PKO Bank Polski to Accelerate Development in the Metaverse
PKO Bank Polski is set to accelerate its development in the Metaverse. The bank is seeking companies with technological experience to collaborate on the design and maintenance of virtual spaces.
The bank aims to make an appearance on gaming platforms and expand its activity in the Metaverse class of platforms. It also plans to build VR models of its branches compatible with all major VR headset environments on the market.
PKO Bank Polski has positively evaluated its initial experiences on the Decentraland platform, where it has been present since 2022 and recently organized the first virtual job fair in the banking sector on May 30 - one of the first events of its kind in the world.
Since launching its branch on the Decentraland platform in 2022, PKO Bank Polski is preparing to create attractive spaces on gaming platforms like Fortnite and Roblox while developing its presence on Metaverse-class platforms like Decentraland and even The Sandbox. It also intends to build additional VR models of its branches. The bank is looking for companies with the necessary technological expertise to collaborate on creating and maintaining virtual spaces and designing games on gaming platforms and Metaverse-class platforms.
Our previous experiences related to our presence in the Metaverse have been very positive. The virtual PKO Rotunda, located on the Decentraland platform, continues to serve as a digital laboratory, but we have reached a point where it is too small for us. We have decided to increase our presence in the Metaverse and accelerate the process of building know-how. We have decided to take broader cooperation with external companies to support us in project work. This model will allow us to simultaneously develop on various gaming platforms such as Fortnite or Roblox, as well as in Metaverse-class platforms like The Sandbox, where we aim to create attractive and engaging virtual spaces said Marek Myszka, Director of the Innovation Office at PKO Bank Polski.
First Branch of a Polish Bank in the Metaverse, First Virtual Job Fair
Since 2022, PKO Bank Polski has been present on the Decentraland platform, where it launched its virtual branch - a digital replica of the Warsaw PKO Rotunda. This branch serves as a digital laboratory for the development of tools dedicated to the Metaverse. Through it, the bank tests various forms of user engagement and builds know-how in the virtual world.
Recently, the virtual PKO Rotunda was equipped with a streaming module, which connects the virtual world with the real world, allowing users to participate in events from the Decentraland platform. On April 14, the first Future Crunch 2023 Conference was streamed, during which participants could attend the event in the Virtual PKO Rotunda. The next step was to create a fully virtual event, which was realized during the first virtual job fair #PKOBankTalentów organized by PKO Bank Polski, which took place on May 30.
New Area: Gaming Platforms
Concurrently, the bank is looking for companies to collaborate on the planned development on gaming platforms like Fortnite and Roblox. PKO Bank Polski aims to create dedicated servers in these places, where interactive educational and entertainment spaces for children and youth will be available. It will actively engage users in completing missions and tasks, including scenario-based games that incorporate elements such as financial education, ecological education, and values important to PKO Bank Polski.
Further Development in Decentraland and Activity on Additional Metaverse-Class Platforms
Building on its excellent early experiences with presence on the Decentraland platform, PKO Bank Polski plans to further develop its virtual PKO Rotunda and increase its attractiveness. For this purpose, the bank is looking for companies interested in collaboration to support the bank's team of experts in animating virtual spaces and creating and implementing additional tools to further engage users.
Virtual Spaces of the Bank in VR/XR Technology
The bank will continue to build expertise in extended reality (XR) and virtual reality (VR). After creating a VR model of the PKO Rotunda in 2022, adapted for Oculus goggles, the bank is seeking developer companies willing to design and maintain the bank's virtual space on VR/XR goggles with the ability to install it on all major headset environments available on the market, as well as on mobile devices.
How to Express Interest in Collaboration?
Companies specializing in XR/VR virtual space design, game design on gaming platforms, and Metaverse-class platforms can express their interest in collaboration by sending a message to fintech@pkobp.pl by June 18.
