Teleportal Selected, UC Berkeley XR-Guild, Immersive X, Spotlight 2, RP1, and team welcome.
The Virtual Worlds Museum™ is delighted to share recent updates from our expanding presence across the immersive ecosystem. On September 18, 2025, Julian Reyes presented in the virtual world RP1, where he discussed The Teleportal as a framework for testing interoperability and emphasized the ethical foundations shaping the future of the metaverse. The Teleportal was then selected as part of the latest WebSpatial startup cohort during Tech Week by a16z!
Julian Reyes and Evo Heyning spoke at the UC Berkeley XR Guild community event on Friday, October 10, continuing to contribute to global conversations around innovation, ethics, and cultural preservation in XR.
Looking ahead, Julian Reyes will participate in Immersive X 2025 this November (based in Germany and experienced in VR). We’re also excited to announce Spotlight Video Series #2, the next installment in our ongoing interview series showcasing pioneering virtual worlds and the people shaping them.
Finally, we extend a warm welcome to our new team members, whose expertise and passion will help advance our mission to explore, preserve, and connect the evolving landscape of virtual worlds.
Teleportal Selected by WebSpatial during TECH WEEK by a16z
We’re honored that the Teleportal by the Virtual Worlds Museum™ was selected as part of the latest WebSpatial startup cohort during Tech Week by a16z. Huge thanks to the judges Amy LaMeyer, David Oh and Tipatat Chennavasin, keynote speaker Tony Parisi, and the WebSpatial team for creating such an inspiring event hosted at Frontier Tower. It was an incredible opportunity to share our vision for mapping and preserving the metaverse alongside fellow founders pushing the boundaries of immersive technology.
We’re looking forward to bringing our Teleportal to the Apple Vision Pro and Pico!
We will be releasing a web version soon! Please check our LinkedIn.
“The Teleportal is an interactive map and gateway to virtual worlds, derived from the research and curated Exhibits of the Virtual Worlds Museum™. More than a visualization, it transforms cultural preservation into active exploration. Visitors can seamlessly discover, analyze, and explore these platforms, turning knowledge into lived experience. As part research tool, part cultural archive, and part portal, the Teleportal brings the Museum’s mission of education, preservation, and exploration to life in an innovative, interactive form.”
Huge thanks to the Berkeley XR Lab and XR Guild for inviting Julian Reyes to speak and demo at UC Berkeley’s Bauer Wurster Hall. The evening of Friday the 10th, gathered XR pros, creators, and innovators for hands-on demos and a thoughtful panel with Avi Bar-Zeev, Prof. Luisa Caldas, Botond Bognar, and Amy LaMeyer on building ethical, impactful tech. Julian showcased Virtual Worlds Museum™, and we loved sharing the floor with fellow demo leads Nicole Lazzaro, Kevin Ang, Evo Heyning (Huge Shout out for organizing), and Dominique Wu. Grateful to everyone who came out to connect, explore, and get inspired!
IMMERSIVE X (November 11-13, 2025)
The fifth edition of IMMERSIVE X dedicated to the transformative power of XR – a force capable of opening new perspectives, challenging assumptions, and reshaping human behavior. Whether you are a storyteller, businessperson, educator, activist, or artist – XR offers a radically new way to engage with your ideas and each other. Our Director Julian Reyes will be presenting on Nov 11th on the topic:
“The Virtual Worlds Museum™ is mapping, preserving, and showcasing the evolving ecosystem of virtual world platforms. This session explores digital archiving, 3D mapping, ethical considerations, AI, and immersive Interoperability. Learn about the organizations shaping the future of XR: Virtual World Society, MetaTraversal, and XR Guild.”
Virtual Worlds Museum™ presents Richard Bartle, XR Culture Fireside Chat, and the Teleportal
We invite visionaries, technologists, and XR world builders to join us for a special one-hour event celebrating the past, present, and future of virtual worlds. This virtual gathering will feature the NEW book launch of Designing Virtual Worlds Volume I (2nd Edition) by Richard Bartle, whose groundbreaking work helped shape the foundation of immersive digital spaces.
🪐 Event Program:
- Introduction by Evo Heyning
- Keynote Talk: Richard Bartle reflects on the history of virtual worlds and the evolution of his influential book.
- Fireside Chat: Hosted by Paige Dansinger and Andy FIdel, exploring the art and design of virtual worlds, the ethics of digital preservation, and the creative frontiers shaping the next era of immersive culture.
- Live presentation of the Teleportal by Virtual Worlds Museum™, the Teleportal is an interactive map for discovering virtual worlds platforms.
This event is both a celebration and a call to imagine what comes next. Together, we’ll honor pioneers building the metaverse and invite new voices to shape the worlds yet to come.
✨ RSVP to be part of this historic conversation.
Announcement of the Spotlight Video Season 2
Earlier in the year the Virtual Worlds Museum™ announced the production of Spotlight Video Season 2, focused on our VR & Apps Exhibit.
Season 2 will spotlight immersive platforms beyond WebXR, showcasing the rich diversity of virtual experiences across popular VR and App-based virtual environments: Horizon Worlds, Roblox, Second Life, Rec Room, Resonite, Engage XR, VRChat, and Viverse.
Filming has began in Second Life with Tom Boellstorff and new videos planned.
many Thanks to Evo Heyning, Carlos Austin, and Rachael Newport!
RP1 talk by Julian Reyes alongside Caitlin Krause and others
On September 18, 2025, Julian Reyes, Director of the Virtual Worlds Museum™, was invited to speak in the virtual world RP1, where he joined a global network of Metaverse and XR professionals, developers, builders, and creators. The event, organized by Rebecca Evans and the RP1 team, brought together enterprise leaders and innovators to discuss emerging technologies and key takeaways following Meta Connect.
Welcome Team Members!
The Virtual Worlds Museum™ is delighted to welcome three new team members who bring exceptional expertise in immersive media and innovation. Paige Dansinger joined as Programs Advisor, contributing her leadership in digital culture and inclusive XR initiatives. Jens Kull, the new WebXR Ambassador, blends art and technology to advance immersive storytelling and web-based experiences. Greg Panos, joining as Strategy Advisor, brings decades of pioneering work in virtual and augmented reality. Together, they strengthen the Museum’s mission to advance education, ethics, and interoperability across virtual worlds.
BIG SHOUT out to Arrival.Space for their vision, support, and collaboration.
Arrival.Space
Our collaboration with Arrival.Space has been instrumental. Their support and expertise have been invaluable. Learn more about Arrival.Space and their contributions to the virtual worlds community.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead and thank you for your continued support. Together, we can preserve the history and future of virtual worlds.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support the Virtual Worlds Museum™ and our mission to preserve, explore, and connect the evolving landscape of virtual worlds. Your encouragement and collaboration make this work possible. If you’d like to contribute to our efforts or get involved in upcoming initiatives, please reach out through the Contact Us page on our website — we’d love to hear from you.