"WHEN YOU'RE READY, FEEL FREE TO TAKE your seat with grace, landing into the body with ease, trusting whatever posture feels most supportive."
My Roblox avatar-a blocky, smiley-faced little guy with shaggy orange hair, a plasticky gray complexion, and hinged limbs-is rolling out his yoga mat. As a soothing voice coaches him, he kneels with palms outstretched, surrounded by other avatars seeking their own inner peace.
By the standards of Roblox's 3D playground, this exercise in virtual mindfulness isn't exactly action-packedand that's the point. "We wanted something calm and tranquil, where you can tune in by tuning out," says Angélic Vendette, global head of marketing at yoga-wear maker Alo, which created the experience. So, apparently, did plenty of Roblox users: They've visited the virtual yoga studio more than 70 million times.
The Alo Sanctuary's popularity isn't just a marketing coup for Alo. It's also a sign that the effort Roblox has been putting into transcending its roots as a vaguely educational, Lego-like digital construction kit for small children is paying off. The company's aspirations now go well beyond entertaining and educating little kids: The long-term mission, says cofounder and CEO David Baszucki, is "bringing a billion people together."
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2023-utgaven av Fast Company.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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THE NEW RULES OF BUSINESS TRAVEL
In the era of hybrid teams, everyone is a road warrior-not just sales teams and C-suite execs. It's part of why business travel spending is expected to finally reach, and perhaps surpass, pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, according to Deloitte. But, as with everything, work trips are not what they were in 2019. From airlines to banks, companies are finding new ways to make business travel easier-and even a little fun.
INTELLIGENT IMPACT
BUSINESS LUMINARIES SHARE HOW AI CAN INTERSECT WITH SOCIAL MISSION.
REDDIT'S REVENGE
IN AN ERA OF AI UPHEAVAL. THE CACOPHONOUS SOCIAL HUB EMERGES AS THE HUMAN-DRIVEN INTERNET'S LAST GREAT HOPE.
SO MANY WAYS TO LOSE
In the Ozempic era, Weight-Watchers is remaking itself to be something for everyone meal-plan program and a tele-health prescription service. But have consumers already lost their appetite?
10/10 - THE 10 MOST INNOVATIVE PEOPLE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
In honor of Fast Company's 10th Innovation Festival in September, we identified 10 industrious leaders whose groundbreaking efforts defined the past decade in business. We spoke to them about their extraordinary achievements in tech, medicine, entertainment, and more. And we explored how the impact of their work has withstood passing fads, various presidential administrations, a pandemic, and many, many quarterly reports.
The Mysterious Reappearance of the Reggie Bar
How a beloved 1970s candy got called back up to the major leagues.
Gabriella Khalil
Gabriella Khalil, creative director, answers our career questionnaire.
The Fast and the Furious
High prices at McDonald's, Taco Bell, and other chains are sparking consumer revolt.
Lost in Truncation
Lost in Truncation Generative AI was supposed to unleash our creativity. Instead, it became our cultural trash compactor. Welcome to the age of summarization.
Campus Radicals
Welcome to UATX, Austin's new well-funded and controversial anti-woke university.
