Exploring the Vision Behind Prologue and the Future of the Metaverse
The latest venture from PlayerUnknown Productions, Prologue, is capturing attention with its unique approach to survival gaming. This new title strips the genre down to its fundamentals while leveraging advanced machine learning technology to create expansive, lifelike maps. The intriguing blend of simplicity and innovation is just one aspect of this ambitious project, which serves as the first of three initiatives aimed at developing a broader metaverse concept, currently referred to as Artemis.
Brendan ‘PlayerUnknown’ Greene, the mind behind PUBG and now at the helm of PlayerUnknown Productions, envisions Prologue not only as a game but as a community-driven experience. However, its significance extends beyond entertainment; it is a testing ground for features that will eventually contribute to the realization of Artemis. In an industry where giants like Roblox and Fortnite are pouring resources into their own metaverse ecosystems, Greene is charting a distinctly different course.
During a recent interview, Greene shared insights into Prologue, addressing everything from the initial critical reception on Steam to the features he hopes to implement during its early access phase. The conversation took an interesting turn when Greene reflected on a public exchange with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, where both expressed admiration for the battle royale genre. This prompted a discussion about Artemis and the evolution of gaming platforms.
When asked if PlayerUnknown Productions draws inspiration from Fortnite’s transformation into a metaverse, Greene responded with a mix of humor and clarity. “No,” he said, laughing. “Well, yes and no. Tim and others in the metaverse space are chasing that Ready Player One dream, envisioning a multiverse of digital worlds. I believe they are approaching it incorrectly. They are building server-client models that limit experiences to around 10,000 users. My aim is to create a 3D internet, where millions can come together to share ideas and create content, much like they do in 2D today.”
Greene elaborated on the challenges of creating a viable metaverse, referencing a conversation with Sweeney regarding the limitations of current server infrastructure. “Tim suggests that the metaverse isn’t feasible yet due to inadequate server farms,” Greene noted, although he couldn’t confirm Sweeney’s exact words. What PlayerUnknown Productions aspires to achieve is a technology that enables metaverse infrastructure to be built locally on players’ devices.
In Prologue, a machine learning agent generates a height map—a simple black-and-white image—that is then processed through Unreal Engine to construct the game world. Greene also mentioned Preface, an un-gamified tech demo that utilizes machine learning models to create vast environments on a player’s GPU, all without relying on server farms. “This is a fundamental distinction,” he emphasized. “I want to build from the ground up, while others seem to be approaching it from the top down.”
One of Greene’s core principles for Artemis is its open-source nature. He clarified that PlayerUnknown Productions is not aiming to compete with established engines like Unreal or Unity but rather to create an “open framework” that accommodates various experiences across different platforms. In contrast to Epic’s recent partnership allowing Unity games to be featured in Fortnite Creative, Greene highlighted a crucial difference: “It’s a partnership, not an open platform. The metaverse should be an open framework where anyone can plug in, agnostic to all.”
Earlier this year, Greene projected that Project Artemis would take about a decade to materialize. In the meantime, Prologue is set to remain in early access for approximately a year, during which its survival sandbox will expand and its map generation technology will be refined. Following its official launch, Greene anticipates continued support for Prologue for a couple of years as PlayerUnknown Productions prepares for its next project. While competitors like Epic may currently have a head start in the metaverse race, there exists a possibility that PlayerUnknown Productions’ more open and locally generated approach could ultimately redefine the landscape.
