In the dynamic world of technology, few innovations hold as much promise as the development of 3D engines for browser-based environments. Leading this exciting frontier is LIBI.xyz, a company dedicated to creating versatile 3D engines that extend beyond gaming to revolutionize various web-based applications.
At the Start Up Village London Hosted by the Solana Foundation and Superteam UK, GMGames had the opportunity to sit down with Ericka Chief Technical Officer at LIBI.xyz
In this interview, we explore Ericka’s journey, the technology behind LIBI.xyz, and the ambitious vision driving their work.
LIBI.xyz’s mission is to democratize 3D content creation, making it accessible and intuitive for users to interact with complex 3D environments directly through their web browsers. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Vulkan and WebAssembly, LIBI.xyz aims to remove the barriers that have traditionally hindered the widespread adoption of 3D content on the web.
Ericka brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the table. Her journey from a software developer to a key innovator in 3D engine technology is both inspiring and indicative of her dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this field.
Getting to Know Ericka
Shuab (GMGames): How did you get into game development?
Ericka (LIBI.xyz): Initially, my career wasn’t centered around game development. After completing my master’s, I worked in various industries in Japan, including the automotive and energy sectors. I even worked for Adobe for a while. It wasn’t until later that I decided to shift my focus entirely to developing a 3D engine. Despite having more experience in simulation than rendering, I was driven by the vision of creating an engine that could support vast, interactive virtual environments without the typical constraints of traditional game engines.
The Birth of LIBI.xyz
Shuab: From working in different industries to founding LIBI.xyz, what were some of the key experiences that shaped your journey?
Ericka: Each industry I worked in offered unique challenges and learning opportunities. Working in the automotive and energy sectors, as well as at Adobe, helped me understand the importance of precision, efficiency, and user experience. These experiences were invaluable when I decided to develop a 3D engine based on Vulkan for Android. The aim was to create a virtual world engine rather than a traditional game engine, capable of rendering large, detailed environments in real-time. The realization that users faced significant friction when having to install applications to access 3D content led me to develop a WebGL engine, allowing for seamless, installation-free interaction with 3D environments directly in browsers.
Vision for 3D Content on the Web
Shuab: What is your vision of LIBI.xyz and 3D content on the web?
Ericka: Our vision is to create a seamless and intuitive platform where users can engage with 3D content as easily as they watch videos on YouTube. We want to democratize 3D creation and interaction, making it accessible to everyone, not just those with technical expertise. By leveraging web technologies, we aim to eliminate the need for downloads and installations, allowing users to dive into immersive 3D experiences with just a click. Ultimately, we see a future where 3D content is an integral part of the web, enhancing everything from education and entertainment to virtual meetings and online shopping.
The Evolution of LIBI.xyz
Shuab: What led you to develop a 3D engine specifically for the web?
Ericka: The idea to develop a 3D engine for the web came from the realization that accessibility was a major barrier to the widespread adoption of 3D content. When I initially released a small game to showcase our Vulkan-based technology, I faced significant friction from users who were reluctant to install new applications. This experience underscored the need for a solution that would allow users to access 3D environments instantly, without any installations. Developing a WebGL engine was a natural progression towards making 3D content as accessible and seamless as possible.
Shuab: What are the current capabilities and features of your 3D engine?
Ericka: Our engine supports real-time rendering of large environments with a high degree of detail. It features advanced physics simulation, including fully deformable and sculptable terrain, which allows users to interact with the environment in dynamic ways. The engine also includes a multi-threaded architecture for optimal performance and supports a wide range of devices, from desktops to mobile phones and VR headsets. Additionally, we’ve developed a backend infrastructure that manages asset distribution and multiplayer interactions, ensuring a seamless and scalable experience for users.
Technical Insights
Shuab: How does your engine handle rendering and physics simulation?
Ericka: Our engine utilizes WebGL/WebGPU for rendering, which provides us with more control over the graphics hardware compared to higher-level APIs. This allows us to optimize rendering performance and achieve higher levels of detail and realism. For physics simulation, we’ve developed our own engine that supports multi-threading, enabling real-time, dynamic interactions within the environment. This includes features like fully deformable terrain and persistent object states, which are crucial for creating immersive virtual worlds.
Shuab: What is WebAssembly (WASM) and why did you choose to use it?
Ericka: WebAssembly is essentially a low-level, assembly-like language that allows us to write code in languages like C or Rust and then compile it to run efficiently in web browsers. We chose to use WASM because it provides the performance and memory efficiency needed for high-fidelity 3D rendering and physics simulation. JavaScript, while powerful for many web applications, falls short when it comes to the demands of a 3D engine. WASM allows us to overcome these limitations, enabling us to deliver a smooth and responsive experience directly in the browser.
Integration of Blockchain
Shuab: What role does blockchain play in your engine and product offering?
Ericka: Blockchain plays a crucial role in our ecosystem by providing a secure and transparent way to manage digital assets. For instance, users can create unique 3D models and verify ownership through NFTs. This not only adds value to the creations but also opens up new possibilities for trading and monetization. Additionally, using blockchain for transactions ensures that all exchanges are secure and immutable, giving users confidence in the integrity of their interactions within our platform.
Shuab: How can blockchain enhance the functionalities of your 3D engine?
Ericka: Blockchain can significantly enhance our engine’s capabilities by enabling decentralized asset storage and management, ensuring that users have complete control over their creations. It can also facilitate more complex game mechanics, such as verifying in-game item ownership and enabling secure peer-to-peer transactions. Furthermore, blockchain integration can support a decentralized marketplace where users can buy, sell, and trade 3D assets seamlessly. This not only enhances the user experience but also fosters a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem where creativity and innovation can thrive.
