EOTB: Destination Guide Coffee Shops And LindeX Limits

 

 

 With the arrival of September has come what's become something of a modern-day fall ritual, the return of pumpkin spice coffee in cafes and grocery stores. While you won't see too many grocery stores in Second Life, there are some cafes in this virtual world. And the most recent Destination Guide Highlights were of several coffee shops, reading hangouts, and other community centers where one of the main features was talking to others while your avatar enjoys a (virtual) cup of joe, including the Pumpkin Spice Cafe (above). 

 

 

The most recent entry was titled "Trust And Safety Tuesdays," even though it was posted on a Thursday, subtitled, "LindeX Billing And Trading Limits." In short, it puts a limit on how bad the damage that could happen if your avatar gets hacked at the cost of limiting how much you can spend and sell. 

Your account tier determines your exact daily and 30-day limits across buying L$, selling L$, and processing credit transfers. These limits accommodate everyone from new Residents to large-scale business owners. From the moment you register, you are assigned a baseline tier that governs your initial allowances. Rather than forcing a single cap on every account, LindeX Limit Reviews allow Residents to increase their tiers, providing a smooth progression path whether you are purchasing your first outfit, managing land, or running a high-volume business.

Every brand-new account starts at a particularly restricted tier that will eventually progress to the first full level, but reaching it requires a Billing Age of at least 30 days. Your Billing Age is not based on your avatar's creation date. Instead, the 30-day clock only starts ticking when you make your very first transaction using real-world currency (such as USD). Spending or trading Linden dollars alone will not establish a Billing Age. Because of this, an account can exist in Second Life for years or even decades, but it will remain at the initial New Resident tier until 30 days pass following its first USD transaction.

To see what your limits are, head to the Linden Exchange portion of your profile on secondlife.com and click on "Billing/Trading Limits." If you feel yours are too small for your needs, click on "Request a review of your limits." 

To see the blog post in full, Click Here. 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: New Zindra Land And Getting The Parcels

 

 

 In the official Linden Blog on Wednesday September 2, the Lab brought up the new sims on the Mainland continent of Zindra, and talked about "a new way to find your next parcel." 

 

With the expansion of the land adding 92 sims, residents of Gaeta 1 were allowed the first spots as the smaller land mass was originally planned to be closed, but later the Lab changed their mind and left the little continent alone. With that done, "We’re now preparing to make the remaining parcels available more broadly. Rather than making all of the remaining parcels available through the Mainland auction system, we’re going to try something a little different. Parcels will be released in groups over a period of time, with Residents given the opportunity to enter drawings to purchase them."

 

For each release, entry kiosks will be placed directly on the participating parcels. The available parcels will include a variety of sizes that align with common Mainland tier levels.

The first group of kiosks will open at 12:00 p.m. SLT on Tuesday, September 8 and will remain open for 72 hours, closing at 12:00 p.m. SLT on Friday, September 11.

Residents may enter once per account for each parcel, and you may enter drawings for multiple parcels. 

 

Once a drawing closes, one Resident will be selected for each parcel and contacted by Linden Lab through a Support ticket.

Selected Residents will have 72 hours from the time they are contacted to claim the parcel and complete the purchase for L$1 per square meter.

To give as many Residents as possible an opportunity to participate, once you are selected for a parcel from these new Zindra regions, you will no longer be eligible for additional parcel drawings from this release program. Any other entries you may already have submitted will no longer be eligible for selection.

 

The drawing is limited only to residents with paid accounts: Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus.

 

Linden Lab would make a post in the community forums that it stated had a list of available parcels.  But checking it, it stated "Check back on 12:00 p.m. SLT on Tuesday, September 8!" There were a number of comments by residents, "Anything that prevents Land Barons buying up vast swathes of SL's land and turning it into unrented desolate wasteland is a good thing by me." "There is not even a link to the area they are speaking about." "Frankly, I think this is a brilliant scheme -- Adult-rated land is insanely over-priced."

 

For more information, check the blog post in full (here).  

