[New Wave] COVID-19 and the Metaverse

Among the changes in daily life brought about by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there is a new world that we are gradually adapting to. That world is gaming. Games are playing an alternative role in resuming cultural activities such as limited sports events, elections, and concerts amid COVID-19 prevention measures.

Let’s look at some examples. The Olympic Games, a sports festival with over 100 years of tradition, were postponed due to the COVID-19 situation, and even the possibility of holding them next year remains uncertain. On the other hand, the popular game "League of Legends 2020 World Championship (Worlds)" held in Shanghai, China, from the 25th of last month to the 31st of this month, is thrilling game fans worldwide through online streaming despite the COVID-19 situation. For reference, Mercedes-Benz is participating as a sponsor of this tournament.

Another popular game, the "Overwatch" League finals, were also successfully held online on the 10th. According to the organizers, the average number of viewers per minute for this online broadcast was 1.55 million, a 38% increase compared to the previous year.

The World Cyber Games (WCG), a gaming tournament hosted and led by South Korea, is currently holding its preliminaries online. The grand finals scheduled for early November are also expected to be held online without any issues. While offline sports have slowed down, the interest of young fans has firmly settled in gaming tournaments known as esports.

As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates the non-face-to-face society, people are flocking to games. Even those who require face-to-face interaction are naturally turning to games. The U.S. presidential election is a representative example. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, competing against U.S. President Donald Trump, is using the game "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" to campaign among gamers.

The Biden campaign released four types of support signs within the game last month and introduced "Biden Island" on the 16th of this month. Users enjoying Animal Crossing can visit Biden Island anytime to meet him and explore election promotional materials and a virtual office. This reflects a clear understanding that gamers in the U.S. constitute a significant portion of voters and that contact with them can determine success or failure.

One of the sectors hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic is the performing arts. The performance industry is also seeking breakthroughs by linking with games to escape the crisis. Famous American singer Travis Scott held an avatar-based concert called "Astronomical" within Epic Games’ "Fortnite" in April, attracting a staggering 12.3 million viewers. This figure counts only those who logged into the actual game to watch the concert. Scott performed six songs on this stage, including new releases. Games are thus being used as platforms for singers to debut new songs.

Korean Wave star BTS also premiered the choreography version of their new song "Dynamite" last month in Fortnite, marking the world’s first such release. This differentiated activity seems to have contributed to BTS’s songs reaching No. 1 and No. 2 on the Billboard "Hot 100" chart.

Games have now transformed from merely experiencing content directly to spaces where fans cheer for outstanding players, meet their supported candidates, and watch their favorite celebrities sing and dance. This phenomenon is called the "Metaverse." Communication and empathy through another world, not just one universe, have become crucial factors for success in politics, economy, society, culture, and all other fields. Fortunately, this space is where our young people are excelling. It is worrisome that, amid rampant discussions about regulating games, our politicians and older generations may not fully recognize the value of games as a metaverse.

Lee Jang-ju, Director of Irak Digital Culture Research Institute