Personal Note
Hi all 👋,
Hope you all survived another turbulent week in crypto land. 😅
Although 60% of the Metaweek.ly readers are located outside of Belgium, I've decided to start adding some dutch articles to the following issues as well. Just because we see more and more movement in the Belgian space with very good media coverage of Roland Legrand from DeTijd.
BUT I'll translate the titles and summaries of the articles in English for all you out there in Dubai, The US, and other parts of the world! Very pleased to see we can inspire such an international audience!
Enjoy this issue!
Best,
Trends & Game Changers
NFT Trends to Expect in 2022: Utillity, Utillity, Utillity
Utility is beginning to take shape across the industry, particularly in terms of enriching various experiences, be that fan engagements for collectors or exclusive access to events, by virtue of owning these digital assets.
The Sandbox Partners with Warner Music Group to Create Music-themed World in the Metaverse
The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, announced today that it has partnered with Warner Music Group (WMG) to create the first music-themed world in The Sandbox gaming metaverse.
YouTube Hints at NFT Integration in Letter to Creators
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has suggested that the company is considering the possibility of "expanding" YouTube's offering to include NFTs.
Why Samsung Invested in Ready Player Me, Cross-Platform Avatars for the Metaverse
Samsung's investment aligns with the consumer trend around identity and how it will be represented in the metaverse. A person’s online identity may be realistic and tied to a photograph, or it may be more like a pseudonym, and represented in another manner, like with an avatar.
As 3D virtual worlds gain traction, demand will grow for 3D avatars that can be connected to a user’s real or pseudonymous identity. Samsung believes this trend will play an important role in the evolving Web3 ecosystem, which is built on a vision of empowerment, inclusion, and community. The metaverse promises to make a person’s digital identity as important as their physical identity.
Antwerp Diamond Dives into the Metaverse (DUTCH)
Diamond company HB Antwerp is going to launch rough diamonds that are linked to digital copies with which buyers can also show off virtually. The NFTs could eventually become worth more than the original diamonds in the real world.
Brands in the Metaverse
Should Brands Start Charging for Brand Experiences?
From Kraken rum's Halloween haunted hotel to Ford's go faster stunt driver experience, the world of brand experiences is richer and more varied than ever before. From entertainment and gaming to pop-ups, theme parks, edutainment and more... brands across all sectors are increasingly turning to experiences as a core pillar of their marketing activity.
But one of the most interesting developments taking place in brand experiences is the rise of the ticketed, paid-for experience, whereby brands are moving into the world of the experience economy, attaching economic value (literally charging an entry fee) to their brand experiences.
Microsoft’s Metaverse Vision Is Becoming Clear—and Makes Sense
With the announcement of its $69 billion deal to buy gaming giant Activision Blizzard, Microsoft suddenly has a lot to say about the metaverse. A real working definition of the metaverse is still very much in flux, but Nadella gave some color on how he and Microsoft are thinking about it. “Just like the first wave of the internet allowed everybody to build a website, I think the next wave of the internet will be a more open world where people can build their own metaverse worlds, whether they’re organizations or game developers or anyone else.”
Limited Edition Marvel NFT drop on Veve features The Incredible Hulk
The company’s recent Deadpool and Groot NFT drops have seen great success and this should be no exception. This series features Mr. Fixit, the Hulk’s grey alter-ego.
The Incredible Hulk #347 has 10,000 copies with 5 cover rarities. This includes: classic (6,000), vintage (2,250), hero (1,000), vibranium (500) and true believer (250). The list price is $6.99 per copy, and the sale uses a blind box format to ensure a fair playing ground for all participants.
How Discord Became the Gateway for Brands to Enter the Metaverse
The invite-only social media platform has become a way to create hype and find audiences for NFT projects. It’s the latest gateway for brands including Adidas and Gucci to enter the metaverse.
Facts & Figures
$2000 A Month: The Metaverse, Play-to-Earn and The New Economic Model to Making a Living Online.
The gaming industry is growing at a rapid pace, and the emerging play-to-earn model coupled with blockchain and the Metaverse is the future. In this play-to-earn economy, players get rewarded for their time by earning Crypto tokens, which can be bought and sold on crypto exchanges, and by acquiring NFTs and other in-game assets that can be sold in open marketplaces.