Bhutanverse

As part of our venture into the metaverse, the Bhutanverse Project was conceptualized as an anchor project between Smobler (a multimedia design agency) and DHI InnoTech, with the acquisition of a plot of LAND on the Sandbox metaverse. The project and collaboration was first unveiled in July 2023 at the FAB23 Bhutan Conference in Thimphu. 

The launch of the project was followed by an open challenge (Bhutanverse Design Challenge) as a way to select the first cohort of a core team of Bhutanese artists, creators and developers to develop this plot of LAND with guidance and support from Smobler’s industry experts. The challenge prioritized diverse skill sets and backgrounds, formally inviting a final Bhutanverse team of artists, architects, students, technology enthusiasts, and public and private sector employees to work with DHI. The team then underwent an intensive bootcamp designed by Smobler to equip the local team to use Sandbox systems like VoxEdit and GameMaker. 

This learning enabled the winners to form the “Bhutanverse Team” to build the Bhutan Art Gallery on The Sandbox. Through the project, the Bhutanese team had the opportunity to work with leading industry experts in virtual world design, architecture and technology. The project also provided a platform for team members to showcase their talent and ideas, and receive recognition from a global digital community, thereby opening up exciting new opportunities.

The project was soft launched on December 17 as part of the National Day Celebrations. As part of this, a trailer video was launched across InnoTech’s social media channels. The team then worked on building upon the soft launch to optimize quest mechanics and improve upon the experience. 

The formal launch was scheduled for February 21, 2024 in celebration of the 44th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King. In preparation for this launch, the team worked tirelessly and closely with their DHI counterparts to ensure a seamless experience. During the launch, many of the team members were physically present at the DHI Office to speak about their experience and their aspirations for the project.