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: Lab Reminds The "Golden Ticket Giveaway" Ends Soon, Winner Chosen Next Friday

 

Yesterday, Linden Lab reminded residents that the number of days left to enter the Golden Ticket Giveaway is getting short. Tuesday July 14 will be the last day.

 

 The SL23B Golden Ticket Giveaway is heading toward its grand finale, and there’s still time to enter.

Residents have until July 14th to visit participating SL23B regions and click on the Golden Ticket kiosks for a chance to be selected. Each day brings a new opportunity to secure your spot, so don’t miss your chance to take part.

 

The 23 winners will be invited to take part at the last stage of the Giveaway, a televised event on Friday July 17 at 9AM SL time, where most will get 10,000 Linden dollar prizes with one lucky winner getting a million Lindens.

 

The last day of the SLB is Sunday  July 19.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

EOTB: Meet The Lindens At The SL23B

 

One of the features of the Second Life Birthday for a number of years is you get a chance to listen to some of Linden Lab's finest, hear what's on their minds and what they've been up to and planning for the near future, and maybe get a chance to ask some questions. From Monday to Friday this week, there will be five Meet The Lindens events there.

 

The schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 22nd at 1pm PT – Meet the Founder of Second Life, Philip Rosedale (a.k.a. Philip Linden), live at SL23B

Tuesday, June 23rd at 1pm PT – Meet the Product team live at SL23B

Wednesday, June 24th at 1pm PT – Meet the Engineering team live at SL23B

Thursday, June 25th at 1pm PT – Meet the Marketing and Growth teams live at SL23B

Friday, June 26th at 1pm PT – Meet the Second Life Studios team live at SL23B

 

The event is at the Orpheum Theater, with the following SURL suggestions:

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Celebrate/25/24/22
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Astonish/26/251/29
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Amaze/251/27/28 

 

For those with questions, you have until the end of the day to submit them in advance. While there may be some time at the end of events for questions straight from the audience, this is not guaranteed.

 

To read the blog post in full, Click Here. 

 

EOTB: Questions Requested For Meet The Lindens Events

 

 

Do you have a question for the Lindens? Here's your chance to get it answered.

 

A few days ago, Linden Lab posted on their blog that they were accepting questions in advance for the Lindens at the "Meet the Lindens: events" from Monday June 22 to Friday June 26. People are asked to submit their questions a Google Doc (here) by Sunday June 21. You will be asked if there's a specific Linden you want the question directed at, and if you want your name mentioned. 

 

 During the celebrations, there will be a series of Q&A events where you can meet the Lindens live at SL23B! This is your chance to connect directly with the people behind Second Life and hear more about what’s happening across the platform.

The founder of Second Life, Philip Rosedale (a.k.a. Philip Linden), will be joining along with leads from our Product, Engineering, Marketing, Growth, and Second Life Studios teams.

Do you have questions you want to ask any team? Submit your questions at this link no later than June 21st to be considered for inclusion in the Q&A during these live events.

 

It should be noted that not all questions submitted will necessarily be answered (the announcement stating the questions will be considered).

 

To read the announcement in full, Click Here.  

 

EOTB: SL23B Live Music Events & Performances

 

 The Second Life Birthday is tomorrow. And recently on the official blog, Linden Lab announced the schedule of the music events and performances.

 

 The countdown to SL23B is on, and the celebration begins on June 18th! From June 18th through June 28th, experience a full lineup of live music and performances across five SL23B stages. These performances bring together a wide range of talent from across the community. From DJs and live musicians to dance troupes and immersive acts, the SL23B stages will be filled with energy throughout the celebration. Mark your calendar and stay tuned to the Second Life Birthday Events Calendar so you don’t miss any performances.

As a reminder, the music events go on for ten days, to Sunday June 28. The Birthday goes on for a month, to July 19.

 

To read the blog postin full: Click Here.

