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In a recent announcement, Meta-Builders, a prominent player in the Web3 development industry, has unveiled an innovative platform connecting freelancers with businesses eager to integrate NFTs and metaverse environments into their operations. This development offers a significant opportunity for freelancers skilled in various Web3 applications, including NFTs, smart contracts, and metaverse constructs. Despite the initial hype surrounding metaverse projects, data from Metaversed reveals a staggering 400 million active users globally, with over 70% of Americans considering or already engaging in the virtual realm. Projections by METAV.RS suggest that by 2026, a quarter of Americans will dedicate a portion of their daily lives to the metaverse. However, delving into Web3 development necessitates expertise in niche domains like blockchain programming and smart contract integrations, making it a resource-intensive challenge for businesses to build and train in-house teams. Freelance Web3 developers face challenges in securing clients due to their limited referral network and portfolio. To bridge this gap, Meta-Builders has introduced an innovative freelancing platform. Meta-Builders' platform empowers entrepreneurs to consult with the company's experienced team, helping them discover proficient freelancers for their metaverse projects. This platform not only provides businesses with reliable talent but also offers freelancers the flexibility they desire in their work arrangements. For freelancers, the platform includes an active online Discord community hosted by Meta-Builders. This community acts as a hub where developers and business owners can connect, engaging in discussions about ongoing projects, innovative ideas, and future prospects. Meta-Builders has a successful track record of forging partnerships and connections between freelancers and renowned businesses and clients, including Blockchain Valley Virtual, Moloch Digital, and Hip Hop Heads. A spokesperson from Meta-Builders articulated their mission, stating, "Our goal is to become a consistent and reliable resource for service providers in the Web3 space, granting them access to stable employment opportunities through 'in-home freelancing.' This approach allows workers to have greater control over their work arrangements while ensuring a continuous stream of employment prospects." Meta-Builders' recent initiative represents a pivotal development in the dynamic Web3 landscape, fostering collaboration between freelance developers and forward-thinking business owners. As the metaverse continues to capture the imagination of millions, this platform is set to play a crucial role in connecting talent with opportunity, ensuring both parties can fully harness the potential of this burgeoning digital frontier.

