Wplace — a startup that turned the world map into an infinite digital canvas

By the author's design, Wplace is inspired by the well-known r/Place project on Reddit, but instead of an abstract canvas, it uses a world map.

The main feature is continuity: while r/Place was launched for only a few days, Wplace operates continuously, allowing drawings to live and develop for weeks or even months.

How it works

The platform is a world map with a virtual canvas overlaid on top. Each user can place one pixel every 30 seconds. The pixel can be placed anywhere on the map, and it will be immediately visible to other participants. This approach encourages collaborative image creation and interaction among users.

What happens on the map

Within a few weeks of its launch, Wplace turned into a large-scale platform combining artistic works, random inscriptions, and advertising elements. Large and detailed drawings are usually created through teamwork, with many participants coordinating their actions via Discord and other chats. There are also solo authors who place small images or inscriptions, for example, in remote regions.

Features of Wplace

— one pixel every 30 seconds — a limitation that keeps everyone on equal footing
— the ability to watch the drawing process on the map in real time
— active teams that coordinate actions and create large-scale projects
— content for every taste: from pixel art based on games to memes and personal messages
— a "random" button — takes you to an existing work anywhere in the world
— leaderboards by country, region, and player. To date, the record belongs to Brazil — over 530 million pixels in one project
— alliances and internal currency: it can be used to buy flags, avatars, and other decorative elements.

Wplace quickly became not only a tool for creativity but also a kind of social platform where users from around the world interact.