EOTB: Linden Lab Gives 2023 Year In Review, "What To Expect" For 2024

 

 

A few days ago on the official blog, Linden Lab posted what they felt were the highlights of the past year, and a few things on "what to expect" for the next. 

As the end of 2023 approaches, Second Life is entering an exciting and pivotal moment in its development and evolution. The past year has seen the release of several new features and breakthroughs ...

Of the "new features and breakthroughs," they first mentioned their mobile viewer, which a few days ago an alpha version was available to Premium Plus residents. They also talked about PBR (Physically Based Rendering) Materials which offer the promise of working mirrors, and other reflective surfaces, in Second Life. They also mentioned the new Ranch and upcoming Mediterranean Linden Homes for Premium Plus residents, and the new Senra starter avatars, replacing the previous ones with better-made mesh. There was the new WelcomeHub area and Motown.

There were also smaller things such as improvements to chat history and Marketplace search. They also mentioned "a certain Linden executive cameo during a pivotal scene that prominently featured Second Life in the season finale ... of the popular Apple+ program 'The Morning Show'."

Finally there was also the 20th anniversary celebration, along with some media outlets using the milestone to write about the virtual world for the first time in years.  

For 2024, the Lab promises more developments with it's mobile viewer. It also says they plan "something spicy" with some "new adult-friendly initiatives." They plan on improving the new user experience. And they plan to make use of AI technology.

In the coming year, we plan to carefully explore some cutting-edge use of AI in Second Life including experimental use of smart AI-driven chatbots to help greet, educate, and mentor newcomers. We know that there are additional opportunities to integrate AI across all aspects of Second Life, but we also know that AI can be a polarizing topic and there are many sensitivities on how (and if) we should explore AI integration at all. We've already established internal policies governing the selection and use of AI tools with user privacy as the foremost consideration. Our goal is to find the right balance to bring some AI advancements and innovations into the virtual world – but only in a way that respects the rights of content creators, while also advancing the overall Second Life creator ecosystem and quality of the overall community experience.

 

 At the end, they wished the residents Happy Holidays

On behalf of the entire Second Life team, we would like to wish you and your loved ones a happy new year! We are thankful to be part of your virtual family and send you blessings from both the virtual (and physical) worlds!

But not everything newsworthy would make the Lab's official word. The Newser will make it's own year in review later. 

 

 Source: Linden blog

Bixyl Shuftan