、新メタバースサービス[My Vket]β版をリリース。

Structured around the Vket Cloud engine, My Vket is a nascent web service with avatar generator usable in other platforms and room generator, requiring no app download.

By providing easy access to the virtual world for everyone, My Vket aims to broaden the entrance to the metaverse.

/／
✨✨ "My Vket" beta version released 🤩🎉
\＼

It is a service that allows you to easily create 3D avatars and virtual rooms.🌟

Runs on smartphones and web browsers

Additional functions are scheduled to appear one after another❗https://t.co/vulUZQiMQG #MyVket https://t.co/nfloChSMR9
— Vket Cloud & My Vket｜メタバース制作 metaverse engine (@VketCloud) December 14, 2022

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Furthermore, the usage of Vket Cloud is not limited to HIKKY but to various corporations for developing their own virtual spaces.

Examples include the Virtual AKIBA World of the JR East.

Virtual AKIBA World | バーチャルアキバワールド

世界初の「メタバース・ステーション」として、山手線31番目の駅として登場した「Virtual AKIBA World（バーチャルアキバワールド）」リアルの秋葉原駅や、駅周辺エリアを再現したオリジナルのメタバース空間が広がり、リアルの駅ではありえないような、バーチャル空間ならではの、魅力的なコンテンツが賑わいます。もちろん駅に入ったり、駅から電車に乗ったり、そんなリアルの駅と連携した新しい体験も続々とはじまっていきます。一人で自由きままに体験しても、友人と一緒に楽しさを共有しても。「Virtual AKIBA World（バーチャルアキバワールド）」ならではの、楽しい体験や出会いがここにはあります。ぜひ新たな体験の場、出会いの場へ飛び込んでみてください。そして、「Virtual AKIBA World（バーチャルアキバワールド）」は、「リアルとバーチャルの融合」にむけて、更に様々な進化を続けていきます。ユーザー同士の交流の深度化や、コンテンツ・イベントの活性化などを図り、新たなユーザー体験の実現と共に、ビジネスの発信地、コンテンツの集積地、新たなメディアの場として発展させていきます。「Virtual AKIBA World（バーチャルアキバワールド）」だからこそ実現できる、新しい日常を創造していきます。

Or XR World of NTT QONOQ.

HIKKY、NTTドコモのマルチデバイス型メタバース「XR World」へ企画・制作・開発パートナーとして参画｜株式会社HIKKYのプレスリリース

株式会社HIKKYのプレスリリース（2022年3月31日 10時00分）HIKKY、NTTドコモのマルチデバイス型メタバース[XR World]へ企画・制作・開発パートナーとして参画

As seen above, the metaverse development engine Vket Cloud let everyone have their own unique virtual spaces, leading to an ecosystem of various virtual worlds openly developed, like My Vket.

Vket Cloud is progressing right now, developing various new functions. The recently announced large-scale simultaneous connection and dynamic loading systems are also instrumental to realizing the open metaverse, achieving a large-scale multi-player experience and communication.

Hey look! ! ! ! ! !#VketCloud tested a large number of simultaneous connections! !
It's under development, but the number of people who can enter has increased since last summer!!

And…how many! ? ! ?
I bet you can't count!!!🧍🧍🧍🧍🧍pic.twitter.com/kjweVKQN0S
— Vket Cloud & My Vket｜メタバース制作 metaverse engine (@VketCloud) March 15, 2023

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The objects are loaded and unloaded according to the movement of Vket-chan.

This is a demonstration of developed version.pic.twitter.com/TwtIn4KItC
— Vket Cloud & My Vket｜メタバース制作 metaverse engine (@VketCloud) March 16, 2023

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What HIKKY is aiming for is an open world where everyone has a metaverse space, where people can come and go freely, and where content can be developed freely.

The "open metaverse" eliminates the boundaries between the Web and the metaverse, allowing spaces seamlessly connected by a network to spread out as if they were one giant world.

VketCloud, which has been developing to make this available and accessible to everyone.

On April 20, 2023, Vket Cloud will be officially released!

A development engine that can deploy metaverse services in a browser VKET CLOUD April 20, 2023 Official release!!

What you can do with Vket Cloud after the release

< Free usage >

Vket Cloud will continue to be free for anyone to use.

