Personal Note
Hi All,
Seems last week's Facebook/Meta announcement has accelerated Metaverse interest and adoption with the speed of light. Leading to big surges in existing Metaverse coins and many companies feeling the urge to share their plans and secret projects with the world.
Enjoy this 10th issue of Metaweek.ly đž
Cheers,
Trends & Game Changers
Ubisoft to Invest in and Create Blockchain Games
Ubisoft, one of the worldâs largest video game companies â responsible for creating popular franchise games such as Assassinâs Creed, Far Cry and For Honor â hosted its Q2 earnings call this week, where blockchain games were a key topic of discussion.
Decentralandâs MANA Jumps 80% as Facebook Rebrand Fuels Metaverse Bets
Decentralandâs MANA has surged 80% to a market capitalization of more than $2 billion. The jump in the virtual worldâs token apparently spurred by Facebookâs announcement it is changing its corporate name to Meta to signal an increasing focus on the metaverse.
Electronic Arts Calls NFT and Blockchain Games âthe Future of the Gaming Industry'
EA CEO Andrew Wilson called NFT and "play-to-earn" games the "the future of the gaming industry," but added that "it's still early to figure out how that's going to work," when asked about the topic during the company's earnings call this week.
Who Will Rule The Metaverse? The Battle For Our Future Digital World
A complex battle is raging for control of a future world that few understand, but that could shape our lives in years to come. While the early metaverse can appear to a first-time visitor as awkward, even silly, massive investment and new technologies are bringing a far more sophisticated version suddenly within reach. The critical question we now face: Who will control it? Will the metaverse be owned by corporations, or will it be open and decentralized like the underlying infrastructure of the Internet?
Brands in the Metaverse
How NFTS Are Used by Marketersâa Continually Updated List
Brands including Taco Bell, Crockpot, Campbell's, and Twitter have leaped into the ever-popularizing market, with more joining them by the day. This link is a continually-updated list of new NFTs and how brands are adopting them in their marketing.
McDonaldâs Issues âMcnftâ to Commemorate Mcribâs Return
As the McRib comes out of hiding this week, McDonaldâs is marking the occasion by joining the NFT craze. The world's largest restaurant chain will issue a limited number of non-fungible tokens it says will allow fans to capture the elusive sandwich year-round.
Nike is Quietly Preparing for The Metaverse
The apparel giant has taken its first steps into the metaverse. The company has filed several new trademarks this week that indicate its intent to make and sell virtual Nike-branded sneakers and apparel.
State Farm Launches NFT Treasure Hunt as It Looks to Make Insurance Sexy
The insurance company is launching a virtual treasure hunt where participants will use their phones, akin to a Pokemon Go, to find more than 500,000 virtual footballs.
Facts & Figures
The Sandbox Receives $93 Million to Fund Creator Economy
The virtual gaming world of The Sandbox has received $93 million through an investment round led by SoftBank, and they will use this to grow their creator economy. They want to grow their development team, support content creators with funding and involve more brands into their gaming universe.Â
How Four NFT Novices Created a Billion-Dollar Ecosystem of Cartoon Apes
Just last year, the four thirtysomethings behind Bored Ape Yacht Club were living modest lifestyles and working day jobs as they fiddled with creative projects on the side. Now, theyâre multimillionaires. This is their NFT success story.