Replica is an interactive, gamified experience that combines the rich history of the museum with the modern excitement of Roblox and AR. The full experience consists of two parts – a mobile AR app for in-person museum visitors, and a Roblox experience for players worldwide.

Verizon wanted to use the power of its technology to connect young people to art in a new and culturally relevant way. So together we collaborated with The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to create a connected digital experience that blends entertainment and education, making the world of art history an even more exciting, hands-on place for young patrons.

Using the mobile app, visitors can navigate their way around the museum to discover artworks and artefacts that can be scanned and transformed into collectible digital replicas – from a 14th century Japanese suit of armour, to Vincent van Gogh’s straw hat. Once collected, these digital items can be worn by users as avatar skins and accessories on Roblox across all 40+ million games available on the platform.

Replica is an unprecedented experience that brings centuries of history to life by marrying one of the most culturally important institutions in the world with cutting-edge technology. It was an honour to be able to work closely with experts from The Met to turn the traditional museum visit on its head and inspire young visitors to engage with art and history on a deeper level.

AR and gaming hold huge potential to ignite the joy of discovery through interactive learning. We can’t wait to explore what could come next.