Worlds Beyond

In this episode, Don and Ben sit down with Austin Lewis—one of Horizon Worlds’ most prolific and influential creators—to break down the latest Horizon Worlds updates, the future of creator tools, and the rapidly shifting landscape of avatar wearables, player concurrency, and mobile-first game design.Austin shares behind-the-scenes stories from building his upcoming game Kart Clash, the polished PvP arena battler spinning out of his earlier work on A Pirate’s Life and the viral hit Spin the Bottle. The hosts dive deep into what makes a game “actually fun,” how Austin approaches prototyping, and why optimizing for mobile players is now essential for success on the platform.The conversation also unpacks:🕶️ Meta Ray-Ban Displays – Real-world tests, UI gestures, early limitations, and why wearable tech may replace screens sooner than expected.🎮 New Horizon Worlds Competition – How creators integrated generative AI into gameplay, sound design, skyboxes, and backend logic.⚙️ Player Concurrency & Horizon Studio’s 5x Capacity Boost – What bigger worlds and higher populations mean for open-world RPGs, social games, and future development pipelines.🧢 Avatar Clothing Rarity System – A passionate debate: Is Meta’s new auto-rated clothing system a tool for empowering virtual brands… or a poorly-designed economic trap?📊 New Demographics & Attribution Tools – How creator analytics are reshaping marketing, player acquisition, and monetization strategies.🚀 The Future of Horizon Worlds – Custom matchmaking, avatar attributes, real brand-building inside VR, and whether fantasy games like A Pirate’s Life could finally live up to their original vision.Packed with creator insights, industry predictions, and practical takeaways, this episode is must-listen for VR developers, Horizon Worlds builders, and anyone curious about the future of social VR, immersive worlds, and the creator economy.~~~Connect With Us!~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian Website: https://dkianian.com/ Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/ Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXR Website: https://habitxr.net/ Austin's LinksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meta.jesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meta.jesus_vr/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Meta Connect recap episode, Don and Ben reunite to unpack the biggest announcements, behind-the-scenes stories, and future-shaping trends from Meta’s flagship XR conference.The conversation kicks off with stories from the Creator Summit and networking dinners—where they reconnected with past guests, shared pizza with Ubi, and even had Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth (“Boz”) drop by for drinks. From there, they dive into the major Meta Connect reveals:🚀 Horizon Studio & Horizon Engine – The next evolution of Horizon Worlds, promising 5x concurrency and pro-grade tools, but raising questions about accessibility for hobbyists and younger creators.🕶️ Meta Ray-Ban Display & Wearables – Hands-on impressions of Meta’s latest smart glasses, including live demos, intuitive controls, and potential to replace everyday devices.🤖 Contextual AI – A bold vision of always-on AI that sees and hears what you do, offering powerful assistance but also sparking debate over privacy, bias, and regulation.🎮 New Games & Updates – From Thieves and Warlocks’ massive overhaul to the launch of Comic Royale and new experiments like Magnet Dream and Frogs, the duo highlights how studios are evolving alongside Meta’s platform.This episode is part insider report, part future forecast—perfect for VR developers, XR storytellers, AI enthusiasts, and anyone curious about where immersive tech is headed next.~~~Connect With Us!~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianianWebsite: https://dkianian.com/Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXRWebsite: https://habitxr.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don and Ben sit down with Nathan Anderson and Wadooah Wali from New Canvas, a leading immersive media studio shaping the future of interactive storytelling and social VR gaming. The conversation explores how New Canvas approaches narrative worldbuilding and game development in XR, from initial creative concept to final platform deployment. They discuss the development process behind Pop and Drop, an accessible, cross-platform VR game, and share stories about collaborating with external creators, navigating platform quirks, and adapting pipelines to support both mobile and headset users.🌍 Cross-platform XR storytelling: Web, mobile, and headset accessibility🎮 Behind the scenes of Pop and Drop: Game mechanics, design decisions, and platform selection🤝 Creative collaboration: Partnering with outside studios and creators to bring ideas to life📱 Designing for accessibility: Building experiences that reach beyond core VR audiences🔮 The future of immersive experiences: How New Canvas envisions the evolving VR/AR landscape🛠️ Tools of the trade: Quill, Horizon Worlds, and choosing the right medium for the storyWhether you're a VR worldbuilder, immersive storyteller, or XR game developer, this episode offers deep insights into the art and craft of creating compelling, inclusive experiences in the spatial computing era.