NFT

‘Paperback Metaverse’ Exhibit Combines Books And AR

October 4, 2022 From vrscout

Visitors scan paperback novels using their smartphones to unlock AR-powered NFTs.

ADAPTATIONS: LAND, an environmentally-conscious mixed media art exhibit, kicked off yesterday in San Fransisco. Running now through November 13th, the gallery offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in a number of thought-provoking installations.

This includes ‘Paper Metaverse,’ a unique augmented reality (AR) exhibit by Nick Philip of the art collective Imaginary Foundation that blends cutting-edge technology with paperback books. Surrounded by classic literature, visitors scan real paperback novels using their smartphones to unlock AR-powered NFTs.

“This installation uses the forgotten pages of yesterday’s novels to tell a collection of stories for tomorrow’s shifting reality,”said the Imaginary Foundation on Facebook. “By contrasting an environment built from thousands of upcycled paperback novels with a dynamic layer of augmented reality activated NFTs, the Paperback Metaverse fuses the physical, the virtual, and the sculptural.”

Those lucky enough to find themselves in San Fransisco can check out Paperback Metaverse along with a number of other unique mixed media installations at The Drawing Room Annex, 780 Valencia Street SF. The gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11-7pm as well as Fridays & Saturdays from 11-9pm.

For more information visit here.

Image Credit: Imaginary Foundation

Nike Partners With RTFKT To Launch AR Hoodies

July 18, 2022 From vrscout

Digital fashion for the real world.

Last year, Nike officially acquired RTFKT Studios, a Web3 fashion house specializing in digital apparel. Shortly thereafter the company released RTFKT x Nike Dunks Genesis CryptoKicks, a pair of physical sneakers with their own NFT counterparts.

This week Nike expanded its lineup of NFT clothing with the RTFKT x Nike AR Genesis Hoodie, an exclusive digital hoodie for RTFKT’s Clone X NFT avatars. In addition to the virtual item, each owner will also receive a physical hoodie equipped with a near-field communication chip (NFC) that allows for wireless communication between the clothing and its respective NFT.

Using a combination of trackers and QR codes, owners can bring their physical hoodies to life in AR with effects such as virtual wings. Moving forward, the company will introduce additional utilities to its catalog of digital clothing, such as tokens to access exclusive in-person events.

According to the company, the RTFKT x Nike AR Genesis Hoodie’s private mint will go live on Thursday, July 21st. The hoodie will be available first to Clone X and RTFKT x Nike Dunks Genesis CryptoKicks owners before becoming available to the general public.

For more information visit rtfkt.com.

Image Credit: RTFKT Studios

The Vatican Is Opening Its Own VR Gallery To ‘Democratize Art’

May 4, 2022 From vrscout

The digital venue will feature NFT artwork based on famous works from The Vatican’s collection.

One of the most popular art museums in the world is teaming up with metaverse developer Sensorium Corporation to launch an official NFT gallery available in VR and on desktops. Here, visitors will be able to peruse a collection of renowned works of art brought to life in the metaverse.

Leading the initiative is Humanity 2.0, a non-profit organization funded by the Vatican dedicated to solving socio-economic and cultural issues through a combination of media and technology. This partnership will bring The Vatican’s art, content, and academic initiatives to VR for the first time, allowing anyone access regardless of their physical location.

Created in the 16th century, The Vatican is home to art from a wide range of legendary artists, including Michelangelo, Salvador Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso just to name a few. As for which pieces will make their way to Humanity 2.0’s NFT gallery, we’ll just have to wait and see.

“We look forward to working with Sensorium to explore ways to democratize art, making it more widely available to people around the world regardless of their socio-economic and geographical limitations,” said Father Philip Larrey, Chairman of Humanity 2.0.” The partnership with Sensorium brings this goal a step further and equips us with the latest tech solutions.”

The gallery will be open to the public in Sensorium Galaxy, a virtual metaverse accessible via desktop and in VR using major PC VR headsets. In addition to this holy NFT gallery, Sensorium Galaxy also serves as a live music platform, allowing users from around the world to join live shows featuring popular artists like Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, David Guetta, and Eric Prydz. This segue into the art world could help expand the company’s user base by targeting a whole new demographic of attendees.

For more information on the gallrey visit here. You can learn more about Sensorium and its growing metaverse here.

Image Credit: Sensorium Corporation x The Vatican

Genies Secures $150M Series C to Expand Development on Metaverse Avatars

April 14, 2022 From roadtovr

Genies, a 3D avatar company, announced it’s raised a $150 million Series C investment, something it says will be used to hire more engineering talent and continue development on its non-fungible token (NFT) based “avatar universe.”