Mastercard is intensifying its involvement in blockchain technology through a newly announced partnership with MoonPay, a crypto payment provider. The collaboration aims to explore Web3 tools, drive innovation, and strengthen consumer connections. The primary objective is to delve into how Web3 tools can elevate experiential marketing, including within Mastercard's sponsorship portfolio, offering novel avenues for engaging with consumers. MoonPay will also work closely with Mastercard to integrate its products and solutions into the payment provider's system. This integration is set to enhance trust, compliance, and overall efficiency across the industry. Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and co-founder of MoonPay, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership, highlighting Mastercard's role as a prominent supporter of Web3 and the digital economy. This collaboration is expected to redefine customer loyalty and engagement, showcasing blockchain's potential in creating unique connections and meaningful experiences while broadening the industry's reach. Furthermore, this partnership will leverage the expertise provided by Otherlife, a subsidiary of MoonPay that specializes in Web3 creative agency services, development, strategy, and experiential services. The goal is to bring Mastercard's Web3 ambitions to fruition through a comprehensive approach. As part of this collaboration, MoonPay and Mastercard aim to utilize MoonPay's entire Web3 portfolio, encompassing auth to minting, ETHPass, and more. The two entities will also work closely with Otherlife, MoonPay's creative agency subsidiary, to devise strategies, creative content, and front-end development for their experiential initiatives. This comprehensive approach ensures that the partnership covers various aspects of the Web3 ecosystem, from user authentication to engaging experiences, strengthening the foundations of the blockchain industry. The incorporation of Mastercard's 'Click to Pay,' 'Mastercard Send,' and 'Mastercard Crypto Credentials' into MoonPay's payment solutions signals a significant step toward a more seamless and secure financial landscape. 'Click to Pay' simplifies online payments, offering users a user-friendly and secure method for transactions. 'Mastercard Send,' on the other hand, enables near-instantaneous fund disbursement, enhancing the overall payment experience, especially during crucial times. This partnership continues Mastercard's proactive involvement in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. In recent years, the company has launched several initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between traditional finance and emerging technologies. By fostering innovation and deepening consumer connections in the evolving landscape of Web3 and blockchain, Mastercard remains at the forefront of the financial industry's digital transformation. It underscores the growing significance of Web3 tools and blockchain technology in the financial sector, as they offer more secure, transparent, and efficient financial systems. Moreover, it's worth noting that this initiative represents a part of Mastercard's ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of emerging technologies. The company's proactive approach in embracing blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and Web3 tools showcases its dedication to exploring new frontiers and enhancing the financial services it offers to consumers and businesses alike. This partnership is just one chapter in Mastercard's ongoing journey to drive innovation and foster stronger connections within the evolving digital economy.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of the World Scouting annual JOTA-JOTI (Jamboree-on-the-Air-Jamboree-on-the-Internet), the world’s largest online Scout event which connects Scouts from over 170 countries over 3 days from 20-22 October, Alwaleed Philanthropies, chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, hosted an event in partnership with the World Scout Movement to raise awareness about the impact of deforestation and to inspire young people to become active actors in forest degradation and engage global citizens. (Image: Business Wire) In an effort to conserve the world’s natural forests, Alwaleed Philanthropies are hosting the virtual event on their Metaverse platform, Decentraland. Scouts around the world, as well as the general public, have been invited to navigate through a virtual forest, gain insight into the consequences of deforestation, and participate in the inaugural forest plantation event on the Metaverse. The Decentraland platform has already gained 26,500 scouts and planted 610 trees within the first three days. The count is still increasing as the platform is open to the general public for the next coming weeks. Within the virtual space, participants can engage with interactive exhibits, connect with like-minded individuals, and discover actionable steps that can be taken to protect our precious forests. The experience also enables users to collect POAP’s by gathering seeds and planting their own trees within the space. The event builds on the success of Alwaleed Philanthropies’ campaign to tackle cyber bullying and discrimination in the Metaverse, with Alwaleed Philanthropies now committed to using their Decentraland Metaverse platform to tackle climate change and deforestation; aligning with SDGs 13 and 15: Climate Action and Life on Land. Alwaleed Philanthropies’ Metaverse digital center uses cultural dialogue, artistic exhibitions and historical artifacts as tools to bridge cultures, providing users with the opportunity to delve into Islamic history and culture. Across the three days the JOTA-JOTI event engaged millions of youth around the world for a weekend of online activities aimed at fostering friendship, cooperation and a sense of global citizenship. The event empowers young individuals and volunteers to participate in engaging and interactive group activities via the internet and amateur radio, with the specific emphasis on developing 21st-century skills within the context of Scouting. It aims to support young people of all ages to learn about communications technology, the values of global citizenship, and their role in creating a better world.

Neon Machine, a game studio based in Seattle, has successfully secured $20 million in Series A funding, with Polychain Capital leading the investment round. This funding will be instrumental in advancing the development of their blockchain-integrated shooter game, "Shapnel." In a recent announcement, Neon Machine disclosed the influx of $20 million in Series A funding, with Polychain Capital as the primary investor. This round also saw the participation of other notable investors, including Griffin Gaming Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Franklin Templeton, IOSG Ventures, and Tess Ventures. The funds raised are specifically designated for the ongoing development of "Shapnel," a first-person shooter game. Neon Machine is gearing up for the launch of an early-access version, with a full release scheduled for December 2024. This marks a critical phase in the game's development. Neon Machine, previously a part of HBO Interactive, has since gained independence and garnered a total of $37.5 million in funding across various rounds. CEO Mark Long revealed that the company has a workforce of over 70 employees and has expanded its scope by venturing into comic books. They also introduced the PFP NFT collection in the past year. "Shapnel" is designed to offer a blend of solo and team-based gameplay, placing a significant emphasis on user-generated content (UGC). A noteworthy innovation is the game's unique approach, allowing players to craft in-game items using the studio's technology, which can then be converted into NFTs. While this integration of blockchain technology for asset ownership is groundbreaking, it raises concerns about accessibility for players unfamiliar with these technologies and the potential risks associated with the volatile crypto market. These factors could impact the game's long-term sustainability and player adoption. However, the recent successful funding round reflects investor confidence in Neon Machine's vision. The involvement of prominent venture partners indicates a shared belief in the potential of merging blockchain technology with gaming. The challenges of integrating blockchain and NFTs into gaming, as well as its resonance with the broader gaming community, will be closely watched as Neon Machine continues to navigate this evolving landscape.