The Team Behind LIBI.xyz
Shuab: Who are the other members of your team, and what is the size of your company?
Ericka: Our core team consists of myself, based in Marseille, and my co-founder, Amir Ali, who is based in London. In addition to us, we have an engineer who focuses on the backend and deployment aspects of our engine. While we’ve kept the team small to maintain agility and manage costs, especially since we haven’t raised a significant amount of funding yet, we’re now looking to expand. As we move towards broader user engagement and marketing efforts, we plan to grow our team to support these new initiatives.
Future of Gaming with LIBI.xyz
Shuab: Are you planning on developing your own games or encouraging others to use your technology?
Ericka: Our primary goal is to provide the infrastructure and tools that other developers and studios can use to create their own games and applications. We believe in empowering creators by offering a robust platform that handles the heavy lifting, allowing them to focus on their creative vision. While we do create templates and examples to demonstrate the capabilities of our engine, we’re not planning to develop our own games extensively. Instead, we encourage other studios and developers to build on our platform and take advantage of the unique features it offers.
Shuab: What is your approach to interoperability and compatibility with other engines and formats?
Ericka: We prioritize interoperability and aim to support a wide range of formats and standards. For instance, we are focused on enhancing compatibility with the glTF format, which is becoming a standard for 3D assets. This allows users to import and export models easily and ensures that our engine can integrate smoothly with other tools and platforms. Additionally, we are continuously exploring ways to improve compatibility with popular formats like FBX, despite the proprietary challenges they present. Our goal is to create an open, flexible platform that can work seamlessly with various technologies, ensuring that developers can leverage the best tools available without being locked into a single ecosystem.
Overcoming Challenges
Shuab: How are browser updates and standards affecting your development?
Ericka: Browser updates and changing web standards can significantly impact our development process. Each browser update can introduce new features, deprecate old ones, or alter the way certain functions work, which can affect the stability and performance of our engine. Safari, for instance, has been particularly challenging due to its strict memory limitations and lack of support for some modern web technologies. We continuously test our engine against the latest browser versions and adapt our code to ensure compatibility and performance. This involves developing custom solutions and optimizations to handle the idiosyncrasies of different browsers.
Strategies for Maintaining Performance and Compatibility
Ericka: Our approach to maintaining performance involves several key strategies. We use multi-threading to distribute computational tasks efficiently, which is particularly important for complex simulations and rendering. WebAssembly (WASM) plays a crucial role in our technology stack, providing the performance and memory efficiency needed for high-fidelity 3D graphics. Additionally, with the development our own physics engine to meet the specific requirements of our platform, as existing solutions did not fully support our needs. By taking these measures, we ensure that our engine runs smoothly across a wide range of devices and browsers.
The Road Ahead
Shuab: How far are you on your journey, and what does your future roadmap look like?
Ericka: We’ve made considerable progress since we started. Our engine is now capable of rendering large, detailed environments with real-time physics simulation and multi-threading support. We’ve also built a backend infrastructure that allows for the efficient management and distribution of assets. Currently, we’re focused on refining these features and expanding our user base through targeted marketing efforts. Our immediate roadmap includes finalizing the integration of blockchain technology and enhancing our marketplace for 3D assets. Looking further ahead, we plan to introduce more collaborative features and expand the capabilities of our engine to support even more complex interactions and environments.
Shuab: What is the long-term vision for LIBI.xyz?
Ericka: Our long-term vision is to create a decentralized, open platform where users can easily create, share, and interact with 3D content. We aim to democratize 3D content creation, making it accessible to everyone, from hobbyists to professional developers. This includes developing a robust marketplace for 3D assets, integrating advanced features like AI-driven interactions, and supporting a wide range of devices and use cases. Ultimately, we envision a future where 3D content is as ubiquitous and easy to use as 2D content is today, enabling new forms of expression, collaboration, and interaction across the web.
Final Thoughts
Throughout this interview, Ericka provided a comprehensive overview of LIBI.xyz’s journey, technological advancements, and future aspirations. We explored the initial challenges faced in developing a 3D engine for the web, the innovative use of Vulkan and WebAssembly to enhance performance, and the strategic integration of blockchain technology to ensure secure and decentralized asset management. Ericka’s insights into the vision for making 3D content accessible and the steps taken to ensure interoperability with other platforms highlighted LIBI.xyz’s commitment to democratizing 3D technology.
Ericka envisions a future where 3D content creation is as intuitive and widespread as 2D content is today. By removing barriers to entry and ensuring seamless access through web browsers, LIBI.xyz aims to revolutionize how users interact with 3D environments. The long-term goal is to build a decentralized platform that empowers creators, fosters collaboration, and supports a diverse range of applications, from gaming to virtual meetings and online shopping.
Find Out More
People can learn more about our work and stay updated by visiting the website LIBI.xyz.
The team is also active on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, where the latest news and developments are shared. For those interested in deeper engagement, a Discord community exists where users can connect with the team ask questions, and participate in discussions. The team is always looking for feedback and is open to explore collaboration opportunities and contribute to the vision.
Website: https://libi.xyz/
Libi.xyz on X: https://x.com/LibiEngine
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/2DUntMpYhR
Erika on X: https://x.com/Myrindy
Amir on X: https://x.com/ameero1