The Revolution in Coding: AI and Web-First Engines

Written by Mattias Johansson, Chief Innovation Officer at Hiber

Something extraordinary is happening in the world of coding, changing the way we create and pushing our tech to new limits. At the center of this transformation is the blend of artificial intelligence and web-first development, promising to redefine the very nature of digital creation.

The Rise of AI Coders

AI, once relegated to the role of assistant, has evolved into a formidable coder in its own right. Tools like Anthropic’s Claude are now performing at the level of junior developers, with a key advantage: it completes tasks at breakneck speeds. Every line of code, every bug fix, and every feature enhancement is executed in a fraction of the time it would take a human. This isn’t just a small step forward; it’s a leap.

Claude’s estimated IQ of 101 surpasses the average human benchmark, marking a pivotal moment in history. We may be witnessing the last moments where humanity remains the most intelligent entity on the planet. With each update, we come closer to a future where AI consistently outperforms us. This shift is probably just months away and it will impact industries in ways we’re only starting to imagine. The pace of this evolution is astonishing.

A figure stands amid a cityscape of neon skyscrapers

AI’s Expanding Influence in Creative Fields

In industries like gaming, where digital experiences hinge on interaction and immersion, AI is not only enhancing development, it’s drastically impacting the creative process. While procedural generation and advanced NPC behavior have been foundational in gaming for years, now, generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are blasting open the potential for far more customized gameplay experiences.

Today’s generative AI tools are having the greatest impact where they are able to collaborate and drive narrative changes based on player preferences. For example, AI-driven NPCs now engage players with more realistic and context-aware interactions, adapting to player choices in ways not previously achievable. Large language models (LLMs) further enhance this by working in real-time to create customized quests and plot twists, making each player’s experience unique.

Hiber’s Journey in AI-Driven Innovation

Hiber has been riding the AI wave with a focus on lowering the barriers to digital creation on the web. In 2023, we launched SkyScape, a tool which allows creators to turn images into 3D worlds and publish them directly to the web—bringing static visuals to life.

SkyScape AI from Hiber3D

Before SkyScape, we worked with Google Cloud’s Generative AI and PaLM 2 to release the World Creator. This tool enabled millions of HiberWorld users to build 3D worlds simply by typing natural language commands, making real-time 3D world creation accessible to everyone.

The World Creator from Hiber3D

The “Computer Use” Leap

And as we explored these advancements of our own, the potential of AI continued to evolve at lightning speed. Anthropic’s recent unveiling of the “Computer Use” feature for Claude 3.5 Sonnet marks a huge leap forward. This capability allows AI to navigate a computer much like a human—moving cursors, clicking buttons, and completing complex tasks. By using computer vision to understand desktop environments, AI can now operate digital environments more intuitively.

Web-First Engines: A Unique Opportunity for AI

Think about what this means for web-based engines like Hiber3D, which run straight from a browser. Their web-first nature presents a unique opportunity for AI-driven creation by eliminating traditional barriers i.e. the need for installations or app stores. This means that, within the context of “Computer Use” an AI could potentially manage a browser-based engine autonomously.

Pair this with Hiber3D’s instant publishing, and you get a situation where AI could design, refine, and share immersive worlds all on its own, creating a loop of instant creation and feedback.

Key Advantages of a web-first 3D engine for AI Creation:

Browser-based operation eliminating setup barriers
Instant publishing for real-time testing and feedback
Scalable, cloud-based architecture for complex designs

The Future of AI-Driven Creativity

We are standing on the precipice of a new era in digital creation. With web-first engines like Hiber3D, AI will have a powerful entry point for creating 3D worlds and experiences that the human brain cannot even fathom. The potential is both exhilarating and thought provoking.

This is the future for AI: a partner in creativity, a builder of worlds and a collaborator in experiences. It’s mind-boggling to think of how quickly we’ve reached this point.

The revolution is here, and it’s just beginning.

Let’s see where it takes us, and if we want to go.

Hit Squad Demo: Rethinking Game Development for the Web

Web-Centric Design for Scalable Games and Faster Iteration

PLAY HIT SQUAD IN YOUR BROWSER NOW

TL;DR

Hit Squad, a single level demo, highlights the advantages of utilizing the web for efficient game development. By building the UI entirely on the web layer and combining an event-driven architecture, and a modular approach, the Hiber team were able to maximize their efficiency. This structure enabled faster development, future-proofing with WebGPU, and a scalable, adaptable design perfect for web-integrated game environments.

The Challenge

With Hit Squad we wanted to rethink traditional game development structures when working with a game engine built for the web. The challenge with this vertical slice was to demonstrate the potential of leveraging a web-based metagame combined with the Hiber3D engine to achieve flexibility, speed, and scalability in game development.

The Goal

Develop a scalable, browser-based game demo by shifting key elements—such as UI, characters, and progression—to the web layer, allowing for increased development efficiency.

The Team

4 Web Developers, 1 Gameplay Developer, and 1 Artist.

The Process: Core Features and Innovations

1. Web-Controlled Game Elements

For Hit Squad, we separated data handling from the Hiber3D engine, enabling a web layer to manage player interactions and events in real time. The game loop operates within the engine, while an event-driven architecture facilitates communication between the game and the web.
The event bus, within the Hiber3D engine, supports custom event definitions. Through this, the gameplay code can flag specific events to be communicated to and from the web layer. This setup allows, for instance, a web UI button to trigger an ActionButtonPressedEvent directly in the game.
To bridge the gap between C++ in the engine and JS/TS on the web, we use the Embind library. This facilitates conversions, allowing quick updates and flexible event management without needing modifications to the engine itself.

Coding the built in event system for web <-> engine communication:

1. Marking events so they are available in the web layer

// This event can be triggered from JS
struct H3D_INTEROP_RECEIVE_FROM_JS StartGameButtonPressedEvent {};

// This event can be listened to in JS
struct H3D_INTEROP_SEND_TO_JS GameStartedEvent { 
  float level; 
};

2. Launching the engine, setting up an event listener, and triggering an event:

import launch from "@hiber3d/interop"; 

const api = await launch({ 
  canvas: document.getElementById("#canvas") 
});

// payload is fully typed if using TypeScript
api.onGameStartedEvent((payload) => { 	
  console.log("game was started with level", payload.level); 
});

api.writeStartGameButtonPressedEvent();

2. Enhanced UI with Rive

We implemented Rive for dynamic UI elements like buttons and other game UI elements, such as a victory animation. These were designed using the Rive editor and integrated into the web layer. This allowed our artist to focus on making the UI elements look and feel as great as possible, without the need for input from the development team.
Putting the UI in the web layer also meant that we could release/update specific UI pieces without triggering an engine update/content update.

3. Synced Animations

We built a timeline module which was responsible for playing character animations and triggering events on certain keyframes. This allowed us to sync multiple character animations and UI changes together. For example, when attacking another character, we play an attack animation on that character, then a hit animation on the target character along with the UI in the web layer showing the damage value.
This timeline can easily be extended to modify more things like character positions, camera movements etc. The data structure makes it suitable for being stored externally, like a database. This in turn makes it possible to create entirely separate animations based on which character and action the player performs.

4. Gameplay Mechanics

Players select from three actions—damage, deflect, or heal—in a turn-based format that emphasizes character progression by unlocking new characters and missions.
The web layer initializes the game and manages UI elements, synchronizing game states such as character health and available actions. It listens for updates from the game engine to ensure the UI reflects the current game status and sends player actions back to the game via events (e.g., LoadScenarioEvent, SelectTargetEvent, ActionButtonPressedEvent). This layer also controls character stats and available actions, allowing smooth player interaction without requiring engine modifications for each update.
Meanwhile, the game engine handles core gameplay mechanics, including turn order, health status, and target selection, and independently runs the simulation after initialization. It also manages the rendering of 3D models, like the background world and characters, while the web layer renders the UI, creating a cohesive visual and interactive experience.

