SG Orchard Road, Maxwell Hawker Centre, on Decentraland for Merlion 50th Birthday

Iconic Singapore locations are sprouting up on Decentraland to commemorate the Merlion’s 50th birthday. Brought together by a partnership between Singapore Tourism Board and Millennium Hotels and Resorts (M Social), the “Merlion on Vacation” allows players to explore Singapore through the metaverse.

Guests will be able to experience Merlion-themed cocktail-mixing and perfume-making workshops whilst searching for the Merlion, which is teleported around the various virtual locations to mark its jubilee.

Locations include Orchard Road, Sungei Buloh, Gardens by the Bay and Maxwell Food Centre. Participants who complete games are entered into a raffle to win a one-night-stay at M Social Singapore, as well as hotel and F&B vouchers and other merchandise.

M Social’s Decentraland real estate is located one tram stop from Genesis Plaza.

Saurabh Prakash, group senior vice president commercial for Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said the project promotes Singapore whilst “sweetening the pot with rewards for stays and dining that can be used at our physical hotel, M Social Singapore”.

The project is not the first to commemorate the Little Red Dot. In August, WeAreSG launched 9,822 NFTs created by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans. Each NFT was designed to depict everyday Singaporeans ranging from national service men, delivery drivers to cigarette uncles.

As is everyone’s mission these days, teleporting the Merlion into Decentraland is yet another attempt to bridge web2 and web3. For those who enjoy celebrating Singapore culture, the move could be an inticing opportunity to explore their patriotism or at the very least raise their curiosity. The project also serves as an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the metaverse, which is in much need of repair following the Meta fallout, but stay tuned for an upcoming feature focusing on that very topic.