The Open Metaverse Alliance (OMA3) is a consortium of leading companies in the metaverse that has announced the Inter-World Portaling System (IWPS) project. The IWPS aims to solve issues in traversing the metaverse by creating standards and infrastructure that will pave the way for user-controlled and user-owned virtual worlds.
According to OMA3, the Portaling and Mapping Working Group (PMWG) is currently their most dynamic group. This group believes that portals have the potential to completely reshape our interactions with the metaverse, making it more immersive, accessible, and engaging. Portals could also open up new opportunities for software developers to monetize their creations. However, there are hurdles to overcome, such as complexity and interoperability.
OMA3 states that metaverse portals are poised to become the next major technological advancement in a line of transformative innovations. Like railroads and highways unified physical locations and HTTP connected digital databases, portals have the potential to create links between diverse metaverse environments. These digital gateways could allow users to transition between various metaverse platforms, improving accessibility and user engagement.
The proposed IWPS by OMA3 aims to navigate the complex landscapes of the metaverse. It goes beyond ordinary teleportation methods and is designed to facilitate inter-world travel. Users would be able to move among various metaverse platforms, creating an interconnected network that includes platforms like Alien Worlds, My Neighbor Alice, and The Sandbox.
The goals of OMA3’s portal system are to enhance user experience within the metaverse by making it intuitive, cross-platform, flexible, and performant. The system aims to streamline user interactions, making processes like sign-ons, platform launches, and user setups easy. As metaverse platforms are built on different technology stacks, a universal portal system must support all possibilities.
OMA3 also recognizes the importance of flexibility in supporting different levels of Web3 adoption and respecting each platform’s uniqueness without confusing users. Performance is another crucial factor, with metrics like throughput, latency, reliability, uptime, and resistance to DDoS attacks being key considerations. User privacy and widespread interoperability are also priorities.
This project is a collective effort of creators behind Web3 metaverse platforms, aiming to foster high levels of interoperability among virtual lands, digital assets, ideas, and services across various platforms while maintaining transparency for all involved communities. OMA3 has an open-door policy and welcomes all builders in the Web3 metaverse to join their efforts.
OMA3’s IWPS project sets the stage for an interactive and interconnected metaverse, unlocking the vast potential of Web3 and metaverse development. Their pioneering approach to the inter-world portal system has the potential to change how we explore and interact with the digital realms of the metaverse. The progress of this project is exciting to follow, as it has the potential to revolutionize the metaverse and shape the future of virtual worlds.