BurnerSphere: Scaling the Spirit of Black Rock City into a Persistent Social Metaverse

Dive into the digital dust of BurnerSphere, an artistic spatially navigable social XR world that redefines the boundaries of immersive storytelling. Born from the award-winning BRCvr and developed in collaboration with the Burning Man Project, this platform is far more than a digital twin—it is a living, persistent ecosystem designed to capture and preserve the ephemeral culture of Black Rock City.

Moderated by XR Hall-of-Fame Award recipient Gregory Panos, this panel features Athena Demos, Doug Jacobson, and Justin Gunn to explore the project’s journey from its pandemic-era origins to its current state as a global community hub. The discussion will bridge the gap between abstract philosophy and the "present-day challenges" of implementation, specifically focusing on the friction of merging high-fidelity 360°/180° media with real-time social agency.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Philosophy of Participation: Shifting the user mindset from "Guest" to "Camp Mate" to enforce Radical Inclusion and Communal Effort.
• Implementation Hurdles: Navigating the technical complexities of maintaining social interactivity within high-resolution, spatially navigated environments.
• Spatial Inclusion: Exploring how BurnerSphere utilizes spatial computing to foster genuine human connection and provide accessibility to those unable to attend the physical event.

Attendees will gain actionable insights on building large-scale social VR environments that prioritize human connection over passive consumption. This session serves as a definitive case study in spatial Inclusion, proving that XR can successfully scale human culture and inspire year-round creativity across the globe.