The global metaverse market is undergoing unprecedented growth, with projections indicating a surge from USD 83.9 Billion in 2023 to a staggering USD 1,303.4 Billion by 2030, marking a remarkable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48.0% over the period from 2023 to 2030. The metaverse's development has been significantly influenced by the video game industry, which now offers immersive virtual worlds with user-generated content and virtual economies. Beyond entertainment, the metaverse is finding applications in education and collaboration, with virtual classrooms, conferences, and workspaces becoming increasingly prevalent. Within the market, the VR Devices segment is set to be the dominant force, holding the largest market share during the forecast period. VR devices provide lifelike visual and auditory experiences, catering to enterprise and consumer needs in areas such as gaming, entertainment, and training across various industries. Notable examples of VR devices include Meta Quest 2, HTC Vive Cosmos, Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive Pro, and Varjo VR-3. The Consumer vertical is expected to command the largest market share during the forecast period. This vertical encompasses a broad range of consumer-centric applications, including gaming, social media, sports, live entertainment, concerts, museums, theme parks, art galleries, and exhibitions. The metaverse and extended reality technologies are enhancing the visual aspects of gaming and sports broadcasts, ultimately improving the overall user experience.

Supercell, a prominent player in the mobile gaming industry, is embarking on an exciting partnership with Carry1st, a leading mobile game publisher in Africa. This collaboration aims to introduce a seamless in-game purchase experience within Carry1st's game storefront, encompassing elements like in-game currency, battle passes, and more. One of the key implications of this partnership is the transformation it will bring to the African gaming market. Africa boasts a diverse landscape of local currencies and payment methods, including mobile money, e-wallets, and instant bank transfers. As a result, Supercell's games will soon offer African gamers a remarkably streamlined purchasing process tailored to their preferences. This move aligns perfectly with the growing trend of electronic payments in Africa, projected to exceed $40 billion by 2025. Coupled with the region's predominantly mobile-first user base, Supercell is strategically positioning itself to establish a commanding presence in this burgeoning market. Cordel Robbin-Coker, CEO of Carry1st, emphasized the significance of this partnership, noting, "This collaboration simplifies the purchase of in-game items from some of the world's most popular mobile games, all conducted in local currency and using payment methods readily available to African gamers. It also presents Supercell with the opportunity to enhance revenue across its game titles by accessing a fresh, dynamic, and rapidly expanding gaming market." The African gaming sector is making significant strides and is widely regarded as the fastest-growing gaming market on a global scale. Positioned within the MENA region, North Africa also enjoys proximity to affluent countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia. However, the region grapples with low internet penetration, and its payment methods are often more localized than what is typically seen in Western markets. Managing the intricacies of payments in such a diverse and dynamic environment can be more challenging than it appears. In certain markets, like China, the prevalence of banking apps and digital payment solutions has created a barrier for many Western companies. With the partnership between Supercell and Carry1st, the objective is to secure a strong foothold in anticipation of a burgeoning market. By leveraging the experience of an established publisher, Supercell can maintain its focus on its existing European and American operations, while Carry1st gains the ability to offer in-game purchases for some of the most prominent titles in mobile gaming on their platform. This strategic alliance sets the stage for exciting developments in the African gaming landscape.

Macy's has entered the metaverse with the launch of a new virtual fashion experience called mstylelab. The platform is a blend of the physical and virtual worlds, featuring Macy's new 'On 34th' brand clothing. Shoppers can explore the immersive world and purchase any item they see, which appears as if worn by invisible giants compared to their digital avatar. To get started, users can create a digital fabric, or simply enter the immersive space with a username. As shoppers collect stars in the virtual world, they can unlock a digital t-shirt that matches their digital fabric. While the digital fabric is not currently an NFT, it is expected to become one in the future. Every mstylelab account comes equipped with a digital wallet address in preparation for future NFTs. Dave Torres, the VP of Interactive Marketing at Macy's, says mstylelab is "the next evolution of our web3 digital strategy, creating a hub for style inspiration and discovery at the intersection of fashion and technology." As the platform evolves, new activations and experiences will be added to create immersive storytelling experiences focused on fashion and style in a fun and shoppable environment. Journee, an experienced 3D experience partner with clients such as BMW, Clinique, and H&M, is responsible for the technology behind the virtual world. In August, they partnered with Venly to add a layer of web3 features, including the wallet and NFTs. The platform also has a dressable avatar that uses Ready Player Me technology. It's worth noting that Macy's has previously minted NFTs for its Thanksgiving Day Parade, including a metaverse experience in 2022. While the mstylelab brand is not new, the new metaverse experience looks more polished. Currently, there is no link between the Parade NFTs and mstylelab.