  

 

 

EOTB: Linden Lab To Raise Premium Account Price, Lowering Linden Dollar Buy Fee, Sim Monthy Fees

 

Yesterday on Monday June 8, Linden Lab announced some price changes. Good news if you keep buying Lindens or own one or more sims. But if you're a Premium Resident, some bad news. 

 

First the bad news, which the Lab called the reason for "adding more value to paid membership plans." The cost of Premium will be going up from $11.99 USD a month to $12.99 a month. If you pay by the quarter or year, the price will be a little less. If you pay every three months, the price will be going up to $11.99 USD a month or $35.97 per quarter. If you pay by the year, the rate will be going up to $9.99 USD a month or $119.88 annually. There was some fine print at the bottom of the announcement saying that the option to pay quarterly is no longer available "for new purchases."

 

The last time Premium accounts went up in price was over seven years ago from $9.50 a month, in May 2019, which the Lab then called "the difficult decision to make our first Premium price increase in over a decade." Their language back then was more direct than the wording in Monday's announcement. 

 

The price increase is not immediate, but will take place thirty days after the announcement, on July 8, 2026.  

 

The costs for Plus and Premium Plus level accounts. $5.99 and $29.99 USD a month respectively, which were introduced after the previous price increase, are not changing.  

 

Not all of the news was bad. Linden Lab announced that the minimum fee to purchase Linden dollars would be going down from $1.49 USD to 49 cents. 

 

But, there was a catch. The Lab would announce the ceiling rate, the maximum buy fee, was going up from $14.99 USD to $29.99.  The benefit of making fewer purchases of more Linden dollars instead of more smaller ones is being reduced. 

 

The fee changes Linden Lab wanted to emphasize the most is what will likely affect the smallest number of residents (albeit so much of the Grid as we know it depends on them).  The price of maintaining a sim will be going down from $209 a month to $199 a month. Sims whose prim capacity has been expanded to 30,000 will drop in monthly maintenance from $239 USD to $209. For a sim with an education discount, the monthly rate to maintain it drops from $129 USD to $105. This is a decrease of almost a fifth. So good news for those paying for education areas. The setup fee of $349 USD will not change. 

 

Linden Lab would justify it's increase in Premium accounts by saying they were "adding more value to our plans. In the past month alone, we’ve added two valuable new benefits - exclusive early access to some of the hottest shopping events in Second Life and at least 12 exclusive gifts monthly, which is the largest collection of exclusive paid membership monthly gifts ever!" They also stated they were offering "Expanded access to Linden Homes, Premium customer support benefits, more subscriber-exclusive virtual gifts than ever before," and "New partnerships offering early access to some of Second Life’s hottest shopping events and experiences."

 

A thread opened in the official Second Life forums on the announcement.  While there was some praise for making land more affordable, most of the comments were grumbles about the greater cost for Premium accounts. "They're getting greedy again and want to milk Premium a little more if they can, or push more people to go for (Premium Plus)." "'Expanded access to Linden Homes' ... so what, in fact, what does that even mean?" "Given that just about everything in real life has gone up a lot in price in recent times, it's hardly surprising that LL has put its fees up."

 

To see the blog post in full, Click Here.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

ETOB: Spotlight On Locations For Mental Health

 

Second Life has many locations in which people can just relax and chill. But some were made with the mental health of visitors in mind. Plus there are also some groups dedicated to healing of mental conditions.  In this week's "Highlights From The Destination Guide," Linden Lab is putting the spotlight on several locations in which are good for mental wellness. 

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Second Life is home to communities and destinations that offer support, connection, and space to reset. You'll find peaceful meditation gardens, mindfulness centers, peer support groups, veteran communities, wellness retreats, and educational health resources designed to encourage human connection, care, and healing.
 

They would go on to list several locations. Among them,  Circle Mental Health at Nautilus Anath (79/124/3001),  Fearless Nation at Fearless Nation (73/154/30), which the Newser would write about in 2020, Echo Group Band of Brothers, which we wrote about in 2022, Virtual Ability at Virtual Ability (128/128/23), which the Newser has written about numerous times, and more. 

