Wagner James Au
@slhamlet.bsky.social
Author, "Making a Metaverse That Matters" (Wiley). Covering & creating metaverse culture since 2003. Bylines: WSJ, Atlantic, FastCo. Join my Patreon blog for early/exclusive virtual amazingness! https://patreon.com/user?u=4843285
Los Angeles/Kailua
Los Angeles/Kailua
Pinned
Wagner James Au
@slhamlet.bsky.social
· Sep 16
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
is reporting on Second Life, VRChat, and the Metaverse at large
patreon.com
New World Notes is moving to my Patreon! The original Typepad-based blog shuts down October 1, but I'll keep covering the Metaverse ecosystem news/culture, related topics & OG metaverse Second Life there.
Join free below, please consider subscribing for special benefits:👇
patreon.com/u4843285
Join free below, please consider subscribing for special benefits:👇
patreon.com/u4843285
I'm only finding out today that I'm lucky my current duplex and last three apartments haven't burned to the ground
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
January 22, 2026 at 8:35 PM
I'm only finding out today that I'm lucky my current duplex and last three apartments haven't burned to the ground
Fun interview with S&P Global Market Intelligence industry analyst @neilalanbarbour.bsky.social on what went wrong with Meta's metaverse strategy -- and what other companies are getting right! 👇
Tough month for VR. Listen to me and @slhamlet.bsky.social talk through what Meta may have done to avoid this moment, what other builders are getting right, the risks of AI in virtual worlds and more. Like and subscribe.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
open.spotify.com/show/2DYEqB5...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
open.spotify.com/show/2DYEqB5...
January 22, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Fun interview with S&P Global Market Intelligence industry analyst @neilalanbarbour.bsky.social on what went wrong with Meta's metaverse strategy -- and what other companies are getting right! 👇
NEW: I talk with filmmaker Ali Vatansever about "LifeLike", his award-winning new feature movie about a teenager with a terminal disease who finds solace and friendship in @vrchat.com.
Plus a scene from VRChat and some behind the scenes production details! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/vrchat...
Plus a scene from VRChat and some behind the scenes production details! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/vrchat...
VRChat Featured in "LifeLike", Award-Winning New Indie Movie Profiled by the Hollywood Reporter. Watch This Exclusive Scene, Read My Chat With the Director! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:18 PM
NEW: I talk with filmmaker Ali Vatansever about "LifeLike", his award-winning new feature movie about a teenager with a terminal disease who finds solace and friendship in @vrchat.com.
Plus a scene from VRChat and some behind the scenes production details! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/vrchat...
Plus a scene from VRChat and some behind the scenes production details! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/vrchat...
I posted this report / interview on Reddit and several AI bros said, "gamers will get used to it."
Great ad campaign idea: "Yes the game you're paying $65 for is full of AI slop. Get used to it."
Great ad campaign idea: "Yes the game you're paying $65 for is full of AI slop. Get used to it."
NEW: Sam Altman may promise that with gen AI, "video games are going to become something unimaginably better."
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
Most Gamers Overwhelmingly Hate Gen AI in Games, Major Industry Report Finds -- Here's Why! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:12 PM
I posted this report / interview on Reddit and several AI bros said, "gamers will get used to it."
Great ad campaign idea: "Yes the game you're paying $65 for is full of AI slop. Get used to it."
Great ad campaign idea: "Yes the game you're paying $65 for is full of AI slop. Get used to it."
Share with laid off Reality Labs staff (or anyone else in XR): My recent talk with Linden Lab head Bradford Oberwager on hiring a SVP of Engineering, part of his strategy to grow Second Life's user base (which ticked *up* by about 120K last year). 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...
www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...
BREAKING: Linden Lab Making Major Executive Hire to Hugely Grow Second Life Starting in 2026 -- Company Head Brad Oberwager Explains Why | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Share with laid off Reality Labs staff (or anyone else in XR): My recent talk with Linden Lab head Bradford Oberwager on hiring a SVP of Engineering, part of his strategy to grow Second Life's user base (which ticked *up* by about 120K last year). 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...
www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
This is the stupidest Terminator reboot ever.
January 13, 2026 at 4:45 AM
This is the stupidest Terminator reboot ever.
NEW: Sam Altman may promise that with gen AI, "video games are going to become something unimaginably better."
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
Most Gamers Overwhelmingly Hate Gen AI in Games, Major Industry Report Finds -- Here's Why! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:31 PM
NEW: Sam Altman may promise that with gen AI, "video games are going to become something unimaginably better."
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
But a new report reveals that people who reliably spend the most money on games *hate* the idea of gen AI in them.
Nick Yee and I discuss why below! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/most-g...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Finally playing Cyberpunk 2077 was my immersive gaming highlight of last year, a mind-bogglingly deep, surprisingly moving open world RPG, as breathtaking as Keanu promised.
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
So would extending Act 1 (before the heist) in CP77 make the game better?
1. No it wouldn't. It's like saying we should spend more time on Tatooine with farmer Luke before he got involved with all this Jedi stuff.
(1/3)
1. No it wouldn't. It's like saying we should spend more time on Tatooine with farmer Luke before he got involved with all this Jedi stuff.
(1/3)
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Finally playing Cyberpunk 2077 was my immersive gaming highlight of last year, a mind-bogglingly deep, surprisingly moving open world RPG, as breathtaking as Keanu promised.
