Stephanie Douse 
Hong Kong-based escape game company LOST which was founded in 2013 has launched the world’s 1st escape room in the Metaverse dubbed “LOST in Metaverse” which is set to premiere on May 15, 2022.
“LOST in Metaverse presents a series of immersive adventure games online and/or offline, inspired by fictitious events, historical stories, and other mythologies,” LOST said.
Players can also earn tokens and limited non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by switching between the physical and virtual worlds to complete tasks, according to the company.
“The players will uncover secrets and hints that lead them to the way out through completing the puzzles and riddles, unlocking the treasure boxes, and proceeding through the storyline,” LOST stated.
In addition, for children aged 6 to 14, LOST has brought its physical experience into the metaverse. “LOST Junior” primarily focuses on providing children with an educational experience through storytelling, scientific explanations, and social skills while they play and collect rewards.
“The entire goal of LOST in Metaverse is to create a play-to-learn, play-to-earn experience where players can form teams with friends online and solve mysteries together in the comfort of their own homes,” said Rick Woo, LOST’s founder.
LOST has announced that it intends to collaborate with many partners in the near future to create LOST Island, a virtual environment built on Web 3.0 that will be “an ultimate game world in a gaming ecosystem with limitless possibility, defining the new GameFi.”
HSBC enters the metaverse
HSBC Holdings has formed a fund to provide investment options to its high and ultra-high net worth investors in Singapore and Hong Kong, according to another big metaverse development in the financial hub. After working with Sandbox, a blockchain game company, HSBC entered the metaverse ecosystem last month.
As a result, it became the second global bank to invest in a metaverse platform, following JPMorgan Chase. HSBC obtained a plot of LAND, the virtual real estate in The Sandbox metaverse, through the agreement, which is planned to develop for engagement, entertainment, and connecting purposes.
According to a recent Citi analysis, the metaverse is predicted to evolve from a video game played on a virtual reality headset to an “Open Metaverse” that will be owned and governed by a community.