In a recent article in New World Notes, Hamlet AU reported that Brad Oberwager, the head of Linden Lab, stated that the number of monthly active users had gone up from about 600,000 in October to 620,000.
In an October interview Oberwager admitted that Second Life's monthly active users had dropped to 500,000 in 2024.
Oberwager would go on to say they planned on doing things that would encourage more people to use the virtual world more often, such as hiring a Vice President of Engineering.
Video from Pantera Północy. At the monthly Concierge & Land User Group meeting last week on 24 September 2025, as usual the Lindens present, in this case Izzy, Wendi, and Alpha, talked with issues and new features with the residents.
Around 53:16, one resident asked if apartment buildings could ever be done. Izzy Linden respanded when he was first talking to people about it, he was told they weren't possible, "And in one way that's true. You can't have different ownership up a Z-axis right now. Second Life just doesn't do it. So we don't currently have the ability for vertical parcels. I don't know if that's ever going to not be a thing.
"However, one of the suggestions that I made, it is currently not in planning, so keep that in mind, but I have looked into the possibility of having Linden Home Brownstones." He would go on to say, "Brownstone is a multi-bedroom vertical building very ala New York or Washington DC or Boston. Think also kind of like the row homes in certain areas where it's very thin apartments, but they've got two to five floors to them."
One resident gasped, another responded, "Oh, we call those townhouses." He went on to say one floor was often below street level, which was sometimes a shop. Wendi Linden commented that "As SLua is still in beta, we are not doing anything outside of beta with it at this time."
There was some more chatter following, notably how townhouses could work, such as one resident being the paying owner and working out details with other residents wanting to reside there. Duplex houses, a single building divided into two residential spaces, were also brought up.
So does this mean that brownstones/townhouses could be a Linden Home style in the future? Maybe. As Izzy stated, it was a suggestion made within Linden circles, and there's no current way for vertical parcels. But the Lab has offered the residents a chance to vote on new styles before. This just might be one, or more, of the options.
Enjoy next level watch parties in SL with the new Film Threat virtual cinema experience!
“We’re amazed at how Linden Lab was able to bring the spirit of Film Threat to life in this virtual space and thrilled that we’ll be able to conduct screenings and other special events in a whole new way,” says Chris Gore, founder of Film Threat. “It’s our hope to grow this venue and events to engage with Film Threat and indie film fans around the world.” Film Threat is the leading independent film news and review site, offering the scoop on the latest releases as well as curated picks from past decades.
Inspired by theaters and film festivals from the physical world, this two-story virtual cinema venue offers a unique and immersive way to experience movies. The space was first revealed back in July for Kickstarter backers of Gore’s upcoming Attack of the Doc documentary as part of an exclusive sneak peek. This region offers food trucks, sleek cafes, and modern lounges to house insightful discussions amongst Residents. Additionally, Film Threat-branded exclusive collectible merchandise can be found at booths throughout the venue.
On October 28, about a week after the announcement in the Linden blog, a video review of a movie went up at the theater: "Corona Zombies." Planning for the film had started before the Pandemic started. When it hit, the producers decided to have fun with it, and had the virus zombyfy the infected. And like other zombies, they would try to eat the living. In response a "Corona Squad" was created to deal with them. The review showed the film going about like a cheesy 1970s monster flick, with low budget special effects, bad and unnecessarily dubbed dialouge, characters making dumb decisions that get them killed, etc. But the producers and actors had fun doing it.
Dropping in at the opening, which lasted from 11AM to 2PM SL time, there were a number of Lindens in the crowd. Cris Gore was also there in his avatar with the same name.
The next review, for the movie "Insert Coin," is scheduled to appear about a week from now on Thursday November 11, "The oral history of a team of geeks and misfits in the back of a Chicago factory creating the biggest video games (Mortal Kombat, NBA JAM, and others) of all time." On December 16
Addition: Checking again, the theater wasn't playing the film review at the time. It may be playing only at certain times, or perhaps has stopped until the next one.
On Saturday August 11 at Noon, the crew of the Second Life Newser had their monthly meeting. From left to right there was Kain Scalia, whom is about to rejoin, Gemma Cleanslate, Deaflegacy, and myself (Bixyl Shuftan). Velanai, Pagan Sunfire, and Felina Firmi were there as guests. The meeting took place at the Newser office in Purrfection.
We talked about some things, such as the collapse of InWorldz and how some questions have yet to be answered or are just beginning to get one. We also swapped ideas on what to cover that month.
Since September 2007, Linden Lab has charged a VAT or Value Added Tax from residents outside the United States from those countries whose tax system includes it. This has particularly been an annoyance to European residents, some of whom have complained it puts them at a business disadvantage with Americans. But in a move that will mean relief to these users of Second Life, Linden Lab announced in their latest blog entry that they will no longer be charging VAT.
Premium members will also have reason to cheer. Linden Lab has reduced the monthly fee for premium accounts to $9.50 US dollars a month.
... we’re reducing the standard cost of a monthly Premium subscription to just $9.50 a month.Enjoy all the benefits of Premium Membership for less! We will also no longer charge VAT for Premium subscriptions. If you live in aregionwhere VAT applies, this means an effective savings in some countriesof more than 20% below what you would have previously paid!
Several residents have expressed opinions in threads in the official forums and SL Universe. Not everyone was pleased with the decision to end the VAT. Some Americans complained the Lab was effectively giving Europeans a discount.
"The Cambrian Explosion and the History of Life” 
... we’re reducing the standard cost of a monthly Premium subscription to just $9.50 a month. Enjoy all the benefits of Premium Membership for less!
