Photo:Neopets
Neopets
Before there was Instagram and TikTok, there were Neopets.
Many millennials may remember traveling to the mythical land of Neopia after school to check on the cute animated characters ranging from cat-like creatures to dragon look-alikes.
On Monday, TheNeopetsTeam (TNT) said the website was embarking on “a new era,” which includes a homepage revamp launching on Thursday and plans to create a mobile app down the road.
“The Neopets Team is, for the first time in over a decade, equipped to make meaningful changes in pursuit of a Neopian renaissance,” the company said.
“With the support of this new leadership, TNT has been entrusted with the decision-making and overall brand strategy for Neopets and given access to assets that will empower us to breathe fresh life into Neopia," a message posted to the company’sofficial websitestates, adding that the website is now under the control of a new entity called World of Neopia, Inc.
One of the major roadblocks for the website came in 2020 when Flash was discontinued, which caused key features to stop functioning, according toThe Washington Post.
At the height of its popularity, virtual world reportedly had 25 million users in 2005, the newspaper reported.
The announcement of the revamp comes after the website raised $4 million in funding from various investors with “plans to nurture a shared dream of an immersive, community-driven gaming experience,” according to ablog post.
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The future changes include bringing back functionality to games and “tackling the mobile browser compatibility issues,” while also improving customer support and transitioning to a mobile app.
Neopets isn’t the only childhood pastime making headlines as of late. This Friday,Barbiewill be released in theaters nationwide.
The iconic doll is headed to the big screen for the adventure of a lifetime.
In a December 2022 interview withVanity Fair, Simu Liu, who plays one of many Ken dolls in the film, shared how the project could leave viewers feeling inspired.
“You don’t have to be blonde, white, or X, Y, Z in order to embody what it means to be a Barbie or a Ken,” he revealed. “People don’t have any idea what to expect [about the film’s plot], and I think that that’s the right vibe,” castmate America Ferrera exclusively toldPEOPLEin 2022.
source: people.com