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Patreon supporter shout-out to @lex4art.bsky.social, veteran virtual world builder and creator of UNIBLOCKS, a unified set of meshes & blueprints for quickly creating houses and other buildings in Unreal. Check it out on Lex's Fab store! 👇
www.fab.com/listings/fbb...
www.fab.com/listings/fbb...
UNIBLOCKS PRO [modular homes, buildings, structures]
UNIBLOCKS PRO is an unified set of meshes & blueprints for quick grid-aligned assembly of houses and other constructions of arbitrary design. This is a fully-featured version with all design optio...
www.fab.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Patreon supporter shout-out to @lex4art.bsky.social, veteran virtual world builder and creator of UNIBLOCKS, a unified set of meshes & blueprints for quickly creating houses and other buildings in Unreal. Check it out on Lex's Fab store! 👇
www.fab.com/listings/fbb...
www.fab.com/listings/fbb...
Finally playing Cyberpunk 2077 was my immersive gaming highlight of last year, a mind-bogglingly deep, surprisingly moving open world RPG, as breathtaking as Keanu promised.
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
So would extending Act 1 (before the heist) in CP77 make the game better?
1. No it wouldn't. It's like saying we should spend more time on Tatooine with farmer Luke before he got involved with all this Jedi stuff.
(1/3)
1. No it wouldn't. It's like saying we should spend more time on Tatooine with farmer Luke before he got involved with all this Jedi stuff.
(1/3)
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Finally playing Cyberpunk 2077 was my immersive gaming highlight of last year, a mind-bogglingly deep, surprisingly moving open world RPG, as breathtaking as Keanu promised.
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Thrilled the game's creative director (& its sequel) @srznsk.bsky.social is on BSKY sharing behind the scenes insights. 👇
Love this: @cajsa.bsky.social's top ten favorite Second Life-based images from 2025. Join my New World Notes Patreon to read for free! 👇🏼
www.patreon.com/posts/147117...
www.patreon.com/posts/147117...
Cajsa's Choices: My Top 10 Favorite Second Life Images We Featured in 2025 | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Love this: @cajsa.bsky.social's top ten favorite Second Life-based images from 2025. Join my New World Notes Patreon to read for free! 👇🏼
www.patreon.com/posts/147117...
www.patreon.com/posts/147117...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
My Top Eighteen Favorite New World Notes Posts of 2025! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
My Top Eighteen Favorite New World Notes Posts of 2025! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Please enjoy my top 10 free browser games of 2025:
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
Type Help by William Rous
The Unsolvable Mystery
william-rous.itch.io
December 12, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Please enjoy my top 10 free browser games of 2025:
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Just to be clear. It’s the John F Kennedy center legally.
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Just like it’s still the department of defense
December 18, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Just to be clear. It’s the John F Kennedy center legally.
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Reposted by Wagner James Au
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Basis Breaks New Concurrency Record -- But Can the Virtual World Framework Bring in Enough Funds to Break 1000 CCU? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Basis Breaks New Concurrency Record -- But Can the Virtual World Framework Bring in Enough Funds to Break 1000 CCU? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Fun factoid from my interview w/ Linden Lab head Brad Oberwager:
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
BREAKING: Linden Lab Making Major Executive Hire to Hugely Grow Second Life Starting in 2026 -- Company Head Brad Oberwager Explains Why | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Fun factoid from my interview w/ Linden Lab head Brad Oberwager:
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Reposted by Wagner James Au
a16z gave a million dollars to a phone farm that's flooding TikTok with AI-generated influencers. A hacker contacted 404 Media to reveal what these accounts are and what products they're promoting www.404media.co/hack-reveals...
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
www.404media.co
December 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
a16z gave a million dollars to a phone farm that's flooding TikTok with AI-generated influencers. A hacker contacted 404 Media to reveal what these accounts are and what products they're promoting www.404media.co/hack-reveals...
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
BREAKING: Linden Lab Making Major Executive Hire to Hugely Grow Second Life Starting in 2026 -- Company Head Brad Oberwager Explains Why | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
This entire weekend
December 15, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This entire weekend
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
December 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
My latest round-up of news/trends I’m following across the wider metaverse ecosystem is up! 👇 Featuring a look at Basis from @dooly123.bsky.social, a virtual world framework that already has higher local concurrency than SL and VRChat, and aims to hit 600 this wkd.
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
New World Newsfeed Featuring: New Podcast Appearance, Basis Load Test, and a Second Life in Congress Flashback | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
My latest round-up of news/trends I’m following across the wider metaverse ecosystem is up! 👇 Featuring a look at Basis from @dooly123.bsky.social, a virtual world framework that already has higher local concurrency than SL and VRChat, and aims to hit 600 this wkd.
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
December 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
New podcast appearance! I talk with Player Driven about why the Metaverse matters even more now that Meta's quit the field. Around 22 minutes we get into the miraculous staying power of OG metaverse platform @SecondLife. 👂👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
Making a Metaverse That Matters with James Au
YouTube video by Player Driven
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
New podcast appearance! I talk with Player Driven about why the Metaverse matters even more now that Meta's quit the field. Around 22 minutes we get into the miraculous staying power of OG metaverse platform @SecondLife. 👂👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...