Worlds Beyond
Worlds Beyond
Podcast Description
A monthly podcast hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner looking at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into topics such as virtual reality design, the creative processes behind world-building, and the evolution of immersive technologies. Episodes feature discussions on unique VR experiences and insights from creators, like the episode with Jelitza Cintron discussing her journey from traditional art to VR design, as well as challenges faced in engaging users within digital spaces.
A monthly podcast hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner looking at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Don and Ben sit down with Austin Lewis—one of Horizon Worlds’ most prolific and influential creators—to break down the latest Horizon Worlds updates, the future of creator tools, and the rapidly shifting landscape of avatar wearables, player concurrency, and mobile-first game design.
Austin shares behind-the-scenes stories from building his upcoming game Kart Clash, the polished PvP arena battler spinning out of his earlier work on A Pirate’s Life and the viral hit Spin the Bottle. The hosts dive deep into what makes a game “actually fun,” how Austin approaches prototyping, and why optimizing for mobile players is now essential for success on the platform.
The conversation also unpacks:
🕶️ Meta Ray-Ban Displays – Real-world tests, UI gestures, early limitations, and why wearable tech may replace screens sooner than expected.
🎮 New Horizon Worlds Competition – How creators integrated generative AI into gameplay, sound design, skyboxes, and backend logic.
⚙️ Player Concurrency & Horizon Studio’s 5x Capacity Boost – What bigger worlds and higher populations mean for open-world RPGs, social games, and future development pipelines.
🧢 Avatar Clothing Rarity System – A passionate debate: Is Meta’s new auto-rated clothing system a tool for empowering virtual brands… or a poorly-designed economic trap?
📊 New Demographics & Attribution Tools – How creator analytics are reshaping marketing, player acquisition, and monetization strategies.
🚀 The Future of Horizon Worlds – Custom matchmaking, avatar attributes, real brand-building inside VR, and whether fantasy games like A Pirate’s Life could finally live up to their original vision.
Packed with creator insights, industry predictions, and practical takeaways, this episode is must-listen for VR developers, Horizon Worlds builders, and anyone curious about the future of social VR, immersive worlds, and the creator economy.
~~~Connect With Us!~~~
Don’s Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian
Website: https://dkianian.com/
Ben’s Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/
Discord: https://bit.ly/HABITXR
Website: https://habitxr.net/
Austin’s Links
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meta.jesus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meta.jesus_vr/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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