Of course, just because it's free doesn't limit its creative capabilities. You can create mini-games using beautiful particles, gimmicks, and C#-like original scripts.

You will also be able to create multiple worlds. Use your imagination to create your own original web metaverse.

< Commercial use is permitted >

You can post and share a link via social media to the created world, place your own 3D model, and guide it to an external sales site.

If you are a company, you can place images and materials in the same way as your company's website, you can use your own microphone to converse with others while showing them to visitors in the metaverse.

< Collaboration with ChatGPT!! >

Experimental function to link with ChatGPT will be introduced, a hot topic right now! In the worlds created with Vket Cloud, you will be able to set up AI characters that can communicate via text chat using ChatGPT.

For example, in the near future, by incorporating AI, HIKKY will be freed from the trouble of thinking and collecting information. You can have an AI assistant specialized in fashion and events in the virtual space assist you with things like “What kind of event should I go to today?'' and “What kind of avatar should I go with?''

It may be possible to open a shop with an AI character as a cast. What kind of experience would you have at a store where AI serves customers? (It may be “entertainment”)

Alternatively, AI may live in the metaverse space for you. "You" will continue to be effectively present even while you are not there... What will happen while you are away?

In addition, you may be able to have NPCs automatically generated by AI that have learned your interests and point of view. HIKKY hopes to be able to add even more depth to the world production.

HIKKY plans to implement an AI that learns according to the instructions of the world creator and a speech system. Please stay tuned for future updates regarding these features.

< You can have an original website dedicated to the creator >

If you create a world with Vket Cloud, you can create a website that publishes your worlds. Just like blogs and personal websites in the past, the website that lists your worlds can serve as an advertisement for your portfolio and activities, and can be spread simply by sharing the URL.

< Link with My Vket, with a world list >

My Vket "World List" *screen under development

Worlds created with Vket Cloud are also listed in My Vket. Users of My Vket may drop by your world from places other than the original website.

The thrill of creating random encounters is the real fun of the metaverse. HIKKY hopes more people could enjoy it.

. . . .

In the virtual worlds, various creators and eventers are active, new creatives are born every day, and the economy continues to grow.

However, in the face of the new technology known as the metaverse, there may be people who are interested in but are worried about taking on the challenge due to a lack of specialized knowledge or familiarity with the culture. For those individuals, Vket Cloud is worthy to try.

HIKKY hopes that everyone will be able to demonstrate their creativity on Vket Cloud, invite more and more creators, and increase the value of creators.

Furthermore, HIKKY will accomplish...

We will create a "metaverse town" that anyone can easily visit at any time.

"Metaverse City" where all kinds of people gather, accessible from any device, such as smartphones, just by clicking on a URL.

Events are held within the metaverse every week, shops where you can buy 3D products and real products with AI as clerks, nomad offices in the metaverse where anyone can go to work, and you can have a pet that will be your companion in the metaverse...

HIKKY will create a new form of town where you can "play", "interact", "shop", "work" and "live" in the metaverse.

Advertisements will naturally be placed in this city if economic activity is born. But a mere advertisement is not fun.

HIKKY would like to create new and interesting experiences by redefining advertisements themselves as new content and objects that color the city by touching, conversing, and not just simple conventional advertising.

In fact, HIKKY has already shown you a little bit of those cities. Did you notice? those are--

Technokind - "Tetherford"

Imanesia - "City of Magica"

Vket2023 Summer browser venue have The Technokinds and Imaginesia. This year's web browser venue will be hosted in this "metaverse city".

Originally, these two cities were planned as metaverse towns, and development was steadily progressing. At this year's web browser venue, these cities will be the stage for your exhibited works.

A festival is coming to the city of virtual space, and the works of various creators are lined up.

Aren't you excited?

These cities are scheduled to be released sequentially prior to the opening of Vket2023 Summer. Please look forward to what kind of experience awaits you.

Creating more jobs in the virtual world

As the number of visitors to the metaverse increases, the economic sphere of the virtual space will further develop.

Among them, the ability, skills, and experience of "doing/being able to do something in a virtual space" may be much more valuable than we imagine as we live in a virtual space right now.

In the same way when smartphones became popular in the past, the profession of making apps was born, and in the same way that YouTube became popular and people who did something with videos became professions, everyone will be able to spend time in virtual spaces. When that happens, countless “occupations that do ◯◯ in the virtual space” will be created, and you will be able to live in the metaverse.