6. Development Approach

We built the vertical slice by breaking down gameplay into modules and events. This modular approach allowed us to split in two teams to simultaneously work on game mechanics and web interactions, increasing efficiency. It also enabled both teams to showcase their creativity within their particular areas of expertise.
We rapidly iterated on Hit Squad, building and testing locally, then pushing the demo live to the web, allowing us to bypass blockers such as extensive compliance checks.
UI elements, aside from those created with the Rive editor, were built with React on top of Javascript on the web layer, enabling easy updates and design changes without engine modifications.

Hit Squad Gameplay in the Browser

Outcomes

1. Adaptable, Scalable and Future Proofed

Web-Driven Scalability: Because the Hiber3D engine is built for the web it easily supports dynamic, web-centric projects like this, enabling scalable updates and expansions that align with the evolving needs of web-based game development.
Adaptable Design: The decision to build the UI entirely in the web layer made it possible for the team to iterate quickly on all the things around the core game loop: add more characters and tweak their stats, add more levels and iterate on the UI look and feel. *Creating the UI in the web layer can have its downsides, most notably when it comes to performance, but for a game like this it worked really well. For other projects we might decide to build the UI as part of the game engine instead.
Future Proofed: We targeted WebGPU to enable next gen graphic capabilities for the web.

2. Increased Efficiency and Faster Iterations

Development Time Reduction: By managing UI and event-driven gameplay on the web layer, the project reduced development time significantly.
Rapid Update Cycles: Utilizing web-based control enabled continuous integration, allowing for incremental improvements and frequent releases without disrupting the player experience and without the need for QA rounds for each release. This approach shortened feedback loops, accelerating iteration speed and enabling updates to be deployed much faster than traditionally.
Enhanced Team Efficiency: The team was able to work in parallel, maximizing productivity and allowing the game and web development teams to contribute independently. This modular approach not only increased efficiency but also supported rapid testing and refinement of features in real-time.

3. Flexible Development for Diverse Teams

Tailored Approach: The project was designed around the strengths of a team split between web and game developers, leveraging the web layer heavily to maximize the web development talent on the team. The Hiber3D engine’s flexibility allows teams to choose whether the web layer or engine should take precedence, adapting to each project’s needs.

Conclusion

The Hiber3D engine offers flexibility, with the possibility of adapting to the specific needs of each project. By integrating Hiber3D with a web-based metagame, Hit Squad showcases the efficiency of leveraging the web for UI and the engine for gameplay. This approach allows for faster iteration, simplified updates, and scalable content expansion—all managed through a responsive web layer.

Hit Squad highlights the Hiber3D engine’s potential to serve the foundation for dynamic, web-integrated game environments, ideal for projects that prioritize adaptability, speed, creativity and scalability.

PLAY HIT SQUAD IN YOUR BROWSER NOW

5 Reasons Why Publishers Will Benefit from Native Web Integration

Maximize revenue, reduce costs and future-proof your releases: why utilizing the web-based metagame will boost your bottom line.

Success in today’s gaming industry requires more than just great games – publishers need innovations that give them an edge. Native web integration does exactly that, blending core gameplay with web technologies to unlock the full potential of the metagame i.e. the web ecosystem surrounding the game.

By utilizing the web-based metagame, publishers can go direct-to-consumer, drive engagement, and streamline development costs, positioning themselves for success in an increasingly crowded industry.

Here are five key reasons why native web integration is the future:

1. Maximize Revenue

Native web integration allows microtransactions and in-game purchases to be handled within the web-based metagame, reducing dependency on the engine. It allows for cosmetic purchases and participation in special events, even outside of regular gameplay, boosting engagement on the go.

This paves the way for more frequent and diverse monetization opportunities beyond core gameplay, resulting in a richer, multifaceted player experience and driving greater revenue potential without interrupting the flow of the game.

In a world where games compete with giants like Netflix, TikTok—and even sleep— this persistent connection to the game ecosystem can significantly boost player loyalty and lifetime value.

2. Reduce Development Costs

Leveraging the web-based metagame allows for quicker updates and easier maintenance, lowering costs for publishers. By updating the surrounding web elements independently of the core game, publishers can streamline development processes and allocate resources more effectively.

At HiberWorld, the UGC platform powered by the Hiber3D engine, we housed progression and monetization entirely on the web, allowing for rapid content updates without extensive client-side changes. This approach reduces the need for costly, large-scale updates to the game itself.

3. Streamlined Updates

Web integration bypasses app store delays, allowing publishers to roll out changes and new content quickly. Whether used alongside app stores or as a fully web-based experience, this agility is crucial for keeping players engaged.

Publishers can respond to feedback, launch time-sensitive events, and continuously improve the game experience without the delays typically associated with traditional update processes. This adaptability keeps the experience fresh and players invested.

4. Cross-Platform Compatibility

Web integration ensures a consistent experience across devices, broadening player reach without extensive additional development. This capability enables publishers to engage a wider audience and adapt to varied player preferences across platforms. Players can transition between mobile, desktop, and even console versions of the game, maintaining their progress and enjoying a unified experience regardless of the device they choose to play on.

5. Improved Data Control

A direct-to-consumer model through the web-based metagame gives publishers better insights and control over player data and allows for customized marketing strategies. By analyzing player behavior within the web layer, publishers can create targeted promotions, offer personalized content, and optimize monetization strategies.

This deeper insight allows for more targeted promotions, personalized content, and informed decision-making when it comes to game development and monetization strategies.

Our Perspective:

Since 2017, Hiber has been invested in native web integration while developing HiberWorld, a UGC platform. Today, HiberWorld supports over 6.5 million web games and 1.2 million creators, fostering a global community deeply engaged through web-based metagame and meta-progression systems.

The future of gaming lies in building ecosystems that extend beyond the core game, and native web integration is the key to unlocking this potential. Publishers who adopt this approach will not only boost revenue and cut costs but also future-proof their games against evolving market trends.

As players increasingly expect frictionless, cross-platform experiences with constant updates and engaging content, native web integration – combined with the latest innovations in web technology like WebGPU – offers publishers the opportunity to redefine how they meet these demands while boosting their bottom lines.

Contact us to learn how the Hiber3D engine can unlock new opportunities for your next project.

WebGPU: Redefining Web Gaming

In the ever-changing world of game development, the next big leap is happening right in your browser. WebGPU, a next-generation web graphics API, is redefining what’s possible on the web by eliminating long downloads and breaking down platform barriers.

What is WebGPU and Why Does it Matter?

To understand it, we need to look back to WebGL, which revolutionized web graphics when it launched in 2011, bringing GPU-accelerated rendering to the browser through its JavaScript-based adaptation of the OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics library. By enabling web pages to offload rendering tasks directly to the device’s GPU, WebGL allowed for rapid processing and seamless graphics rendering within a <canvas> element.

As the successor to WebGL, WebGPU builds upon WebGL’s foundation to become a new web standard. It offers enhanced compatibility with modern GPUs, supports general-purpose GPU computing, accelerates operations, and unlocks more advanced GPU features. These improvements translate into superior rendering capabilities and significantly better performance, allowing browser-based games to look more impressive and run smoother than ever before, finally rivaling their desktop counterparts.

But the impact of WebGPU goes beyond just these technical advancements. Let’s explore how it is set to transform web game development:

1. Enhanced Graphics and Performance

With WebGPU, developers can tap into advanced GPU features that were previously difficult or impossible to access in a web environment. This translates to more realistic lighting, complex particle systems, and overall richer visual experiences. Moreover, the lower overhead and more efficient GPU utilization lead to smoother gameplay, even on less powerful devices.

