Since launching in mid-2021, Kartaa metaverse studio that provides in-game experiential marketing services, has attracted significant investment and struck major partnerships with brands such as Amazon MusicMcDonald's and Hugo Boss.
Founded by industry veterans Erik Londréformer Event Director at Fnaticand music business veteran Tony BarnesKarta bridges the gap between brands, artists, sports teams and users in virtual worlds like Fortress And Roblox. In particular, the studio has cooperated with Spotify to create a gamified version of the popular Spotify Wrapped campaign.
Apart from brand activations, Karta also launched its own metaverse experience – Beat Builder, described as Fortnite's “first” building-based rhythm game. Beat Builder quickly attracted a loyal following, reaching a major milestone 100,000 players on Fortnite since Tuesday (April 16).
It obeys launch of Karta's Fortnite studio in August 2023, shortly after the enhancement 1.1 million USD receives sponsorship from music and gaming industry players.
Beat Builder integrates with Fortnite's core building gameplay, delivering a rhythmic gameplay experience. Players synchronize their building actions to the beat, such as when lowering walls, ramps, floors, and cones. The game focuses on building, which is a gameplay feature of Fortnite used in Battle Royal.
“We are delighted that Beat Builder is off to such a great start. We wanted to create a rhythm game that was 100% Fortnite, where music was connected to the platform's core building gameplay.”
Erik Londre, Karta
Karta said the game is not only entertaining, but also a tool for players to hone their building skills, which is essential for competitive Fortnite matches.
Karta cooperates with No Copyright Audio, a copyright-free music platform, to curate original Beat Builder soundtracks. The current focus is on drum, phonk and trap electronic music, featuring famous artists such as twisted, if establish, XOMAnd Lost Sky. Each song boasts a distinct world that reacts to the music, creating an immersive experience.
The studio promises future updates with more genre options, including metal, K-pop and rock, to cater to a wider range of musical tastes.
Karta said they envision Beat Builder as more than just a game. The long-term goal is to integrate established artists directly into Fortnite, providing a platform for them to connect with fans and showcase their music. Beat Builder aims to be a music discovery hub, allowing players to discover new artists and genres in an interactive way.
“Beat Builder truly encapsulates what Karta is all about – innovative and forward-thinking design, combining great music with interactive gameplay, in one entertaining place.”
Tony Barnes, Karta
In recent months, Karta has collaborated with artists including Nicki Minaj (on her first virtual store in Roblox, called 'Nicki Minaj's Gag City') and BLACKPINK (on their immersion BLACKPINK: SUPPLY experience on Roblox).
To celebrate Beat Builder's milestone, Karta has updated the game with two of NoCopyrightSounds' biggest songs: Royalties via Egzod & Maestro chives And invincible via KEV Deaf. The studio has multiple expansions, partnerships, and new seasons planned.
In February, Karta debut a dedicated studio focused on building distinct experiences within the Asia-focused metaverse ZEPETO. ZEPETO is more proud 400 million user, with 20 million monthly active users and has a predominantly female audience. Its virtual fashion marketplace has a vibrant community of creators with over 2.5 billion Virtual items are sold.
“We are delighted that Beat Builder is off to such a great start. We wanted to create a rhythm game that was 100% Fortnite, where music was connected to the platform's core building gameplay. “A rhythm game that helps you become a better gamer is an idea that gets us very excited,” said Erik Londré, CEO of Karta.
Tony Barnes, CGO of Karta, added: “Beat Builder truly encapsulates what Karta is all about – innovative and forward-thinking design, combining incredible music with interactive gameplay, in an entertainment place. Music's presence in the metaverse is growing, and we think Beat Builder has the potential to become its own platform for artists and brands to authentically connect with the Fortnite audience through new gameplay and music. We can’t wait to develop it and see how it develops.”
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