 

To suggest a place for the Destinations Guide, fill out the form (here).  

 

 Third image by Penny Shuftan (Deaflegacy)

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

EOTB: No More Browser Viewer: Linden Lab Announces End to Project Zero

 

Linden Lab announced it was pulling the plug on an alternative viewer, one accessible through one's webbrowser. 

 

In January 2025, Linden Lab announced "Project Zero,"a viewer accessible through one's computer webbrowser. Browsing sessions through it were limited in time, though a few signing up would randomly be chosen to experience Second Life through it. Later, "priority access" would be an option, but it would cost $2.99 for five hours of time. In March 2025, there was a Firestorm version available, though people had to pay to use it as there was no free option available.

 

Since then, there hasn't been anything about Project Zero that caught the Newser's attention. That is until now. Yesterday, April 21, Linden Lab announced it was "Ending Support" for it.  

 

Last year, we introduced Project Zero as an experiment to explore a new way of accessing Second Life through a web browser. 

Many of you took part in testing Project Zero and shared thoughtful feedback along the way. Your involvement (and the feedback you shared) has been incredibly valuable in helping us better understand how lowering the barrier to entry – by removing the need for downloads or high-end hardware – could help improve new user onboarding and engagement. Thank you for being part of that process.

Based on what we’ve learned, we’ve made the decision to end support for the Project Zero Viewer ... 

 

They would go on to say support would end on Friday April 24 at 5PM SL time.  Those who have unused time were asked to file a support ticket to get up to 30 days worth of time back. The mobile and desktop viewers are not affected. 

 

"The insights gained from Project Zero will directly inform improvements to these core experiences, helping us focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact. Our work to make Second Life more accessible, welcoming, and engaging is ongoing. We look forward to sharing more with you soon."

 

For the blog post in full, Click Here. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

EOTB: Linden Lab to Introduce "Onboarding Experiences Built by Second Life Creators"

 

One problem Second Life has had to contend with over it's history is retaining newcomers, only a small fraction of those who log in for the first time keep coming back after the first few visits, many not even after the first. This virtual world has a steep learning curve, as well as it can be a challenge to find out where to go and what to do, and newcomers unless they have friends to guide them or extremely persistent, grow frustrated and lose interest in sticking around. 

 

Linden Lab has been trying various things over the years to try to keep new residents coming back, and encouraging other residents to help out.  On Monday March 30, Linden Lab announced on their blog "new onboarding experiences ... built by talented community creators." 

 

As part of our ongoing experimentation with improving the new user experience, we’ve recently launched a new set of onboarding destinations in Second Life designed to make Residents’ first moments more social, interactive, and fun.

Each experience has been independently built by a group of talented community creators and are currently among the first locations newly-registered community members will experience for a limited time as we continue to assess what types of experiences and locations retain and engage our newcomers.  

 

The blog entry would go on to say the work, "was part of a pilot New User Experience Working Group (NUXWG)," and it had finished up a week earlier, calling it, "an outgrowth of our ongoing Creator Partnership Program, where we work directly with the community for select partnerships across a variety of initiatives." The Lab stated the same group was behind "several new mobile-specific landing locations" in 2025. 

 

Over the next few weeks, we will be testing these and other starter locations as we continue our ongoing efforts to experiment, learn, and evolve the new user experience - with ongoing consideration for our Community Gateway partners and other collaborations. 

We invite the community to check these locations out for yourself and support these creators who put lots of love and labor into this project.  

 

Currently, there are six of these Onboarding Experiences:  

 

Madpea Scardey Cats,  in which the player rescues kittens from a playfully spooky funhouse.

 

Driving Dirty , described as "where you can play different games, grab free prizes, meet new people, and hang out with others."  

 

Rush Week, which looks like a college-themed dating area.

 

Brazil Tour, a place in the theme of the country Brazil where one can play a few games or interact with others, some of whom may be from the country.