2. True Cross-Platform Development

One of the most exciting aspects of WebGPU is its “write once, run anywhere” capability. Developers can create a single codebase that works across multiple platforms, significantly reducing development time and costs. This also simplifies deployment and maintenance, as updates can be instantly rolled out to all users regardless of their device or operating system.

3. Advanced Physics

WebGPU allows for GPU-accelerated physics simulations, enabling more realistic in-game physics and the ability to handle large-scale effects like explosions and weather systems.

4. Immersive Experiences

With WebGPU’s improved rendering capabilities, developers can create larger, more detailed game worlds. This, combined with advanced lighting and materials, leads to more immersive gaming experiences that rival those of traditional desktop games.

5. Enhanced Real-time Multiplayer

The efficient GPU utilization enabled by WebGPU supports increased player counts in multiplayer games. Additionally, the overall reduction in latency makes for smoother, more responsive multiplayer experiences.

6. Innovative Gameplay Mechanics

WebGPU paves the way for new types of gameplay mechanics that leverage GPU power. This includes things like dynamic terrain deformation and complex, GPU-driven AI behaviors. Perhaps most excitingly, it makes browser-based VR and AR experiences more feasible.

Hiber3D: Harnessing the Power of WebGPU

At Hiber3D, we’ve fully embraced WebGPU, integrating it with our engine to ensure our partners can deliver the best possible gaming experiences across all devices and browsers. Our engine combines WebGPU together with our Hiber3D Development Kit, providing a powerful toolkit for developing high-performance, scalable, and efficient games.

The Future of Gaming

Thanks to WebGPU, it finally makes sense to move from mobile apps to the browsers. As WebGPU matures and becomes more widely adopted, we can expect to see a new generation of browser-based games that rival their desktop counterparts in terms of graphics, performance, and gameplay depth. And perhaps even more exciting is the fact that the ability to play high-quality games directly in a browser, without the need for downloads or installations, will greatly extend reach to emerging markets.

Why the Web is the Future of Gaming

3 Reasons the Web is Shaping Gaming’s Future—and Why the Hiber3D Engine is Ready to Power that Change.

Browser is the new black.

Mobile gaming already commands the largest share of the games industry, holding over 50% of the market. By 2030, the mobile market is projected to hit $272 billion USD, with an annual growth rate of 11%. That’s colossal, but not at all surprising. What’s more interesting is how the landscape is evolving and where the future opportunities lie.

Emerging markets driven by a growing youth population with spending power and improving infrastructure, are pushing the demand for mobile through the roof. These markets are home to 1 billion gamers, yet, they face significant challenges like high data costs, sluggish internet, a diverse range of devices, making app downloads both expensive and cumbersome.

Browser-based mobile games are solving this with instant play, broad device compatibility, and removing the need for frequent downloads or updates. But the point is, to run a high end, immersive game on any web browser, across any device, anywhere, you’ll need an engine that’s light enough – such as one with a sub 5 megabyte core.

Skip the middlemen and go D2C

Since the late 2000’s mobile games have relied on the app stores for distribution, monetization and a global reach. However, as mentioned in Jonas Tageman’s On Web First blog, what started out as a dream scenario for many, has long since become a headache. And, as with every monopoly, when the tolls get too high, people start looking for a detour – and in mobile gaming, that detour is the web.

As noted by Archie Stonehill of Stash, the disruption of the mobile ecosystem is already well and truly underway, not least with alternative app-stores rising on the strength of Epic’s win, but with more and more developers choosing to go direct to consumer not only to circumvent fees (30% on gross revenue) and market saturation, but to leverage game data for personalized marketing. Among myriad other benefits with D2C are price flexibility, broader reach (less censoring), customized user interfaces, and the possibility to localize content.

At the heart of this disruption, web-first game engines like Hiber3D are enabling developers to set themselves up for long-term success, by maintaining control of their revenue and data, while also achieving greater market penetration i.e. more money per sale plus a larger market to sell in.

True Web Games > Traditional Games on the Web

To unlock the full potential of web gaming, we need to fundamentally rethink how games are built. Elements traditionally housed within the engine can easily bloat a web game, meaning large, unnecessary downloads and long load times. By fully utilizing the capabilities of the web, many components – like shops, progression systems, and personalization – can, and should, live in the browser instead. We call this approach ‘true web games,’ where the engine is kept light and fast to ensure a smoother user experience while also cutting down on development costs and time. This also allows for smaller, more targeted patches and updates.

At Hiber, we are adamant that the web is the future of mobile gaming. And it’s not just about porting games to the web, it’s about fully embracing the potential of web technologies to deliver the best possible game experiences, not only in gameplay but also in the metagame.

Multiplayer Made Easy with Hiber3D’s Out-of-the-Box Solution

Published by Jonas Tageman, Director of Technology at Hiber

Multiplayer gaming is a challenge for developers, with synchronization, latency, and network stability posing the greatest hurdles. However, Hiber3D is disrupting the development landscape by offering out-of-the-box multiplayer features that greatly simplify the creative process.

At Hiber, we believe that web-based gaming and multiplayer go hand in hand. Sure, you can create immersive single-player games, but why not utilize the fact that the player is already dialed into the web? We also believe that most game developers would prefer to focus on the actual game rather than bother with all the hurdles listed above.

Simplifying Multiplayer Development with Hiber3D

Hiber3D addresses these challenges head-on by providing built-in multiplayer support. This allows developers to focus on game design and player engagement rather than building the foundations, making it one of the quickest ways to get a multiplayer game up and running.

The Hiber3D Development Kit ensures that even a creator with limited coding knowledge can get up and running quickly without needing to delve into complex code.

1. Focus on Core Gameplay Mechanics

Whether you want to create a compelling game or move fast with delivering value to a client, time wasted on plumbing is probably better spent elsewhere. Use that time to solidify the core mechanics of your game, ensuring that the basic gameplay is engaging and enjoyable. A strong foundation will make for more compelling multiplayer interactions.

2. Optimized for Performance

Multiplayer games require smooth and responsive gameplay to keep players engaged. Bandwidth costs time and money, and lag is the universal killer of joy. We make sure that your creation gets that low-latency a competitive shooter needs, or the low bandwidth that is more efficient for a social experience. Let the experts be experts. You most certainly create better games than us, but our net code is the Koenigsegg of the video game industry – cleverly engineered, incredibly fast, and setting performance benchmarks.

3. Implement Fair Play Mechanics

Balancing is crucial in multiplayer games. Ensure that all players have a fair chance of winning, that no single strategy dominates the gameplay, and that no-one can use unfair means to win or get unbeatable scores. But cheaters are gonna cheat! That’s why we have a server authoritative solution and also provide you with the tools to sanitize and check all winning conditions.

4. Encourage Social Interaction

Multiplayer games thrive on social interaction. Incorporating features that encourage players to communicate and collaborate is key. Hiber3D comes with in-game chat, team-based objectives, and competitive leaderboards. We also support matchmaking that elevates these experiences, making sure that the players want to engage again and again.

5. Regularly Update and Maintain

Multiplayer games are living games. The gaming community expects ongoing support and updates. Regularly release patches and updates to fix bugs, introduce new content, and respond to player feedback. This not only improves the game but also helps build a loyal player base that returns regularly. For the game, you most definitely want to fine-tune it and make sure that it’s patched up and as close to perfect as you can get it. However, security patching the backend and game server is not only boring but also tedious and time consuming, and it might require a skill-set you need to obtain elsewhere. That’s why you should leave that to us.

Focus on the game, let us do the rest.

