From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

The graphic video game sequelWalking Dead: Last Mileis coming to Facebook as an interactive live game with collective participation. Gaming is a sizeable part of everyday life for many, and collective live participation is deepening the sense of community within fandoms.

Campfire wants to be the social glue for all Niantic games, starting withPokémon Go. Tapping into the emerging AR social trend, the app speaks to people’s need for forging new connections and finding a sense of belonging through interactive wayfinding across digital and physical spaces.

Innovations in AR and VR are giving storytellers, game developers, and brands new and more engaging ways of connecting with audiences. But what will get people excited about using these technologies? And how might these tools redefine play, fitness, and socialising in the digital realm?

The Sandbox’s partnership with Snoop Dogg has introduced a previously detached community to the blockchain, NFTs, and the metaverse. With emerging metaverses competing for users as interest grows, how important will established celebrities, brands, and intellectual property be?