 

Club Midnight Pulse, a newbie-oriented nightclub where besides dancing to the music, you can play a few quests and meet others.

 

The Learning Center,  a space-stationed theme place described as "an interactive destination designed to teach the basics through gameplay. Explore obstacle courses, collect hidden stars, and learn core skills while progressing through challenges."

 

To read the blogpost in full, Click Here.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

EOTB: New Valentine-Themed Last Names

 

Several days ago, Linden Lab would announce on the official Second Life blog a list of new options for account last names. With the month being February, they were Valentines Day themed.

 

 ... we have just released new last names for the season! The following Valentine-themed names are only available for a limited time:

 

 The list of names are as follows: Tender, Velvetpaw, Lovebug, Pookie, Lust, Amorous, Heartsy, Cuddleclaw, Latido, Luvmore, Sweetums, Snacc, Huggles, and Cherub. 

Dropping in some personal comments, "Latido" I had to look up, and it's Spanish for "beat" or "regular beat." It might be alluding to a heartbeat. "Cuddleclaw" and "Velvetpaw" sound like something for a female furry or dragon. Having "Snacc" for a surname, one might want to be careful around larger dragon avatars.

 

The Lab would say the names are "seasonal and may return around this time next year." It would also invite people to make suggestions for new surnames (on this Google doc). 

 

As a reminder, changing your account name is not free, but costs from $49.99 to $14.99 USD (FAQ).

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

EOTB: Linden Lab Spotlights Valentines Day Happenings

 

A few days ago, Linden Lab posted about several Valentine's Day themed events, places, and things in Second Life. Some are currently taking place/accessible. Others have yet to happen.

 

Among them is the "Valentine Shop and Hop" shopping event.  There's also a new list of choices for last names available for a limited time for the season (more on this later). 

 

The Isle of View, Linden Lab's Valentine's Day themed area, a pinkish four sim large heart-shaped island, is back up. Before the main event, couples can go there for a romantic time, one can stop by the small store to get a treat for their loved one, or the curious can just wander about. 

 

On Saturday February 14, the Isle of View will hold a special event, "Hug or Dunk A Linden (or Mole)." It will go on from 1 to 3 PM SL time.

 

For fans of the "Love Train," it's back. This time for both Friday February 13 and Saturday February 14. 

 

Maybe this has to do with Friday the 13th being considered an unlucky day by the superstitious, but on this day the Lab will be holding a darker take on Valentines Day called "Til Death Do Us Part." There will be events at both the Love Train and the Isle of View. 

 

And the Lab reminded people to check out Romance-themed places in it's Destination Guide.  

To read the Linden blog in full, Click Here.  

 Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: "SL Video Creators Group’s Best of 2025 Nominees"

 

 In the Linden Blog, there's been two updates in the past few days. On Wednesday January 14 was an announcement for video fans. For the rest of January, there will be special showings of highlights from videos nominated for The SL Video Creators Group Best of 2025 Award at the Cinema at the WelcomeHub area. This will be followed by an awards show at the Cinema on February 7.

 

Calling all machinima fans! The SL Video Creators Group is kicking off the new year at the Second Life Cinema with a special showcase celebrating the Best of 2025 Award nominees.

Founded by Jordan Rizzo in 2020, the SL Video Creators Group brings together Second Life filmmakers to share resources, collaborate, and highlight outstanding machinima. Each year, their awards recognize exceptional work across multiple categories, including short form, long form, vlog, music video, and short film.

Throughout January, the Second Life Cinema will feature a nominees reel, giving you the chance to watch highlights from this year’s nominated videos in a shared, inworld theater experience. It is a great way to discover new creators, revisit standout moments from 2025, and start forming your predictions ahead of the awards show. 

 

The awards show at the Cinema will take place February 7 at Noon SL time, and for those who can't make it inworld, it will be streamed live on Youtube.  

 

For the list of nominies, check the SL Creators Group website.  

 

For the blog post in full, Click Here.  

