Decentraland Unveils Enhanced Desktop Client for Virtual World

[PRESS RELEASE – Los Angeles, USA, October 22nd, 2024]

Decentraland, the pioneering decentralized virtual social universe, has unveiled a robust new desktop client today, heralding a transformative phase for exploring spatial realms. This beta version enhances performance, offers a more engaging environment, and introduces new interactive features, paving the way for future advancements and expanded creator capabilities.

This achievement signifies a transition from a browser-centric experience to a more reliable, Unity-driven desktop client and the newly established Creator Hub, in line with Decentraland’s aspirations for a unified metaverse.

“Today signifies a pivotal moment for Decentraland. As virtual realms increasingly influence digital experiences, Decentraland is dedicated to fostering an environment where individuals, not corporations, possess their digital identities. Unlike conventional platforms that treat users as commodities while restricting true ownership, Decentraland redefines this narrative through decentralization that empowers its users,” explained Yemel Jardi, Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation. “As the internet evolves into a more immersive, spatial experience, Decentraland is spearheading the movement to create a platform that nurtures social interactions, creativity, and autonomy—bridging cultures and backgrounds. This next phase focuses on unlocking the authentic potential of the open metaverse, ensuring that as the digital landscape expands, it remains user-centric, community-oriented, and rooted in open standards.”

Notable Features of the New Desktop Client

• Performance Enhancements & Fluid Gameplay- The upgraded desktop client offers a long-awaited performance enhancement. Users can expect quicker load times, elevated frame rates, and smoother multiplayer experiences, even in crowded areas.
• Immersive Settings- The new client brings Decentraland’s universe to life like never before, featuring dynamic lighting, new beaches and ocean vistas, and procedurally generated landscapes consisting of vibrant trees, vegetation, water, and sound effects. The environment now loads up to 80 parcels away, presenting users with a more expansive and visually stunning experience “from horizon to horizon.”
• Innovative Engagement Features- A long-planned aspect of Decentraland is debuting in the beta release, including Daily Quests and mini-games, with more to follow shortly. Daily Quests aim to enhance user engagement by encouraging exploration of Decentraland and completing various tasks for rewards like Wearables and Emotes. The beta also introduces a new Badges system that incentivizes users to take action by tracking and displaying their accomplishments on the platform.
• Streamlined User Controls- Decentraland now features enhanced player profiles and a revamped backpack, enabling users to customize their avatars more intuitively. Navigation has been improved with a quick-access toolbar for profiles, maps, and backpacks.
• Upgraded Avatars & Interactive Social Features- Avatars in Decentraland have received significant upgrades, including smoother movements, better rendering, and natural interactions with the surrounding environment. New chat bubbles, name color distinctions, and emoji integration make communication richer and more engaging.

A Forward-Thinking Platform

This release positions Decentraland for its next chapter, as the new desktop client and codebase provide the foundation necessary for expansions into VR and mobile experiences. The desktop client serves as the cornerstone of this progression, ensuring Decentraland remains a premier platform for immersive, decentralized virtual realities.

“This enhanced desktop client revolutionizes how users experience Decentraland,” stated Kim Currier, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Decentraland. “For our community, it transcends just quicker load times and improved interactions—it’s about creating a vibrant, beautiful space where individuals can truly connect and forge friendships from around the globe. With this launch, we are also unveiling the new Creator Hub, a comprehensive platform for creators to learn and develop. It also allows businesses to engage audiences more effectively by utilizing virtual environments to cultivate interactive experiences. It’s a significant advancement, enriching how our community engages with and experiences Decentraland together.”

New Desktop Client: Access and Details

The future of Decentraland and virtual social universes begins now. Discover a revitalized, interactive digital environment by downloading the new desktop client available for Mac and Windows. For further information and to download the client, users can visit Decentraland.

About Decentraland

Decentraland is the first decentralized, community-driven virtual social platform. It empowers users to create, explore, and connect within an open, immersive digital landscape where they have complete ownership of their digital assets. Whether hosting virtual events or crafting their digital identities, individuals can design a world that prioritizes self-expression and freedom—unbound by corporate restrictions. Governed by its community through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) and supported by a non-profit foundation, Decentraland functions as an open-source, navigable realm that encourages creativity, ownership, and innovation. By promoting collaboration and community, Decentraland is shaping the future of digital interactions, where individuals can genuinely own and build their digital lives.