Spooky season is just around the corner and if you’re wondering how to celebrate this 31st of October look no further than the coolest place for some out-of-this-world frights… quite literally.
The metaverse is the perfect place to dive into the holiday scaries, with a number of immersive and haunting experiences being launched ahead of Halloween.
Are you ready for a spooktacular season?
Read on - if you dare.
Cryptoween: Paris Hilton x The Sandbox
Paris Hilton has become synonymous with over the top celebrity bashes and when the socialite-turned-DJ isn’t busy performing sets in Miami and Ibiza, she’s turning up the heat in the metaverse.
Hilton is no stranger to throwing events in the metaverse, having launched the “Paris World” experience last year ion Roblox and has since hosted a string of metaverse celebrations for thousands of virtual users, including a massive New Year’s Eve party and a jam-packed Fashion Week.
So it’s no surprise that Paris Hilton has turned once more to the metaverse, this time to The Sandbox platform, to launch Cryptoween, a Halloween-themed experience that promises to be spooktacular.
From October 17-31, Roblox players get the chance to hang out with Hilton’s avatar, who’s making a daily appearance. and try on virtual costumes, including Paris’ iconic “Bunny Princess,” “Tinkerbell” and “Phoenix” looks, and add matching makeup created by Urban Decay.
But that’s just it - other celebrities also make appearances at her events. Not much is known yet, except that Meghan Trainor is expected to show up to Cryptoween.
Halloween fans can also enter challenges and in-game competitions such as a virtual runway contest.
Although Paris admits that the metaverse is “never going to replace” IRL parties, she has also said that virtual events can be fun if they’re done right.
The Sandbox has revealed that it plans to make “Cryptoween” an annual happening.
Meta VR Horror Experiences
Nothing screams true horror as experiencing spine-chilling scares in virtual reality. Fortunately, Meta Quest users don’t have to contend with old titles this year as the tech giant has released a range of new immersive horror experiences just on time for Halloween.
Director Eli Roth’s much-anticipated ‘Haunted House: Trick-VR-Treat’ is a 30-minute, 180-degree VR experience starring Vanessa Hudgens and Will Sasso.
This VR experience unfolds from the point of view of a teenager who, while attending the Halloween neighborhood celebrations in town, is invited inside the infamous haunted Dollhouse by a mysterious young woman dressed as a fairy. Viewers then enter a living nightmare inside the now-decrepit former home of the Dollmaker, who years ago made toys for all the neighborhood children. But the glue she used was toxic, and everyone who played with the toys died — including her own two daughters.
No problem if you don’t have a VR headset, you’ll be able to watch this short movie on Facebook and Instagram.
But Meta’s Halloween offerings don’t stop here, with other scary experiences including:
- Tokyo Case: This two-part, 360-degree short Japanese horror film is taking Meta Quest TV by storm.
- Meta Horizon Worlds Drive-In + Creepy Cabin: Experience a Halloween-themed abandoned drive-in movie theater filled with lurking ghosts, treacherous terrain, and a haunted carousel as it streams a collection of monster horror flicks from Crypt TV. There’s also a creepy cabin where, as you wander its halls, you have to always be on the lookout for creepy dolls. Just don’t look in the mirror because you might not like what you see.
- Alien Apocalypse: A 360-degree VR video based on H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds.
- Pennywise the Dancing Clown: Everyone’s favorite clown is just dying to meet you in VR. Filmed on location at the Derry Festival and Funhouse in Derry, Maine.
Meet Jamie Lee Curtis in the Metaverse With Messenger's "Killer Reels" Challenge
There’s hardly a more iconic slasher film than John Carpenter's 1978 classic “Halloween”. Its latest installment (which is fittingly number thirteen) Halloween Ends is hitting theaters ahead of October 31 and so is Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis.
But instead of just watching the movie, horror fans are getting the chance of meeting Halloween’s Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, in the metaverse.
Meta’s Messenger, Instagram, and Creative Shop have teamed up with Universal Pictures to give this opportunity to one lucky person.
If you’re a die-hard fan, all you have to do is build your own custom 'Halloween' Reels by uploading scariest #KillerReel to the Halloween Movie chat experience. On Instagram, send a DM to @HalloweenMovie to enter the contest.
Jamie Lee Curtis will herself be picking one winner as part of the movie's first-ever virtual meet 'n' greet, taking place in Halloween on Horizon Worlds.
Cheetos ‘Chesterville’
Is there a Cheetos flavor you’ve been craving for years but can’t find anymore? Fans of the extra cheesy snack rejoice because they’re now being offered the change to bring back their favorite “ghost of Cheetos’ past” and choose a no-longer-available flavor to be back in production for a limited time.
As part of its first-ever metaverse campaign, ChesterCheetah and Cheetos are unveiling Chesterville, a metaverse where users can explore promotional item, roam a spooky neighborhood or – if they dare – opt-in to play a game, access the spooky mansion, and vote to bring back a flavor from the dead:
- Chester's Wand to brand the neighborhood.
- Cheetle-fied Paper Towels to go TP'ing Chester-style.
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos to get a speed boost with the Flamin' Hot Cheetos accelerator.
- Mac-O-Lanterns to smash and trap other players in cheesy blobs of new Cheetos Mac 'N Cheese
Chesterville-goers also have access to a stash of Cheetos Mischief Makers to help conquer challenges and raise their mischief meter score.
The initiative is being led by Vayner3, a web3 consultancy under VaynerX umbrella
Cheetos will announce the winning flavor on social media before it reappears in the real world in early 2023.
Steve Aoki X Deadfellaz
Chart-topping DJ Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak label is teaming up with NFT collection Deadfellaz for a limited-edition Halloween drop. Fashionistas can get their hands on a range of items, including a custom varsity jacket, t-shirts, hoodies and skate decks.
Some pieces feature animated graphics of Deadfellaz co-founders Aoki, Betty and Psych appearing as scarier versions of themselves – alongside Deadfellaz zombies.
You can purchase and win the “Deadfellaz x Dim Mak” attire in person on October 29 at Deadzone LA, a must-attend Halloween event curated by Deadfellaz and EMO NITE.
The centerpiece of the collection will be a limited-edition varsity jacket available exclusively to A0k1verse and Deadfellaz holders, which will also be sold online as a wearable NFT following the event.
Hot Topic X Roblox
Hot Topic, a brand known for its dark and edgy designs, is entering the metaverse with a Roblox collection of 10 Halloween-ready looks titled the ‘Halloween Forever Collection’.
The line includes staple Hot Topic pieces such as cosplay hats, sunglasses, mini backpacks which players can try to collect across three massive Roblox games: The Floor Is Lava, Speed Run 4, and Catalog Outfit.
They can also check the entire collection that’s available in the Roblox Avatar Marketplace.
The activation also includes certain digital collectibles being available in IRL stores, which is certainly good news for both the Roblox users and Hot Topic’s regular customers.