The round was led by private equity firm Silver Lake, and includes participation from existing investors BOND, NEA, and Tamarack Global. This brings the company’s total outside investment to $202 million, with the company now valued at $1 billion.

The company’s main focus for now is on avatar creator tools and digital fashion collections which it hopes will be used across the metaverse—and not just sit in a crypto wallet. The company envisions creating avatar homes and social experiences in the future—presumably also minted as tradable NFTs.

In late 2021, Genies notably inked a partnership with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group to launch its own NFT marketplace, called ‘The Warehouse’. Users and creators on the platform can buy, sell, and trade avatars and accessories, which are minted on Dapper Labs’ blockchain network, Flow. The deal also saw NFT partnerships with a number of musicians, including Justin Bieber, Migos, Cardi B, and J Balvin.

“We believe avatar ecosystems are going to shape Web3 the same way that mobile apps defined Web2,” said Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies. “With every advancement of the internet, an expansive new region of entrepreneurial skill sets is born. In Web3, Gen Z avatar ecosystem builders are going to be the leaders of innovation and, through our creator tools, we strive to empower their wildest imaginations, ideas, and experiences as avatar creations.”

It’s not clear whether this particular blockchain tech will become the standard for digital ownership in the Web3 future, where digital property ownership is set to go well beyond pictures of cartoon apes. Just the same, many household names in the XR industry are also jumping into the NFT craze. HTC opened its own NFT marketplace in December, albeit solely dedicated to ‘flat’ NFT art for now. Meta is planning to do the same on its social network Facebook, although there’s still no clear launch date.

Order Real Food In McDonald’s Metaverse Restaurant

February 10, 2022 From vrscout

Have it your way in the metaverse.

The fast-food giant McDonald’s has filed 10 trademark applications that will put McDonald’s restaurants in the metaverse. Not only will you be able to visit a digital version of the golden arches, but you’ll also be able to order popular items such as the Big Mac, a cheeseburger Happy Meal, or a McChicken, and have them delivered directly to your home in the real world.

The company, which was founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald and then purchased by Ray Kroc in 1961, plans on creating virtual versions of both McDonald’s restaurants and their McCafe’s. These digital locations will deliver an experience impossible to replicate at a physical store.

Credit: McDonald’s

The announcement of McDonald’s venture into the metaverse was made on Twitter when trademark attorney Josh Gerben tweeted out that the company has filed ten trademark applications indicating it plans to offer “a virtual restaurant featuring actual and virtual goods” and “operating a virtual restaurant featuring home delivery.”

Details of the ten trademark applications that were filed on February 4th with the US Patent and Trademark Office are limited. Business Insider also reported that you’ll be able to purchase NFTs, or “McNFTs” as I’ve been calling them, that you can collect, trade, or sell in exchange for virtual goods.

Forbes is also reporting that one of the trademarks filed focuses on entertainment services that would fall under the McDonald’s and McCafe brands, giving the fast-food company the ability to host “online actual and virtual concerts.”

Walmart, Nike, and the Gap have also begun establishing a presence in the metaverse with their own filed trademarks.

McDonald’s, however, could be the first to create a metaverse where you can order real food and have it delivered to your real home.

Just a day before McDonald’s filed their trademark patents, Panera Bread filed patents for their vision of the metaverse called “Paneraverse,” which would allow you to download virtual foods from their menu that can be used in virtual worlds. Like the McDonaldverse, you’d also be able to buy NFTs that could be used to purchase actual food items in a real restaurant.

For McDonald’s, the metaverse opens up new franchising opportunities. Franchising has been a big part of the company’s business since its purchase by Ray Kroc, and with metaverse spaces like Somnium Space selling virtual land, McDonald’s could begin scooping virtual real estate.

For now, the metaverse is still as fresh as a hot Quarter Pounder with Cheese right off the grill, and it looks like McDonald’s wants you to have it your way in the real world and in the metaverse.

Happy Goggles cardboard VR headset / Feature Image Credit: McDonald’s

Nike Just Bought Leading Metaverse Fashion House RTFKT

December 13, 2021 From vrscout

The company’s acquisition could be a major step forward for the metaverse, NFTs, and the digital fashion industry.

Nike today announced the purchase of RTFKT Studios, a leading metaverse fashion house best known for its lineup of high-end digital clothing. Since 2020, the company has employed a variety of cutting-edge technologies such as NFTs, crypto, blockchains, and AR technology to establish a one-of-a-kind brand that blends the physical and digital worlds.

What began with NFT sneaker drops has since expanded into a full-fledged digital clothing brand.

