In the 90s, children were fascinated by Tamagotchi, little battery-operated devices hosting virtual pets that quickly perished if not reliably cared for. Then in the early 2000s, Neopets, an online game for kids, let users acquire and care for 2D pets. Now, Habytat plans to cash in on that nostalgia by introducing AI metaverse pets.
“We want Habytat to be easy to use, accessible, but most importantly, fun,” states Habytat President Gianfranco Lopane. “The launch of AI-powered metaverse pets brings a new level of interactivity for aspiring pet owners and animal lovers alike.”
“These pets will bond with their owners, play with them, and will have needs just as real pets do – bringing the nostalgia of the Tamagotchi and Neopets era to 2023,” adds Lopane.
Habytat’s AI Pets Will Age
Habytat describes itself as a photorealistic metaverse. The platform, which is powered by DatChat, promises that the upcoming AI pets will grow from kittens and puppies into full-grown cats and dogs over time. Users can choose either a kitten or puppy from a selection of breeds, after which they’ll need to care for them each day by providing food, water and affection. Additionally, users must clean up after their AI pets and can teach them basic commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘fetch.’
Pets will also have a favourite toy and a special place to sleep. Users will also need to teach their virtual pets which areas of their Habytat home are off-limits. To start, Haybtat is focusing on AI cats and dogs. However, other animals, including monkeys, giraffes, bears and lions, will make their way to the platform over the next few months.
Anyone can vote on which pet breeds Habytat includes in its initial lineup by visiting Habytat.io/pets. The AI virtual pets utilise machine learning, allowing them to respond uniquely to users.
Animals in the Metaverse
Habytat isn’t the only one bringing pets to the metaverse. In fact, the Neopets Metaverse launched in Alpha last year. Likewise, Petaverse is creating interoperable metaverse pets. In a bid to help more real-life dogs find forever homes, Fosterverse is letting Decentraland users foster avatars of actual dogs in need of homes.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