~~~Connect With Us!~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianianWebsite: https://dkianian.com/Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXRWebsite: https://habitxr.net/New Canvas LinksWebsite: https://newcanvas.co/Nathan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchrisanderson/Wadooah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadooah/Pop & Drop: https://horizon.meta.com/world/700494979810910/New Canvas Linktree: https://linktr.ee/NewCanvasNC Play Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nc_play2025/New Canvas Discord: https://discord.gg/f5meKUSNDpNew Canvas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqtp2GUr5KO1ynWmdy_4RA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special midseason recap, co-hosts Don and Ben go guest-free to reflect on the evolution of the immersive tech landscape and forecast what's ahead for VR, AR, and AI-powered creation. They revisit highlights from earlier episodes featuring top creators like Emorgul, Arturo Perez (Kluge Interactive), and Jelitza Cintron—while connecting those conversations to major industry shifts happening right now.Topics include:🔮 The future of mixed reality (XR) and the pivot from VR headsets to mobile-first AR platforms🤖 Generative AI in VR development: How tools like Meta’s AI-powered builders are reshaping game creation🎮 Single-player vs. multiplayer in immersive games, including thoughts on the upcoming Deadpool VR release🧠 XR for enterprise and business: Could 360° video and mixed-reality webinars find new life in B2B media?🌱 Community-driven world-building: From Horizon Worlds hits like Plants & Bugs to collaborative storytelling🎥 Content creation and platform culture: Why creators are gravitating toward Roblox, VRChat, Horizon, and beyond🔥 Teasers for upcoming episodes with studios like New Canvas and reflections on standout moments from past guestsWhether you're a VR developer, immersive storyteller, AI enthusiast, or just curious about where spatial computing is heading, this episode is your pulse-check on the state of the industry in 2025.📲 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes featuring cutting-edge creators, toolmakers, and platform innovators shaping the worlds beyond.~~~Connect With Us!~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianianWebsite: https://dkianian.com/Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXRWebsite: https://habitxr.net/Yeet Yourself: https://horizon.meta.com/world/10162537277428570/Pop & Drop: https://horizon.meta.com/world/700494979810910/Bots!: https://horizon.meta.com/world/10163038930628570 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Don and Ben welcome Arturo Perez from Kluge Interactive, the acclaimed immersive game studio behind Synth Riders, Final Fury, and other hits spanning Apple Vision Pro, Oculus, PSVR, SteamVR, and more. Arturo dives deep into the philosophy and practical challenges of developing cross-platform VR games that are both genre-defining and widely accessible.They explore the origins and evolution of Synth Riders, Kluge’s unique approach to carving out a niche in the crowded rhythm and fighting game genres, and how the team balances long-term player engagement with the desire to innovate. Arturo also shares lessons learned in adapting games across platforms, designing for different hardware constraints, and the growing importance of mobile-first and multiplayer-friendly VR experiences.The episode also touches on the future of XR: ethical use of AI in game dev, trends in community-building, and the emerging divide between casual AR experiences and deeply immersive VR worlds.Whether you're a VR developer, gamer, or just fascinated by the future of interactive entertainment, this episode is packed with insights from the front lines of immersive game design.~~~Connect With Us!~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian Website: https://dkianian.com/ Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/ Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXR Website: https://habitxr.net/ Arturo's LinksKluge Interactive Website: https://klugeinteractive.com/Kluge Games TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@klugegames Synth Riders TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@synthridersvr  Final Fury TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@finalfuryvr Chicken Tag: https://horizon.meta.com/world/659765143878855/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Don and Ben are joined by Eugene Morgulis—known in Horizon Worlds as Emorgul—a prolific creator recognized for his diverse, genre-spanning VR experiences and deep community engagement. Eugene discusses his creative journey on the platform, from building fantastical worlds to crafting more grounded, relatable experiences.The conversation explores the evolution of creator tools in Horizon, including Meta’s new AI-powered mesh generation features, and how they’re reshaping workflows and accessibility for developers. Eugene shares his take on integrating AI into the creative process without losing the human spark, and where these tools fit into his “jack of all trades” approach to development.They also dive into topics like mobile-friendliness, cognitive accessibility, world interactivity, and maintaining creative momentum. The episode wraps with a thoughtful discussion on building meaningful communities within virtual spaces and advice for new creators entering the world of Horizon.Whether you’re a VR enthusiast, developer, or someone curious about the future of immersive experiences, this episode offers rich insights from one of Horizon’s standout voices.