Conclusion

Hiber3D’s out-of-the-box multiplayer is a significant boon for any game developer looking to move fast and retain quality. By eliminating the hassle of managing complex networking code, you can focus on what truly matters: creating well planned, engaging, and enjoyable games. Put simply, with the best practices and support provided by Hiber3D, you can create web-based multiplayer games with unparalleled ease that keep players coming back.

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch or book a demo today.

And while we have you, dive into some of the latest multiplayer games created with the Hiber3D engine:

Tanks

Temple Shooter

Enchanted Grove Grand Prix

Hiber3D – Mid Year Roundup

July 2024 Edition

The first half of 2024 flew by in the blink of an eye, and we packed it full of milestones. From Hiber3D engine enhancements to strategic partnerships to innovative AI tools and a brand revamp, we left no stone unturned.

Let’s take a look at the highlights…

Hiber3D Mid Year Roundup

HIBER3D PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

World Creator

Our text-to-3D world tool was made available to all users in January 2024, following a period in pre-alpha when over 10,000 early access members signed up for the opportunity to test and give feedback on the technology. With over 90 thousand prompts entered to date, this tool is democratizing 3D world-building, making it accessible to anyone. Try the World Creator today.

SkyScape AI

Building on the success of the World Creator, we launched SkyScape AI, our image-to-3D world tool. Create virtual environments based on any image to push the boundaries of creation. Try SkyScape today.

SkyScape AI powered the Hiber3D engine.

HIBER3D MILESTONES

Shooter and other Game Modes

We added shooting mechanics to the growing list of gameplay features included in the Hiber3D engine, i.e. driving, flying, platformers, obbys and customizable game rules. All of these are accessible right out of the box! This means less time spent hunting for third-party plugins, custom coding, and building foundations, and more time spent on creating incredible games and experiences.

HiBux In-App Currency Launch

We partnered with Stash to introduce our in-app currency HiBux within our web-first HiberWorld UGC platform. A significant milestone on the road to building out a thriving creator economy.

HiberLabs Tests with HDK

We put the Hiber3D Development Kit (HDK) to the test with our HiberLabs series – a collection of games spanning diverse genres. From Halloween thrillers, to Turbo Goal (vehicle football), hover car racers, snowboarders, the hugely popular Sumo Cars (vehicle wrestling), and an engaging side-scroller series, each of these games highlights the ease, speed, and flexibility of creating with the Hiber3D engine.

New Gameplay Modes Out-Of-The-Box with the Hiber3D Engine

HIBER3D EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Google Next, Leap, Nordic Games

We traveled the globe over the past few months to showcase our Hiber3D engine to the worldwide tech community, most notably Dice Summit in Las Vegas, Leap in Riyadh, GDC in San Francisco, Google Next in Las Vegas to unveil SkyScape, and last but not least Nordic Game in Malmö.

The Voice, Angry Birds

We launched two premium branded avatar catalogs in collaboration with Ready Player Me for the iconic Angry Birds and The Voice IPs. These gamified brand spaces showcased exclusive purchasable wearables and have racked up almost 2M plays to date.

Angry Birds powered by Hiber3D

NEW BRANDING

Last but not least, this year marked a new chapter for Hiber3D with the launch of our new visual identity and website that reflects our commitment to innovation, creativity, and exploration. We hope you love the new look as much as we do!

Looking Ahead

The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity and progress, and we expect the next six to be nothing less. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve got cooking.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here’s to many more months of innovation, creativity, and community! Get in touch to learn more about the Hiber3D engine.

On Web First

Published by Jonas Tageman, Director of Technology at Hiber

You merely adopted Web First. We were born in it, molded by it.

Pop cultural paraphrasing aside, Hiber’s vision from the start has been that 3D augmented sites will be the predominant way of experiencing the Web in the near future. Back in 2017, when Hiber was founded, the options for creating good-enough experiences were few and underwhelming. This led to the decision to craft our own engine, Hiber3D, in order to, if not insouciantly remove all obstacles, at least be in control of every facet and stride on the technological forefront.

Why

There are tons and tons of reasons why Web-First should be the go-to strategy. Let’s take a look at a few.

Vendor lock-in

Unless you’ve happily lived under a rock, you should be aware of the back and forth battles between developers and various app stores, ranging from Apple’s behemoth to smaller but equally autocratic ones. What might start out as an amazing opportunity for up-and-coming games and apps can eventually lead to an abyss of despair. Even the touted upside for users, such as curated content, tested selection, and ease of use, are debatable, with users often used as pawns in the fight over market cap.

Forced revenue-share on everything, with the only plus point being that there is no other choice, since you can’t sidestep either store or payment methods, feels a tad outdated in modern times.

By going Web-First, you have the ability to put all of that aside and be solely in charge of your own destiny and eschew draconian policies. Build what you want, put it where you want it, and reap the rewards any way you want to.

Emerging markets

There is a huge untapped user base in Eastern Europe and Asia. These markets are characterized not only by a growing middle class and significant investments in Internet infrastructure but also by the fact that mobile devices are the primary gaming platform. Unlike consoles or spec’d-out gaming rigs, it is the (in all fairness, overpowered for most use cases) little device that we all carry with us most of the time, that is the go-to for gaming. Whether you have a little time to kill or an urge to play for hours and hours, it’s the handiest tool for gaming.

For context, according to research firm Mordor Intelligence, the mobile gaming market in Asia is projected to reach approximately $77.86 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.16% from 2024 to 2027. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe’s mobile gaming market is expected to generate around $1.01 billion in 2024, with a projected CAGR of 6.79% from 2024 to 2027.

Truly Cross-Platform

By leveraging web technology and adhering to standards, we can target all somewhat modern devices capable of browsing the web. This translates to billions of targetable users, and as the capabilities for high-end devices rise, the games that we can deliver go from standard mobile games to triple-A experiences.

How

As previously stated, Web-First should be the obvious strategy for all games and 3D experiences. Even so, that’s not the case. The primary reason for this is the lackluster tech and tooling available. Sure, several engines can target the web; however, it’s always an afterthought, a hygienic mark in the list of capabilities.

The users are ready. Applications and games running in the browser can be truly outstanding, both gameplay-wise and in terms of graphical capabilities.

But at Hiber, we believe that it’s not enough to just make a gorgeous game accessible and smooth-running. It also needs to make use of every single aspect of being Web-First and not settle for mediocrity. Let’s look at some things we believe are fundamental to achieve this

Rapid Development

Aside from it’s industry-leading runtime performance in the browser, Hiber3D is designed with a focus on developer productivity. Creating games and iterating on ideas should be fun and nimble. The days of getting stuck in boiler plating or getting side-tracked by chores are legends of the past.

From the get-go you are equipped with a fully fledged dev environment, filled to the brim with possibilities, and within the blink of an eye you will have a working game published and accessible to anyone.

Build once, deliver anywhere.

Well yeah, this should be a given. But it cannot be overstated how huge this is. From a pure mobile perspective, just going from two platforms to one is a godsend. And add to that the myriad permutations you end up with if you venture into the desktop and console landscapes.

Embrace the Web

The browser is more than just an app, it’s the Swiss army knife giving you the power of desktop through clear and concise APIs. Modern web development is also focused on making sure to only load the resources you need for the time being, keeping payload and bandwidth usage low. Hiber3D is remarkable in its efficiency at prioritizing assets to load, resulting in not only a small bundle size but also an astonishingly low load times, sending the player into the game immediately.

Add to that all the other conveniences of the web, including file format standard, easy-to-use streaming media, an unparalleled delivery network and so on.

