Downtown Memphis Makes Move to the Metaverse

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A project that has been in the works for 10 years aims to bring the Bluff City into the metaverse.

“The video game format, I think, is a great way to get people excited about Memphis,” said Cory Owens, creator of a one-to-one scale digital recreation of the City of Memphis.

Owens refers to the project as Memphis METAS Downtown Digital Twin. He meticulously reconstructs iconic buildings and structures like the Hernando De Soto bridge or the Bass Pro Pyramid using the “Unreal” video game engine.

“This passion project of mine originated from my love for Memphis, technology, downtown, video games, and the desire to bring them all together,” he explained.

Owens initiated the project after wondering what it would be like if the Zippin’ Pippin roller coaster from Libertyland and the fairgrounds was situated on Mud Island. After creating a 3D model of it, he proceeded to build the remaining parts of Downtown Memphis.

Although the project presently enables users to explore virtual sections of the city by foot or by vehicle, it is still a work in progress.

Owens plans to make it accessible to the public in the next few years and has ambitious aspirations for its future.

“While the video game aspect is captivating, the real purpose is to drive innovation in Memphis,” Owens stated.

Operating a marketing agency called GROW Memphis, Owens intends to utilize the virtual city for promoting local businesses and educational endeavors, such as recreating historical scenes from the city.

Once finalized, Owens believes the virtual city could serve as a valuable resource for gaming, filmmaking, tourism, and urban planning, offering developers insight into how their concepts could integrate into the city.

“My objective for this project is to showcase the past, present, and future of Memphis,” Owens remarked.