~~~ Connect With Us! ~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian Website: https://dkianian.com/ Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/ Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXR Website: https://habitxr.net/ Eugene's LinksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emorgulisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elmorgulis/Discord: https://discord.gg/qm9F8w4rGAWebsite: https://www.emorgul.com/worlds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Worlds Beyond Podcast, Don and Benjamin sit down with Scott Harris, also known as "Ubi," a veteran in the VR, XR, and AR industry. Scott Harris, a.k.a. "Ubi" in Horizon Worlds, has designed and created a number of immersive VR games and experiences, including Ubi'z Game Grid, Lore of Ubi, Petra, Ubi'z Diner Rush, and more. His experiences and worlds were some of the first, and most popular, attractions to the Horizon Worlds platform, cementing him as an influential force in how creators develop experiences in Horizon. Beyond that, he has also developed a number of interactive experiences for the likes of the Museum of Natural History, Toyota, and more. Links mentioned in this episodeScenery App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scenery-spatial-experiences/id6472496817 Table Soccer (Apple Vision Pro): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/table-soccer-azb-games/id6739331256 Table Soccer (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/experiences/table-soccer/26349748918004829/Game Grid (Horizon Worlds): https://www.oculus.com/vr/3078778455555837/Vizcom AI: https://www.vizcom.ai/RecRoom Layoff Announcement: https://www.geekwire.com/2025/seattle-gaming-startup-rec-room-lays-off-16-of-staff-read-ceos-memo-to-employees/RecRoom Memo to Employees: https://www.reddit.com/r/RecRoom/comments/1j2tg18/rec_room_lays_off_16_of_develop_team_with_notable/#lightbox~~~ Connect With Us! ~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianianWebsite: https://dkianian.com/Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXRWebsite: https://habitxr.net/Scott's LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubi_ubiquitouzWebsite: https://scottharris.info/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing The Worlds Beyond Podcast, where we take a look behind the scenes at your favorite Mixed Reality experiences.This monthly podcast is hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner. In each episode, we'll look at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community. Subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes!In this episode of The Worlds Beyond Podcast, Don and Benjamin explore immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences and the creative processes behind them with guest, Jelitza Cintron, a talented designer with a strong background in fine arts, 3D modeling, and digital sculpting.Jelitza shares her journey into VR, detailing how she transitioned from traditional art to designing virtual spaces. She discusses her collaboration with Benjamin on the Horizon Worlds platform and how she became involved in developing immersive environments. The conversation covers the evolution of VR design, the challenges of creating engaging experiences, and insights into the creative process behind world-building in digital spaces.This episode provides a fascinating look into the intersection of art and technology, highlighting the future of virtual reality as a medium for creativity and interaction.~~~ Connect With Us! ~~~Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian Website: https://dkianian.com/ Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/ Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXR Website: https://habitxr.net/ Jelitza's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelitza-cintron-a082aa93/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing The Worlds Beyond Podcast, where we take a look behind the scenes at your favorite Mixed Reality experiences.This monthly podcast is hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner. In each episode, we'll look at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community. Subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes!Connect With Us!Don's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianianWebsite: https://dkianian.com/Ben's LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXRWebsite: https://habitxr.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.