Explore the concept of an open metaverse in this SXSW 2023 conference talk featuring Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat and Timmu Tõke, CEO & Co-Founder of Ready Player Me. Delve into the importance of collaboration and partnerships in creating interconnected virtual worlds. Learn about Ready Player Me's avatar system, used by over 3,000 app and game developers, and its role in establishing an interoperable network. Discover insights on topics such as avatar creation, crossplay, open standards, challenges in B2B adoption, gaming industry involvement, aesthetics, ethics, celebrity avatars, and the integration of brand IP in the metaverse. Gain a deeper understanding of the current state of virtual worlds and the potential future of an interconnected metaverse ecosystem.