Image Credit: Nike / RTFKT Studios

“This acquisition is another step that accelerates Nike’s digital transformation and allows us to serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming, and culture,” said John Donahoe, President and CEO of NIKE, Inc in an official statement. “We’re acquiring a very talented team of creators with an authentic and connected brand. Our plan is to invest in the RTFKT brand, serve and grow their innovative and creative community and extend Nike’s digital footprint and capabilities.”

We covered RTFKT earlier this year after the company partnered with VR avatar platform Ready Player Me to release a small lineup of limited edition digital outfits based on the company’s most sought-after pieces. I myself was lucky enough to score some exclusive digital merch during the October drop and let’s just say my virtual counterpart has never looked better.

Since then RTFKT has continued to expand its offerings in the metaverse. Earlier this year, the company launched its new line of Clone X NFTs, a digital fashion collection inspired by anime, sci-fi, and streetwear. As soon as the Nike acquisition was announced, floor prices for RTFKT’s Clone X NFTs on OpenSea skyrocketed, becoming the most heavily traded collection on the platform and surpassing blue chip NFT collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club within a day of the reveal.

Most recently, RTFKT released a limited jersey at Art Basel in collaboration with eSports team FaZeClan and a partnership with UK fashion retailer Harvey Nichols for a Clone X NFT in-store giveaway. Within the first hour of the Nike announcement, over $20 million worth of Clone X NFTs were traded on OpenSea.

The company’s acquisition by Nike could be a major stepping stone towards the mainstream adoption of digital fashion as well as NFTs, crypto, and immersive technology. For Nike, the purchase opens up access to a whole new market in which to dominate.

“This is a unique opportunity to build the RTFKT brand and we are excited to benefit from Nike’s foundational strength and expertise to build the communities we love,” says Benoit Pagotto, one of RTFKT’s co-founders. “Nike is the only brand in the world that shares the deep passion we all have for innovation, creativity and community, and we’re excited to grow our brand which was fully formed in the metaverse.”

For more information on the acquisition, take a look at Nike’s official statement here. RTFKT was founded last year by Benoit Pagotto, Chris Le, and Steven Vasilev. You can find additional information regarding the metaverse fashion house here.

Feature Image Credit: RTFKT Studios

HTC Vive Is Opening Its Own NFT Store

December 12, 2021 From vrscout

All aboard the NFT hype train.

NFT trading volume had a massive surge in the third quarter of 2021 with over $10.7 billion worth of digital assets sold, as reported by DappRadar. That’s an incredible 704% increase from the previous quarter. According to CNBC, this growth is the direct result of investors’ growing belief in tech and that owning an NFT offers some form of social status within the crypto world.

Image Credit: HTC Vive

Last week, HTC Vive announced that it will be jumping into the NFT market by expanding its VIVERSE to include a unique NFT store designed specifically for arts and culture. This platform will hopefully develop into a virtual ecosystem where you can host, sell, and buy digital artwork as a creator and/or collector.

The inaugural sale of HTC Vive’s NFT store will begin on December 17th and will feature beautifully created NFTs from the world-renowned Czech artists Alphonse Mucha as part of an incredible partnership to commemorate the Mucha Foundations launch of its “Mucha to Manga – The Magic of the Line” exhibition opening in Taipei.

Collectors will be able to view new NFTs based on Mucha’s work throughout the duration of the exhibition. The virtual store will conclude with a special auction in April 2022.

The store—accessible through the Vive Arts website—will allow you to buy or sell various types of digital art, whether it be in 2D, VR, AR, or XR. As a creator, you will have complete control over your NFT and will be able to sell in traditional government-backed currency (the dollar for example) as well as various cryptocurrencies. You also have total control over the volume of art you are selling.

In an official statement from HTC, Cher Wang, Co-founder and Chairwoman of HTC said, “Our new global art trading platform heralds the next building block in VIVE Arts’ development of holistic arts and culture ecosystem, to enhance the rich, growing world of digital art,” adding, “This platform enables VIVE Arts to enhance our support for artists and institutions, opening up new opportunities for digital creativity, innovation, and connection using blockchain technology.”

For HTC, VIVERSE is an opportunity to break down the walls that separate the physical and virtual worlds by using immersion as the focal point. Celina Yeh, Executive Director for Vive Arts, said she was “thrilled” to be able to partner with the Mucha Foundation for its initial sales, using the “beloved artworks by Alphonse Mucha as NFTs,” as a way to bring both the real and virtual worlds together.

If you’re not familiar with Alphonse Mucha, he is best known for his hyper-detailed art that looks almost like stylized theater posters. Much of his work includes illustrations, advertisements, and designs featuring French stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt.

To know more about HTC and its VR and AR products, click here. To enter HTC’s VIVERSE and Vive Arts, head on over to Viveport.

Feature Image Credit: HTC Vive