The Osaka Virtual Expo 2025 Offers a Completely Interactive Video Game Experience
Going Virtual: The Future of World's Fairs and Expos
I've always been fascinated by globetrotting extravaganzas like world's fairs and expos. This year, I finally got the chance to immerse myself in one – virtually! The Osaka World Expo, a mega exhibition themed "Designing the Future Society for Our Lives," is expected to host an astounding 28 million visitors over a staggering 184 days. But its digital counterpart, the Osaka Virtual Expo, might just attract an astounding 250 million, offering those who cannot travel to Japan a chance to experience the expo. That's nearly quadrupling the in-person attendance record set by Shanghai Expo in 2010!
World's fairs have always played a pivotal role in defining and reshaping our modern world. The 2025 Osaka Expo marks 174 years since the groundbreaking 1851 London exhibition introduced the world to the stunning Crystal Palace, a monumental structure made of glass and iron. It also celebrates 55 years since the Osaka Expo 1970, where highlights included wireless telephones, electric cars, and moving sidewalks. It remains one of the most spectacular displays of art, architecture, and technology in the 20th century.
In 2020, the Dubai expo took a digital detour due to COVID-19, and the online version attracted around 250 million visitors worldwide. Now, Osaka is taking this a step further, with a dedicated video game app for the entire virtual expo. These sorts of online environments were comparatively new before 2020, but they suddenly became essential as every exhibition went online. Facebook even changed its name to Meta, signaling their faith in a future dominated by the metaverse.
Yet, not every digital experience was a welcome addition. As the rollout of these virtual platforms accelerated during the pandemic, they quickly became intrusive and overwhelming. But done right, online environments excel at recreating exhibitions and reaching larger audiences. The Osaka Virtual Expo, in particular, ensures that visitors need not travel to Japan to experience at least part of the expo – and it can remain accessible online long after the physical pavilions have been decommissioned.
Embracing Emerging Technologies: The Osaka Virtual Expo
Osaka is already a pioneer in adopting emerging technologies, and the Virtual Expo is no exception. The digital version will be accessible via an app that's compatible with desktop, mobile devices, and even the Meta Quest 2 or 3. Users can explore their way through twelve islands, complete with playable, digital versions of the pavilions and sponsor rooms. There's even the prospect of acquiring skins, collecting loot, and unlocking badges as you explore each pavilion!
Navigating the virtual expo is smooth overall, although it can be challenging to find your way at times. A frustrating feeling, perhaps, but one that's reminiscent of the confusion that comes with attending a large event like this. The built-in warp function makes traveling between islands a breeze, while the design of each island ensures that the exhibition's content remains organized spatially.
There's a mesmerizing, translucent ring of blue light that encircles the entire site, connecting the islands. This digital, gamified version of the Grand Ring, inspired by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto's monumental physical structure, aligns with Japan's national strategy "Society 5.0" – a vision for the future empowered by IoT, AI, robotics, big data, and biotechnology.
Exploring the Virtual Expo: Innovation, Sustainability, and Beyond
Like previous expos and fairs, the Osaka Expo has placed innovation and technology at its heart. Japanese telecom provider NTT, the producer of the virtual expo, showcases numerous tech innovations such as FeelTech, a wearable that allows users to share sensory perceptions via a 6G signal. Contributions from other corporations include a "Future City" pavilion by Kawasaki, featuring hydrogen engines and concept train cabins with robot waiters, and an impressive lineup from beverage companies Suntory and Asahi.
Yet, there's more to the Osaka Virtual Expo than just new gadgets and high-tech experiences. Visitors can immerse themselves in NERI's ocean conservation mission, embark on an underwater adventure with a turtle guide, and explore the "Future of Life" pavilion, which unveils futuristic visions of healthcare, education, mobility, and sustainable living. The null^2 pavilion offers a mysterious, conceptual experience, while the Japan pavilion invites you to transform into a food waste pile – all part of a mini-game that challenges you to turn on the bio-digestor to escape.
In a world where technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the Osaka Virtual Expo raises questions about the role of these international exhibitions in shaping our future. Are they still relevant, like the electric light bulb or the elevator once were? Or are they just tools searching for a purpose, much like the metaverse itself? Despite the controversy surrounding these virtual platforms, there's no denying the value they offer in extending access to these immersive experiences to an incredibly broad audience. And here's hoping that the Osaka Virtual Expo will continue to grow and evolve, paving the way for even more exciting digital collaborations in the years to come.
Sources:[1] Bruso, P. (2021). metaverse: the next-generation internet. Diginomica, November 2.[2] Liu, J. (2021). What does the Osaka Expo 2025 and Web3 have in common? The Coin Republic, April 6.[3] Los Angeles Times (2022). Dubai Expo 2020 draws 25.3 million visitors during pandemic-era event, organizers say. Los Angeles Times, March 30.[4] Boston Consulting Group. (n.d.). Bridging the virtual and physical World. Boston Consulting Group, January.[5] Dezeen (2021). The world's first virtual-only World Expo: how Osaka aims to revolutionise the event. Dezeen, November 23.
- The Osaka Virtual Expo, a digital counterpart to the physical expo, offers an immersive experience of the event to those who cannot travel to Japan, potentially reaching 250 million people online, nearly quadrupling the in-person attendance record set by Shanghai Expo in 2010.
- Embracing emerging technologies, the Osaka Virtual Expo is accessible via an app, compatible with various devices, that allows users to explore twelve islands, where they can encounter playable, digital versions of the pavilions and sponsor rooms, and even acquire skins, collect loot, and unlock badges.