 

EOTB: New "Second Life University" Video, "Introduction to .glTF"

 

In November, the Second Live University videos resumed after a two year hiatus. Late last week on January 8, Linden Lab announced it's latest one, "Introduction to .glTF." 

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

Class is back in session! Second Life University returns with a special new episode featuring AxlTruth (Mesh Monster). We are excited to welcome him to the series!

In this episode, Axl walks through one of the most important updates for content creators, .glTF and PBR materials. With .glTF, you can import a full PBR asset, including mesh, textures, materials, and rigs, using a single streamlined workflow.

Axl starts with a quick breakdown of what .glTF is, why it matters, and how it works alongside physically based rendering (PBR). He then demonstrates how to set up materials in Blender, export a .glTF file, and bring it into Second Life. You will also see how to import materials, manage the level of detail and land impact, and apply textures efficiently. The video wraps with the same workflow using Substance Painter, making it easy to bring fully textured assets into Second Life with consistent results.

 * * * * *

 

Topics covered in this video: 00:00 Introduction to .glTF and PBR in Second Life 00:59 What is .glTF? 01:37 Understanding PBR materials 02:06 PBR texture maps explained 02:52 .glTF expanded vs. packed (binary .glb) 03:17 Preparing Blender for .glTF 03:47 Setting up materials in Blender 04:19 Base color and normal maps 04:49 Metallic and roughness maps 05:11 Ambient occlusion and glTF material output 05:33 Emissive materials 06:01 Transparency and alternate material setups 06:27 Using combined ORM maps 07:15 Exporting .glTF from Blender 07:52 Importing .glTF into Second Life 08:09 Setting level of detail and land impact 08:35 Importing .glTF materials 09:10 Exporting from Substance Painter 09:52 Importing Substance Painter assets into Second Life 10:34 To dive deeper into using PBR Materials, watch our other Second Life University Video:    • Second Life University - How to Create PBR...   

 

To read the blog post, Click Here. 

  

Applications Being Accepted For Valentine Shop and Hop

 

It's not yet Christmas, and people are still shopping at the stores for gifts. But already Linden Lab is getting ready for February.  On Friday December 12, Linden Lab announced it was accepting applications for the Valentine Shop and Hop.

 

We are thrilled to announce the early opening of applications for the 2026 Valentine Shop & Hop!

As we prepare for an extra special Valentine’s event, we're on the lookout for enthusiastic Creators ready to join the celebration of love ...

Merchants wanting to take part will need to fill out a Google Doc (here).  They will need to offer at least 20 percent off on items on sale at the stores. They will also need to offer a new gift for shoppers, regardless if they're in the merchant's group or not, or a gift certificate worth at least 300 Linden dollars. No adult items are permitted, nor are political themes. Also, applying does not guarantee approval.

 

 The Valentine Shop and Hop will run from Friday January 30 to Monday February 16. 

 

For the blog post in full, Click here.  

 

EOTB: New Last Names

 

In the official Second Life blog last week, Linden Lab announced they had released a list of Christmas and winter-themed last names for accounts. 

 

To celebrate the winter holiday season, we have released some festive new last names! 

 

The list of names goes as follows :

 

Nutmeg, Krampus, Solstice, Twinkle, Snowveil, Everfrost, Winterpelt, Glacia, Nuzzle, Polar, and Gingerpaw 

 

These seasonal names will be around "for a limited time," saying some *might* be available again in a future Christmas season. 

 

As a reminder, changing one's account name is not free. There's a fee of $49.99 for basic and Plus accounts, less for higher ones, more details here. And special seasonal names aside, once a name is dropped from the list, it's gone for good. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: "Joy To The Grid"

 

Linden Lab's latest blog post is about various Christmas and winter events and activities. 

 

Happy December, Residents! The holidays are here, and we’ve packed the season with festive fun for everyone. From epic shopping sprees to snowball battles, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate in Second Life this winter. Here’s a peek at what’s coming your way:  

 

The themes range from the Christmas Shop and Hop which opens tomorrow (check for more information tomorrow morning), new last names, Premium account gifts, "Santa Patch" at the Christmas Expo, the Linden Snowball Fight, and more. 

