NewSky XR Brings Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year Awards After-Party Into the Metaverse

April 1, 2022

The metaverse is upon us, and The Toy Foundation is one of the latest companies to bring one of its events into the new world of virtual interactivity and participant engagement. For its recent Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards after-party, the Toy Foundation leveraged the immersive event platform of NewSky XR for a cutting-edge virtual experience.

NewSky XR took this year's TOTY to the next level by hosting an after-party for winners, Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees and event attendees in their New York Rooftop location in the metaverse.

After the winners were announced, event participants logged in to NewSky XR’s secure online platform to enjoy the highly engaging and immersive event. They donned customizable avatars with video screen heads to network with toy industry leaders in a high-fidelity, rich texture, photo-realistic environment. Each category winner had a video that played on one of 20 in-world screens throughout the beautiful virtual ballroom.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this year’s Toy of the Year Awards,” said Tim Weisbrod, chief technology officer at NewSky XR. “We were thrilled that The Toy Foundation chose to leverage our platform to engage with its audience in the metaverse in a way that you simply can’t experience in simple video conferencing.”

“On a night that honors the best in play and kids’ entertainment, NewSky XR helped us deliver a TOTY after party that reflected the innovation the toy industry is known for,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director at The Toy Foundation. “It was an engaging virtual experience that added another experiential layer to the night’s festivities, allowing attendees to interact and network in a fun new way.”

Robin Raskin, founder of The Virtual Events Group, which produced the event, said her company searched high and low for the right metaverse that would ensure that TOTY guests would have a great experience and an easy time onboarding, and not require them to have any special hardware.

“NewSky XR had the perfect combination of stunning New York scenes, seamless sign-ons, and the sense of playfulness and exploration that we were seeking,” Raskin said.

NewSky XR was created by event professionals, entertainment veterans, VR pioneers, and gamers in a mashup to deliver immersive and engaging live experiences through its WebXR platform.

Known as the "Oscars" of the toy industry, the TOTYs are presented annually by The Toy Foundation to the top toys, games and properties of the year. The awards program supports the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation.

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on TwitterFacebook and  LinkedIn!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.