What’s next

Hope this article has intrigued you! This was just a small glimpse of the possibilities of Web-First game development. Even though the move to Web-First is obvious to me I would love to hear your thoughts or concerns. We’ll dig deeper into these topics in upcoming posts, but for now you can check out our posts Streamline Development with Hiber3D and Multiplayer Made Easy with Hiber3D’s Out-of-the-Box Solution

And when you are ready for the change, rest assured that we are there for you with expertise and a state of the art platform. Whether you’re an independent developer or part of a game studio, Hiber3D offers the tools and support you need to bring your vision to life. Get in touch or Book a demo today.

Oh, and while we have you why not check out our engine in action with some of the recent HiberLabs games. Jump right in:

Built with the Hiber3D Web First Engine, published on HiberWorld

Streamline Development with Hiber3D

Looking to rapidly accelerate your game development projects? Check out Hiber3D’s gameplay features: Shoot, Drive, and Fly!

Hiber3D offers a comprehensive suite of features that will transform your creation process. With built-in physics, multiplayer capabilities, gameplay features, avatar integration, and much more, you can streamline your projects, getting an idea from your head to the web – faster.

We’re excited to announce the addition of shooting mechanics to our growing list of gameplay features, which include driving, flying, platformers, obbys and customizable game rules. Best of all, these are accessible right out of the box!

The 3D Engine for the Web

Why does this matter? This means less time spent hunting for third-party plugins, custom coding, and on building foundations, and more time spent on creating incredible games and experiences.

To give an example of the ease and flexibility we are talking about, check out this video. Now you can take any platformer built with the Hiber3D engine and simply drop in game rules and weapons into the world to instantly create a fast-paced shooter. Nice, right?

From Platformer to Shooter in seconds.

Let’s take a closer look at the Hiber3D engine’s gameplay features.

SHOOTING

Dynamic Gameplay Enhancement: The new shooting mechanics inject a dynamic and engaging element into games, catering to the high demand for shooter experiences on platforms like HiberWorld, with over 6 million worlds.

Feature Highlights:

Rapid Development: Get fast, fun, casual shooters up and running in minutes
Fine Tuning: Customize the power and damage attributes of each weapon, allowing for tailored gameplay experiences.
Ready Built Weapons: Equip characters or environments with a selection of weapons from our asset library, each with unique characteristics and effects.
Flexibility: Integrate custom-created or imported assets to suit your vision.

DRIVING

Exciting Development Opportunities: Hiber3D’s driving feature gives you an exciting canvas to paint your game visions upon, whether crafting racing games or open-world adventures that move from vehicle to flying to first-person based gameplay.

Feature Highlights:

Vehicle Physics: Built-in interactions with elements like booster plates and damage mechanics, enhancing the realism and immersion of driving experiences within your games.
Variety of Vehicles: Select vehicles tailored to suit diverse game environments, enriching gameplay dynamics and offering players an engaging and varied experience.
Custom Controls and UI: Ensure a smooth and intuitive gameplay experience across both desktop and mobile with customizable controls and user interfaces, optimizing player engagement.

FLYING

Unlock Vertical Exploration: With Hiber3D’s flying feature, you can elevate your projects by introducing verticality and fresh perspectives, enriching gameplay experiences, and opening up new avenues for player exploration.

Feature Highlights:

Smooth Flight Dynamics: Experience immersive flight mechanics that allow players to navigate environments with grace and precision, enhancing the sense of freedom and control.
Vertical Integration: Leverage height changes to dynamically shape game environments and progression, providing players with a multi-dimensional experience.
Dynamic Movement: Give players the freedom to soar above environments and uncover hidden areas.

Get Started with Hiber3D Today

Whether you’re an indie developer or part of a large studio, our web-first lightweight engine allows you to create compelling, immersive games and publish them directly to the web without the usual headaches. Check out more of our features. Or reach out to us to book a demo.

Join the Hiber3D Community

Stay updated with the latest developments, get support, and share your creations with fellow developers by joining the Hiber3D community on Discord.

Transform Images into 3D Worlds With Hiber’s Latest AI

Google Next Reveal Shows Results of Collaboration Between Hiber and Google Cloud to Enable 3D World Creation with Image Prompts with SkyScape AI.

GOTHENBURG, Sweden – April 11, 2024 – Today at Google Cloud Next ‘24 in Las Vegas, Hiber unveils SkyScape AI, a tool designed to turn static images into immersive 3D skyboxes, marking a new step in 3D world creation.

SkyScape AI, which is currently in alpha, has been developed in partnership with Google Cloud and is powered by Gemini models through Vertex AI. It automatically turns any image into an interactive 3D world which can then be explored and built upon, while instantly connecting to a network of almost 6 million worlds.

“Hiber’s vision is to provide escapism through creative possibilities along with the possibility to visit any place, imaginary or real. With this we are one step closer to that vision and dare I say one step closer to the holodeck.” said Mattias Johansson, Co-founder and CIO at Hiber.

Having released the World Creator AI earlier this year, Hiber continues to deliver on its AI

feature roadmap, all of which will be housed within the Hiber3D Co-Pilot™ tool-kit. The step by step release of this AI tool-kit bolsters Hiber’s mission to democratize 3D world creation for the masses. To date the company has tackled this challenge with its creator tools – the Hiber3D Development Kit (HDK), a coding toolkit for the millions of React developers and professionals around the world, and a no-code tool for consumers, which has resulted in almost 6 million 3D worlds created on the UGC hub HiberWorld. Supporting these creator tools is the lightweight Hiber3D game engine which has the power to target any device with a web browser, with an in-built set of services for creators.

For the past few months users have been able to access the World Creator AI in alpha on the HiberWorld platform. The tool was released to all users in January, following a period in pre-alpha when over 10,000 early access members signed up for the opportunity to test and give feedback on the technology. The World Creator AI now contributes to 5% of all published worlds on HiberWorld, and over 70 thousand prompts have been entered.

Now, with the release of SkyScape AI, Hiber is offering everyone the opportunity to test its static image to skybox creator while in alpha.

“We are inviting our community to guide our innovation. With SkyScape, we’re not just iterating on technology; we’re co-creating the future of digital environments and we believe that early feedback will redefine what’s possible,” said Mattias Johansson, Co-founder and CIO at Hiber.Try SkyScape AI today, and join a community that is shaping the future of 3D world creation.

Hiber3D: March Round Up

HIBER AT GOOGLE CLOUD NEXT 2024

March put an extra spring in our step so we pushed the boundaries of gameplay with the Hiber3D Development Kit to deliver vehicle wrestling, tank shooters, and nostalgic throwbacks among other things. Let’s take a look…

Attending Google Cloud Next ‘24?

The Hiber team will be on-site at Google Cloud Next in Las Vegas to reveal the latest AI feature to be released from Hiber3D Co-Pilot™.

Catch Sean Kauppinen’s presentation in the Startup Lounge on Tuesday 9th April at 4.20pm PDT.

NOSTALGIA WITH JUMPY TAP

In a nod to a classic mobile hit we put HDK to the test to create this 4 level, side-scrolling, brain-sizzler. Can you clear all levels to reach master territory?

Jumpy Tap templates were made available in create mode 2 weeks ago. Since then over 3.5K worlds have been created in this style.

TANK SHOOTERS & VEHICLE WRESTLING

In two of the most anticipated releases of all time on HiberWorld Sumo Cars (vehicle wrestling) and Tanks (shooter) launched in March, since amassing nearly half a million plays between them. Both created with HDK. Tank templates also launched in create mode inspiring the creation of 4K Tank worlds since.

New Game Modes with the Hiber3D Engine

The new updates include Flying, Vehicles, 1st person, Sidescrollers, and Matches all available now.

Gothenburg, Sweden – March 15th, 2024 In a notable enhancement to the platform, HiberWorld has recently rolled out major updates offering users enriched experiences in both play and create mode. The 2024 update has introduced eagerly awaited game modes with new perspectives and difficulties, catering to the demands of the growing user base.

