Amazon University Esports, a keystone organization for the academic esports environment worldwide, has announced the launch of its new virtual world, University World. The esports and education project is for university students from 16 countries across 4 continents. The web-based app was launched in UAE in partnership with MENA Tech Entertainment (a company of GGTech Entertainment).

University World is a newly designed space where students and other audiences who want to access the space will be able to interact with each other, both in a central hall common to all countries, as well as in specific rooms unique to each nation. Players will be able to communicate through the integrated chat and score points to win prizes through different mini-games and other multiple activities. This will create a global community in a virtual space.

A promising future

Since the advent of technology, wider access to devices, and their ever-increasing usage, virtual worlds have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to a PwC report, the metaverse industry will contribute $15bn to Gulf economies by 2030, with KSA and UAE leading the way. Meanwhile, the global market is poised to reach US$5 billion in the same period. Dubai has set its sights to become one of the world's top 10 metaverse economies via the Dubai Metaverse Strategy announced in January 2023. The strategy aims to promote Dubai’s ambitions to multiply its blockchain presence and support more than 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030.

Mario Pérez, CEO of MENA Tech Entertainment, commented on the launch: “In a world that continues to become increasingly digital, the virtual world is becoming an ever more present scenario in our lives. Metaverses will become more accessible over the next few years as more industries begin to explore and invest in them, improving accessibility. This serves as the ripe time to introduce UNIVERSITY World to the UAE, to educate people in preparation for what’s to come.”

In image above: Mario Pérez, CEO of MENA Tech Entertainment

Users create the world

One of the essential characteristics of metaverses is that it is created by the users themselves, through their interaction with the app. Each user can customize his or her avatar with different colors, names, and a series of predetermined gestures and movements that will be visible to other users in the environment. This alternate world is formed by combining collective participation and individual preferences.

The virtual world will continuously evolve to incorporate updated features driven by the community's demands and how its members want to improve the world. Several improvements are planned for the app, including introducing educational materials, news, and video workshops.

Supporting the student esports community

University World aims to enhance the user experience for Amazon University Esports students and bridge the boundaries to explore new ways to interact and test new products in a virtual environment. Amazon University Esports is made possible thanks to the support of top-level publishers and brands such as Riot Games, Ubisoft, and HP Omen. The web-based app is already available in seven countries (UAE, KSA, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the UK), and the UAE Emirati version can be accessed here.