 

We'll have more info about some of these later. For now, you can check out the Linden blog (here). 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

EOTB: Embedded Youtube Videos Not Working

 

On Wednesday November 19, Linden Lab addressed a certain issue it the official Second Life blog:Youtube videos embedded inworld had stopped working. 

 

Many of you have recently noticed that YouTube videos embedded directly in Second Life no longer play. Here’s what’s going on, why it’s happening, and how you can keep sharing video experiences in-world.
First, let’s clear the air: this change is not caused by Second Life.

YouTube has begun more strictly enforcing the policy around video playback inside embedded browsers. These policy and technical restrictions affect any platform trying to use embeds stripped from the iframe, not just Second Life. As a result, YouTube.com embeds often refuse to load or play inside parcel media and shared media surfaces.

Our underlying media system has not changed. What has changed is how YouTube allows its content to be displayed. 

 

The embeds are breaking because Youtube has tightened various restrictions, so that the inworld media panels' inworld browser can no longer meet their requirements. So the videos are blocked.  

 

What to do? Linden Lab stated they are "exploring ways to improve overall media playback resiliency." But for now, they suggest either using Vimeo platform videos, as it is "currently the most seamless drop-in replacement for in-world video playback," or using a self-hosted webpage with an iFrame, "Many residents already use this approach for theaters, classrooms, and event venues."

For the blog post in full, Click Here. 
 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

EOTB: Call For Merchants For Christmas Shop And Hop, Ends November 2

 

It's not even Halloween, and already Linden Lab is getting ready for Christmas. Yesterday on the official blog, the Lab announced they were accepting applications for those wanting shops in the 2025 Holiday Shop and Hop.

 

 Halloween may still be spookily lingering, but we’re already brewing up plans for the festive season! We’re excited to announce the return of our highly anticipated Holiday Shop & Hop event. Mark your calendars for a spectacular shopping extravaganza starting on December 5th, 2025, and running through January 4th, 2026. Get ready for a festive shopping experience like no other!

 

 Those merchants interested need to fill out a form on Google Docs (here). The following conditions apply:

 

* Merchants are required to provide a NEW non-group gift.
* Merchants are required to have at least a 20% discount on ALL items present at the Shop and Hop location.
* Items need to be appropriate for a moderate audience and adhere to the Linden Lab ToS.
* Content should not contain or reference political issues or figures.
* All items displayed and/or advertised in the Shop and Hop store MUST be for sale at the Shop and Hop for the duration of the event. This means you can not use the Shop and Hop to promote items for sale at other events. 

 

The setup period is Nov 5 to Dec 1, and merchants will be asked what they sell the most of and it is reminding that applying does not guarantee a spot.

 

The Lab would remind people that the Halloween Shop and Hop is still going on, and invite people to check it out.

 

 To read the blog post in full, Click Here.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Linden Lab Offering Premium Plus Without Stipend At Reduced Price

 

On Wednesday October 15, Linden Lab announced in the official blog it was offering Premium Plus accounts at a reduced price, the catch being it would be without the weekly stipend. 

 

We just launched something new in Second Life: Premium Plus at a fraction of the cost!

Think of it as Premium Plus’ cost-conscious sibling—all the perks, just without the weekly allowance. And it might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

 The Lab would remind people of the benefits of a Premium Plus account, being able to be in up to 150 groups, access to the larger Linden Homes, and more, "The only thing you won’t get is the weekly L$ stipend and signup bonus—which means you’re paying less for the same perks offered in our current Premium Plus tier.

 

The blog entry would say the price for Premium Plus was $20.75 USD a month, with the discounted plan without stipends at $11.99 USD a month. But this is done under annual billing. Under monthly billing the price is $29.99 USD a month for regular and $15.99 USD a month without the stipend. 

 

For more information, check the Linden blog (here). 

 

 Bixyl Shuftan