HiberWorld, a web-based, free-to-use platform features a no-code creation tool that allows its growing worldwide community to find their audience, show off their creations, with the opportunity to monetize on the horizon.

The platform currently hosts over 5.5 million user created worlds with creations spanning across a mix of hangouts, platformers, and shooters. The team behind HiberWorld has recently ramped up in-house production to introduce features including Flying, Vehicles,1st person, Tank shooters, Sidescrollers, and Matches, with the latter now opening the possibility for all worlds on the platform to be turned into synchronized competitions.

The new game modes and possibilities for creators have met the demands of HiberWorld’s worldwide community. Once given access to vehicles, the users created over 1000 racing worlds in less than a week. HiberWorld’s latest updates demonstrate an astute understanding of community feedback and commitment to evolving the platform in tandem with its user growth.

“Our goal at HiberWorld goes beyond simply expanding our offerings; it’s about unlocking endless creative possibilities for our users.” said Michael Yngfors, CEO of Hiber. “We believe that variety is the cornerstone of creativity, and by introducing diverse modes, we’re not just offering new ways to play and create — we’re opening doors to innovation. We can’t wait to see what our users will come up with!”

Test out the new game modes on HiberWorld today:
1st Person

Vehicles
Matches

Sidescrollers

HiberWorld is powered by the Hiber3D engine which became accessible to developers in 2023 through the Hiber3D Development Kit (HDK) designed for React developers. This has enabled creators to publish their worlds on the HiberWorld platform using either the intuitive no-code tool or HDK, with the added capability of embedding these worlds on any website. Hiber has been demonstrating what HDK is capable of with its HiberLabs series – a collection of worlds covering a range of genres from halloween thrillers, turbo goal (vehicle football), hover car racers, snowboarders, and the hugely popular sumo cars (vehicle wrestling) and sidescroller series. Watch Video for Side Scrollers

In a stride to further democratize 3D world creation, Hiber introduced the much-anticipated AI World Creator in January. Currently in alpha testing, this tool is now available to all HiberWorld users, inviting them to explore and experiment with its capabilities. Experience the AI World Creator today.

Hiber3D: February Round Up

Following an action-packed January, we doubled down to deliver even more goodness in February with The Voice experience, new create mode features (Matches and Sidescrollers), and more hits from HiberLabs! Let’s take a look…

HIBER AT LEAP 2024

Attending LEAP 2024?

The Hiber team is on-site in Riyadh this week, showcasing the HiberWorld platform and the World Creator – the latest feature release from Hiber3D Co-Pilot™, our generative AI toolkit.

Catch Michael Yngfors and Sean Kauppinen at the Google booth on Wednesday 6th March at 4pm AST

MATCHES & SIDESCROLLERS IN CREATE MODE

Turn any world into a competition with synchronized starts and shared scoreboards, following the launch of Matches on HiberWorld.

Sidescrollers are now also available in Create Mode, adding to a range of new options for our creator community.

THE VOICE EXPERIENCE

Have you experienced The Voice on HiberWorld yet?

The global television phenomenon has expanded its reach into the 3D space and launched its exclusive catalog of Hype Gear wearables.

Since launching in early February, The Voice experience has racked up over 50,000 plays on HiberWorld.

NEW GAMEPLAY WITH HIBERLABS

HiberLabs continues to expand the variety of gameplay on our platform while showcasing the capabilities of the Hiber3D Development Kit.

Since its mid-February launch, Turbo Goal has kicked off a spirited rivalry, with the community rallying behind either the red or blue teams, leading to over 70,000 goals scored on the scoreboard.

The Voice Launches New Hype Gear Virtual Fashion Line

Virtual Brand Group expands The Voice’s omnichannel footprint to its third retail platform which collectively reaches almost 300MM consumers

Fans Worldwide Can Now Style Their Avatars using the Ready Player Me platform which reaches 10,000 different games and worlds globally

Collection exclusively available for a limited time in the HiberWorld game

LOS ANGELES (February 6, 2023) – The Virtual Brand Group (VBG) today unveiled The Voice’s first Hype Gear fashion line which is now available exclusively in HiberWorld through the Ready Player Me avatar creation platform (SHOP)

ITV Studios The Voice aired in over 150 territories around the world, making it the most distributed TV show worldwide. This latest collaboration is inspired by global street culture. It features an eclectic range of oversized hoodies, t-shirts and trend forward looks with bespoke imagery and silhouettes.

This Hype Gear collection is the next evolution in VBG’s expansion of The Voice brand to become a standalone global fashion label outside of the hit TV series.

Virtual Brand Group is also unveiling The Voice’s a new fashion game only available in HiberWorld (jump in PLAY) with a custom retail store, which allows fans to shop interactively, mix and match outfits, and be a coach in the iconic red chair and hit the red buzzer.

This collection and store represent Virtual Brand Group (VBG), a multi-award-winning metaverse pioneer known for building immersive experiences, communities and virtual fashion, and ITV Studios’ fifth virtual activation on four different platforms in just one year.

“Avatar retail is transforming fashion, self-expression and consumer behavior. Last year it sold over $14B and is projected to grow by almost another 50% by the end of this decade”, said Justin W. Hochberg, CEO of the Virtual Brand Group. “Our collaboration with Ready Player Me and HiberWorld opens up The Voice fashion line to another 50MM potential consumers. That’s 3x more fans than attended every NFL game combined this season; no offense Taylor Swift”.

“With a global reach to over 150 territories, The Voice is a powerhouse with universal appeal and a unique position at the intersection of music and fashion,” said Sean Kauppinen, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer of Hiber. “It is a perfect brand for our community as our users look to identify and associate with brands and entertainment that represent them and reflect their interests in our growing network of 3D worlds.”

“HiberWorld stands out among apps integrating Ready Player Me as the go-to platform for brands looking to create unique virtual experiences for their customers,” said Timmu Tõke, CEO & Co-Founder of Ready Player Me. ”Fans of The Voice will now have a chance to interact with the brand in a completely new way while their avatars wear the Hype Gear collection pieces.”

About Virtual Brand Group

Virtual Brand Group (VBG) is an award-winning company that strategically accelerates consumer brands by innovatively leveraging the Metaverse across marketing, advertising, communities, games, fashion, and new products. Partners include Forever 21, Barbie™/Mattel™, The Voice™, NBC and XOMG POP. The team is credited with developing the world’s first physical fashion line that weas incubated as a virtual merchandise along with “Infinite Loop Marketing™”, the first-ever avatar-to-ecommerce program where items can be sold simultaneously in the metaverse and real life, creating new products and, in turn, new revenue streams faster than ever before. Licensing International awarded the company “Best Digital Licensed Product,” for its work building Forever21’s Shop City and has been featured in over 500 top-tier media outlets, podcasts and multiple innovation books. Click here for case studies on how VBG can accelerate your brand LINK

About ITV Studios

ITV Studios is a creator, producer, and distributor of world-leading programmes and formats that people can’t get enough of. Connecting millions of people every day and shaping and reflecting the world they live in, ITV Studios is More Than TV. Its Brand & Licensing department is responsible for all global commercial activities, including sponsorship, brand licensing, consumer products, gaming, and live events. It represents a diverse portfolio, including scripted and non-scripted content, game shows, and kids’ titles, which offer a wide range of commercial opportunities. Brands include The Voice, Hell’s Kitchen, Love Island, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, The Chase, Coronation Street, Schitt’s Creek, The Last Unicorn, Thunderbirds, Space: 1999, The Prisoner, and more. ITV Studios is home to some of the best creative minds, crafting over 6,700 hours of original programming across more than 60 production labels. Its global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and its global distribution business sells its 90,000+ hour catalogue to broadcasters and platforms around the world.