In order to realize such a future, HIKKY launched the skill market "VATAR" specialized in virtual space.

VATAR will focus on "avatar modification" as the first step. However, in the future, HIKKY would like many creators, eventers, and performers in other fields that have not yet found their calling and try to become "professional" in their own way through the metaverse HIKKY is creating.

HIKKY is currently in the trial and error phase. And will continue to add more options to live in the metaverse as HIKKY progresses.

HIKKY will implement all of these within fiscal 2023

HIKKY will implement these within FY2023 and further spread the foundation of the open metaverse while also making the metaverse accessible to everyone.

The Internet used to be an advanced digital network that only a limited number of people could use. However, now everyone has a smartphone, and it has become possible to pick up information on the Internet at any time, send it on SNS, and even create apps. HIKKY implements the same flow in the metaverse.

HIKKY will continue to stick to the quality of the metaverse, and promise that the experience of long-time users will be even more enjoyable. This is because we have been working on the virtual field for the past five years, and it is also our own commitment.

HIKKY will also accelerate collaboration with content and IP that exist in the real world, and create a richer world that fuses the real world with the metaverse. This is because we want the real and virtual worlds to be equally interesting.

HIKKY believes that this is possible only because HIKKY is able to work together with those who are familiar with the culture of the virtual world, and members who are well-rehearsed in business within the real world.

Above all, HIKKY hopes you get excited along with our ideology that you play an important role as a member of the metaverse who creates worlds with us

Five years ago today, HIKKY had the same thoughts and ideas as you, HIKKY started running with these ideas and still is. Yes, your starting point is exactly the same as ours. Thoughts and ideas are important. Your start can begin on April 20th. Would you like to join us on creating a new starting line together? We hope to see you there!

Officer comment

CVO Phio the Moving Castle

Five years have already passed since I decided in 2018 to live my life in the virtual space wearing an avatar. I started as a NEET and was blessed with the current of the times and my friends, and I am still able to continue. Compared to the early days of the virtual world, I feel that today it is easier to live in a virtual world. HIKKY's strength is that we ourselves are the end users who live in the virtual space. We communicate what's happening in the virtual world in words and expressions to those who aren't quite there yet so they may not understand. When I used to plan events while playing VRChat I would often exclaim; "I'm going to live here!". It is similar to the relationship of President Funakoshi who put Vket on the commercial track. Dig deeper into the culture and life of the virtual space, invent it, and improve its quality. At the same time, we will convey the possibilities and potential of virtual space to those who do not understand or know of it yet. Deepening vertically and spreading horizontally. Just deepening it won't keep it going, and just spreading it blindly won't protect its own culture. This is an important point of view as we aim to realize a richer virtual world. Deepen vertically and spread horizontally. Just deepening won't keep it going, and just spreading blindly won't protect its own culture. This is an important point of view as we aim to realize a richer virtual world. I would like to create a future where people will feel more conjoined today than five years ago, more next year than last year, and more tomorrow than yesterday.

CEO Yasushi Funakoshi

The culmination of things that have fascinated my life is the virtual, and HIKKY. We meet, interact, work, and live in a virtual world that appears in anime and fantasy movies, but is also part of our daily lives. It's kind of like a dream. When I met everyone who was living in the virtual world, I felt that the conventional wisdom was overturned. In that moment, I was convinced that all the scenes of just gathering and having fun can lead to innovation. It is still fresh in our minds that if we add a little business perspective to it, it will become an example that has a social impact unlike any other, and that it has also become economically valuable. The virtual metaverse has spread to the world in an instant, but what will happen in the future? What HIKKY is aiming for is not the development of the latest technology itself, but the establishment of a style that makes full use of everything that exists, and if it is not available, creates it on its own and continues to realize its purpose. In recent years, AI and ChatGPT have appeared and are causing a great deal of turmoil, but employees are already using them on a daily basis and incorporating them into our services. While watching the process of unknown creations coming out into the world, I remember that time five years ago, and I can't help but feel excited. Personally, I would like to continue working hard, taking the reward of being able to touch the process of creating something by people's ingenuity and the "brilliance" of the moment of completion. I would like to continue creating together with like-minded people, transcending the borders of companies and organizations!