Brendan Greene, the creative mind behind the iconic PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), has outlined bold plans for a gameplay-centric metaverse named Artemis. Unlike many tech and crypto pioneers, Greene is decidedly uninterested in incorporating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into the project. Speaking to IGN on Jan. 4, Greene emphasized that NFTs are not part of his current vision.
“Not Even Thinking About NFTs”
“Our concern is about getting the engine to a state that we can make things in it,” Greene stated, highlighting a clear focus on developing immersive and entertaining games. While NFTs are often lauded as tools for securing intellectual property and in-game assets across ecosystems, Greene remains skeptical.
However, Greene did not entirely dismiss blockchain technology, acknowledging its potential as a financial layer within digital ecosystems. “If we can use a digital ledger, we’ll find the best one and use it. But that’s really it,” he remarked. His disinterest in NFTs aligns with his broader critique of metaverse projects, which he described as “IP bubbles” delivering sub-par experiences.
Metaverse Roadmap to Artemis
Artemis represents the culmination of a trilogy of gaming projects under development at Greene’s studio, PlayerUnknown Productions. The journey begins with Prologue, a realistic survival game powered by NASA Earth data. Currently in testing, Prologue is set to launch in 2025.
The second, unnamed game will expand into large-scale multiplayer worlds, featuring millions of characters across vast landscapes. Both games will integrate into Artemis, envisioned as a “3D internet” where users can create, modify, and interact across interconnected virtual worlds.
“The metaverse should function like a 3D internet, where worlds operate on a shared protocol, much like web pages use HTTP,” Greene explained. Artemis aims to bring this concept to life, blending user-generated content and creativity in a manner reminiscent of Minecraft or Star Trek’s Holodeck.
While the metaverse once dominated tech narratives, the hype has waned following underwhelming results from major players like Meta, which reportedly spent over $40 billion on its metaverse ambitions. Greene is determined to chart a different course, aiming for functionality over spectacle.