About Ready Player Me

Ready Player Me uses digital avatars to break down walls between creators of virtual experiences and the people who most want to enjoy them. The company offers an embeddable Avatar Creator that developers can integrate effortlessly into their apps and games to save time, boost engagement, and unlock new revenue streams. The company connects over 20,000 developers in its network (including VRChat, Spatial, and HiberWorld) with millions of end-users who can personalize their avatars to express themselves across compatible applications. Learn more at https://readyplayer.me.

Hiber3D: January Round Up

Welcome to the first ever Hiber3D newsletter, your go-to source for all the latest and greatest developments unfolding at Hiber HQ.

We’ve hit the ground running in 2024 with the launch of our very own currency HiBux, our generative AI world creator, new game modes and more. Let’s take a look…

THE HIBER3D WORLD CREATOR IS LIVE

The latest feature from Hiber3D Co-Pilot™ – our generative AI toolkit – is now live in HiberWorld.

Try the World Creator today

Hiber3D Co-Pilot™ features are being progressively released, each undergoing Alpha testing for peak performance.

INTRODUCING HIBUX

You can now purchase digital items in HiberWorld with HiBux, our dedicated in-app currency.

Earn HiBux by completing daily challenges and trade them for a growing catalog of digital wearables in our brand spankin’ new shop.

THE VOICE EXPERIENCE

This February we will launch a digital shopping experience with The Voice in partnership with Virtual Brand Group and Ready Player Me.

This is the second in a series of premium branded avatar catalogs to be launched in HiberWorld, building on the success of the Angry Birds world in December.

Expect gamified interaction and exclusive The Voice wearables.

NEW GAME MODES

Have you tried the new gameplay and create features that we launched this month?

Jump right in to experience Sidescrollers, Signals, Vehicles, Race Tracks and don’t miss out on the community favorite – Chilly Downhilly for some snowboarding action.

Hiber and Ready Player Me Partner to Bring Rovio’s Angry Birds to HiberWorld Users

Global Franchise Angry Birds to Make its Mark on the Hiber Community Next Week

Gothenburg, Sweden – November 29, 2023 – Hiber, the company behind the popular virtual experience platform HiberWorld, and Ready Player Me, the leading identity platform for games and virtual worlds, have partnered to bring the first major gaming brand to Ready Player Me and HiberWorld users as part of Ready Player Me’s recently announced Premium Skins Catalog, enabling the company’s developer partners to sell branded avatar customization options and merchandise. Rovio’s popular global franchise Angry Birds will be first to enter HiberWorld with a fun 3D experience featuring avatar clothing and hero skins that can be purchased directly in the 3D space.

Visit the Angry Birds World on HiberWorld

“Partnering with Ready Player Me to bring these first premium digital avatar assets to our expanding community presents an exciting opportunity to work with Rovio and Angry Birds, a franchise that we love, and know our users will be excited to see,” said Michael Yngfors, CEO of Hiber. “Both Rovio and Ready Player Me have been exceptional partners in moving quickly to deliver these assets for sale to our users and we are confident this is just the first of many AAA quality IPs that will come to HiberWorld over the coming year.”

“Hiber has been a strong partner for us over the past two years and they are always eager to be pioneers,” said Timmu Tõke, Co-Founder & CEO of Ready Player Me. “Their platform is growing and we have had a great collaboration with them as we build out our commercial offerings for games developers and their products. Rovio has also stepped up and is leading the way in terms of IP licensing as we bring the Angry Birds franchise to new audiences and in Hiber’s case, via the browser to users all around the world.”

“HiberWorld is a compelling platform that will give fans of the Angry Birds a new way to interact with the brand as well as connecting us to a new audience with immersive 3D content,” said Katri Chacona, Head of Brand Licensing at Rovio. “Angry Birds has a global base of active players and fans and we are excited to see what this partnership with Ready Player Me and Hiber brings in terms of delighting our existing fans, as well as growing brand awareness, creating new fans of the franchise, and giving HiberWorld users the ability to express themselves with avatars and branded clothing items utilizing our brand.”

The Angry Birds world on HiberWorld will launch the week of November 27th and coincide with Hiber’s participation at RovioCon Google 2023 in Helsinki, Finland on the 29th.

HiberWorld was released into beta in early 2020 and has grown to hundreds of thousands of monthly users and more than 5 million worlds created. The platform enables anyone to create 3D worlds, experiences and games directly in a web browser without the need to know how to code. Earlier this year, Hiber opened up its proprietary Hiber3D tech stack to allow for coding and more complex world creation and recently added AI features to make creation faster and more fun for an ever expanding audience.

About Rovio

Rovio Entertainment Corporation is a global mobile-first games company that creates, develops and publishes mobile games, which have been downloaded over 5 billion times. Rovio is best known for the global Angry Birds brand, which started as a popular mobile game in 2009, and has since evolved from games to various entertainment, animations and consumer products in brand licensing. Rovio has produced The Angry Birds Movie (2016), and its sequel, The Angry Birds Movie 2 was released in 2019. The company offers multiple mobile games and has eight game studios – one in Espoo (Finland), one in Stockholm (Sweden), one in Copenhagen (Denmark), one in Barcelona (Spain), two in Montreal and one in Toronto (Canada). The studios also include a subsidiary in Izmir (Turkey) called Ruby Games, which was acquired in 2021. Most of the employees are based in Finland where Rovio is headquartered. The company’s shares are listed on the main list of NASDAQ Helsinki stock exchange with the trading code ROVIO. Sega Europe Limited has acquired more than 90 percent of Rovio’s issued and outstanding shares and will delist the company from NASDAQ Helsinki stock exchange as soon as permitted under applicable laws. (www.rovio.com)

About Ready Player Me

Ready Player Me is an interoperable avatar platform for apps and games. It lets you create a 3D avatar with a selfie and use it in 15,000+ compatible apps and games. You can explore virtual worlds in VRChat, join meetings in Spatial, or stream to your fans using Animaze – all with your personal avatar that represents you in virtual worlds. Any developer can integrate Ready Player Me into their apps and games using our free avatar SDKs and APIs. It’s compatible with Unity and Unreal Engine and works great on the web, mobile, and desktop platforms. Learn more at https://readyplayer.me/

Hiber Unveils Generative AI at Google Next

Google Next Reveal Shows Results of Collaboration Between Hiber, Datatonic and Google Cloud to Enable 3D World Creation Through Natural Language Prompts

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sep 8, 2023 – Hiber AB, the company behind the Hiber3D tech stack, have announced the introduction of generative AI to their creation tools. Hiber’s mission is to lower the barriers to participation in the 3D web. To date the company has tackled this challenge with its creator tools – the Hiber3D Development Kit, a coding toolkit for the millions of React developers and professionals around the world, and a no-code tool for consumers, which has resulted in more than 5 million 3D worlds created on the UGC hub HiberWorld.

Supporting these creator tools is the cutting-edge, lightweight Hiber3D engine which has the power to target any device with a web browser with an in-built set of services to creators.

“Along with our Hiber3D engine, we have a set of services that support creators, including multiplayer, chat, identity, payment rails, and commerce connections. And now we are going further. By uniting generative AI with these services, we’re set to evolve our offering into a living creation platform,” said Michael Yngfors, CEO of Hiber AB.

Last week at Google Cloud Next ‘23 in San Francisco, Hiber unveiled the outcome of a collaboration with Datatonic and Google Cloud. Hiber has integrated Datatonic and Google Cloud’s generative AI solutions with Hiber3D, enabling creators to use natural language to enhance the experience of crafting 3D worlds.

