As Virtual Worlds Close, Communities in ‘Rec Room’, Meta’s ‘Horizon Worlds’, and Others Create Ways to Survive

Guest Article By Julian Reyes
Julian Reyes is an award-winning XR producer, with more than two decades of experience spanning immersive media, storytelling, music culture, and technology. He is the Founder and Director of the Virtual Worlds Museum, where he leads efforts to preserve, explore, and showcase the history, culture, and future of virtual worlds. This June, he’ll speak at the AWE USA 2026 panel discussion, “How We Can Preserve Online Worlds and Why It Matters”.
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