“While we have seen a very high percentage of creators thanks to the accessibility of our current creator tools, one of the challenges users have faced over the years is knowing where to begin when facing a blank canvas. Our hypothesis was that if users could express what they want to create using natural language, it would help them overcome this hurdle and unleash their creative power. We can’t wait to see what our users will create when we start rolling this out in the coming months.”

The technical process, enabled by Google Cloud technologies and AI algorithms, leverages the massive amount of 3D world creation data Hiber has on its platform, ensuring that the Hiber team and partner, Datatonic, can utilize Google Cloud Run and PaLM large language models to deliver a unique solution to users looking to utilize language to generate 3D worlds.

“Collaborating with Hiber on this journey has been an amazing experience so far. Enabling end users to generate 3D worlds and assets using large language models is one of the most innovative and exciting use cases that generative AI can be applied to, and working with Hiber and Google Cloud made it happen.” Antonio Nieto García, Senior Data Scientist , Datatonic.

“When this solution is rolled out to production and goes live in the coming months, users will be able to exploit PaLM text and embedding capabilities beyond imaginable limits.” Alvaro Azabal, Generative AI Technical Lead, Datatonic.

“By collaborating with Hiber and Datatonic, we are able to unlock even more capabilities of real-time generative AI so that players can experience worlds the way they want and imagine them to be,” said Jack Buser, Director, Google Cloud, Games.

The integration with generative AI is set to continue with Hiber’s long term roadmap featuring a co-pilot solution which would see users offered the support of an AI assistant that can not only create on prompt but offer live and informed suggestions to facilitate the creation process.

Apart from its growing community of creators, Hiber3D has caught the attention of brands looking to expand their virtual presence and invest in their innovation roadmap. In July of this year, luxury fashion label Tommy Hilfiger, chose Hiber3D to create Tommy Parallel – an interoperable virtual universe for its community. The Tommy Parallel experience which is hosted on HiberWorld, features a phygital fashion collection designed by The Fabricant and invites users to explore the space with Ready Player Me avatars styled in Tommy Hilfiger wearables. Over the course of the first month of the campaign, visitors to the experience on HiberWorld spawned over 1.2 million Tommy Parallel digital wearables when entering the space.

To learn more about the Hiber3D and sign up for early access to the AI integration visit Hiber3D.com/GenAI

Gothenburg Island Festival Launches in HiberWorld

This week, the Gothenburg Island Festival has launched in HiberWorld, inviting visitors from around the world to take part in Gothenburg’s Jubilee celebrations.

This initiative is part of Gothenburg’s 400-year celebration and Kulturkalaset (the city’s annual, sustainable, sprawling summer festival). It is a result of Goteborg & Co’s vision to create an event that acknowledges the city’s rich history, vibrant present, and promising future.

Goteborg & Co joined forces with creative agency KOKOKAKA and Hiber to bring this vision to life. Drawing inspiration from Gothenburg’s unique Ringön district, KOKOKAKA worked with the Hiber3D tech stack to craft a digital counterpart to Ö-Festen – Ringön’s annual block party, now in its 6th year.

At Ringön, an intriguing blend of old industries and emerging businesses creates a unique buzz – think lively breweries, thrift stores, and bustling studios. The team at KOKOKAKA used the Hiber3D Development Kit to create a network of interconnected 3D worlds, each representing a counterpart at Ringön… but with a twist, of course. The result is a multifaceted feast for the senses! KOKOKAKA succeeded in creating an equally exciting virtual experience filled with oddities and surprises, allowing visitors from all over the globe to get a taste of Gothenburg’s unique culture.

“Hiber3D is an amazing framework for building 3D websites. Finally there is an easy way to build immersive experiences on the web. By combining 3D with video, music and gamification you can communicate in a much richer way than on a flat web page.” – Jimmy Herdberg, KOKOKAKA Creative Studio

The Gothenburg Island Festival is now live in HiberWorld until September 3rd, 2023. Discover art exhibitions, interviews, poetry, live-streamed performances from Ö-Festen, competitions, and mini-games.

HiberWorld Hits 5 Million World Milestone

The Accomplishment Marks A Major Acceleration In The Number of Creators Using Hiber3d Tools To Publish Online Virtual Worlds

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug 23, 2023 – Hiber AB, the company behind the Hiber3D tech stack, today announced that they have surpassed the 5 million world milestone on their creator hub, HiberWorld.

Having passed 1 million worlds in May 2021, this new milestone marks massive growth over the past two years in terms of monthly users and the number of people using HiberWorld’s no-code creator tool to craft a wide array of virtual worlds, ranging from 3D hangouts, challenges, interactive festivals, roller coasters, art showcases, and more. All of these worlds can be embedded directly onto any website outside of the HiberWorld platform to leverage a site’s audience and traffic while simultaneously connecting to HiberWorld’s global online community.

This 5 million world milestone signals that Hiber is progressing in its mission to accelerate the adoption of the 3D web by lowering the barriers to participation.

Over the past few months, the company has begun rolling out its Hiber3D Development Kit, an additional creation tool, catering to the millions of coders and React Developers worldwide and further broadening the opportunities for anyone to engage with 3D world creation on the web.

The Hiber3D tech stack has caught the attention of brands looking to expand their virtual presence and invest in their innovation roadmap. In July of this year, the luxury fashion label Tommy Hilfiger chose Hiber3D to create Tommy Parallel – an interoperable virtual universe for its community. The experience was hosted on HiberWorld and was also embedded directly on the Tommy Parallel website. The Tommy Parallel world featured a phygital fashion collection designed by The Fabricant and invited users to explore the space with Ready Player Me avatars styled in Tommy Hilfiger wearables. Over the course of the first month, visitors to the experience on HiberWorld spawned over 1.2 million Tommy Parallel digital wearables when entering the space.

Fashion brands are not the only ones extending their marketing to the virtual space using Hiber3D. Between 2022 and 2023, Hiber rolled out collaborations with the music NFT platform anotherblock, lifestyle brand iamrunbox, rock group Smash Into Pieces, and the influencer agency DIA, bringing immersive experiences to a wide range of digital communities. Hiber continues to collaborate closely with the interoperable avatar platform Ready Player Me, allowing all communities to move between experiences with personalized digital identities.

“The acceleration in world creation on HiberWorld is a direct result of the continued efforts of the team at Hiber to improve and innovate with the Hiber3D creator tools and components,” said Michael Yngfors, Co-Founder and CEO of Hiber AB. “The 5 million world milestone is also a testament to our highly engaged and creative community who take the tools we roll out, and use them to push the boundaries of their imaginations in 3D. We are gearing up to deliver new advancements in 2023 and are already looking towards our next milestone.”

This month, Hiber is set to unveil an integration with generative AI in collaboration with Datatonic and Google Cloud at Google Next on August 31st. This project aims to further open access to 3D creation possibilities for the online community, further bolstering Hiber’s long standing mission.

DIA HOUSE – Interactive Agency Hub Powered by Hiber3D

We have teamed up with the Digital Icon Agency Ltd to launch DIA HOUSE – an interactive 3D agency hub that will be used to showcase their roster of talents.

DIA’s mission is to stay at the edge of digital innovation and to continuously unlock new engagement opportunities for the talents that they represent. Using the Hiber3D platform DIA found a way to authentically participate in the 3D web with their own branded space.

The immersive DIA HOUSE has been designed using Hiber3D with DIA’s unique aesthetic in mind. It provides a hub where visitors can engage with the brands, artists and influencers that the agency represents. Featuring interactive content, merchandise and an expansive gamified space to explore, DIA HOUSE delivers engagement beyond the expected, and it aims to revolutionize the influencer marketing landscape.

DIA were able to embed the interactive 3D world directly onto their current website, leveraging their existing traffic, while also connecting to HiberWorld – a worldwide community with a network of almost 5M virtual worlds.

Step into DIA HOUSE now.