AdInMo, a leading in-game advertising monetization platform, has announced a groundbreaking technology partnership with ZBD, a fintech company offering instant Bitcoin rewards to gamers and developers. This partnership allows players to earn rewards for viewing immersive in-game display and video ads. AdInMo's InGamePlay brand ads seamlessly integrate into gameplay, providing non-disruptive revenue for developers and enhancing the player experience. This collaboration enables developers and publishers to share in-game ad revenue with players, offering small amounts of real Bitcoin via ZBD's Bitcoin Lightning technology. Additionally, AdInMo's Rewarded InGamePlay ads combine popular reward mechanics with innovative in-game formats to boost player engagement and retention. Kristan Rivers, Co-Founder and CEO of AdInMo, emphasized their commitment to enhancing player experience and stated that combining in-game brand experiences with player rewards is a pioneering initiative. AdInMo has partnered with ZBD to release Rewarded InGamePlay, a new monetization format that aims to create a win-win-win scenario for players, developers, and advertisers. Several games, including Square Enix's Ludo Zenith and Fumb Games' Bitcoin Miner, have already witnessed impressive results such as increased revenue and user retention after integrating ZBD rewards. The new format is available to developers in AdInMo's community beta program and seamlessly integrates into their existing SDK. This integration requires no additional effort, and developers can choose how to enable Bitcoin rewards for their games without affecting the core gaming experience. Ben Cousens, Chief Strategy Officer at ZBD, expressed excitement about integrating directly into in-game advertising technology and praised AdInMo's unobtrusive and interruption-free ad approach. He emphasized the success of rewarding players with a share of ad revenue and labeled it as the future of free-to-play engagement. This partnership between AdInMo and ZBD marks a significant step toward a more player-centric approach to in-game advertising and monetization, benefiting both game developers and players alike.

On October 10, 2023, Adobe kicked off its highly anticipated creativity conference, Adobe MAX 2023, in Los Angeles. This event is recognised as the world's largest gathering of creative minds and is being broadcast live for three days to creators and marketers around the world. The conference promises a thrilling combination of major product launches, inspirational speakers, and active community engagement, all centred around the theme of "Creativity for All." This year, Adobe is ushering in a new era of creative possibilities. Building on the momentum of Firefly's general availability and the recent introduction of Adobe GenStudio, Adobe is using MAX to showcase groundbreaking AI innovations that are redefining creative workflows and revolutionising enterprise content supply chains. Additionally, Adobe is taking the opportunity to host a meeting with financial analysts and investors during the event. Adobe unveiled three new Firefly models during the conference: the Adobe Firefly Image 2 Model, Adobe Firefly Vector Model, and Adobe Firefly Design Model. These models have been specifically designed to generate content suitable for commercial use. This release is accompanied by over 100 significant AI features and updates across Adobe's flagship Creative Cloud applications, including Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Stock. One of the standout updates is in Adobe Express, where even more AI capabilities have been integrated. With the addition of Generative Fill, Text to Template, and Translate features, Adobe Express has become an even faster and more enjoyable all-in-one creativity app for users of all skill levels. Notably, students will find the new Drawing and Painting features to be a game-changer, allowing them to bring their creative ideas to life. To help enterprises meet the rising demand for real-time content creation and activation, Adobe introduced Adobe GenStudio. This innovative solution combines content ideation, creation, production, and activation, using customized Firefly generative AI at its core. The result is a streamlined enterprise content supply chain, bringing together Creative Cloud, Firefly, Express, Frame.io, Analytics, AEM Assets, and Workfront, enabling on-brand content creation at the speed of imagination. David Wadhwani, President of Digital Media Business at Adobe, emphasised the remarkable response from the community since the initial release of the Firefly image model in March. Users have found Firefly to be incredibly useful in enhancing experimentation, design, and workflow acceleration, all without compromising creative control. With over 3 billion image generations to date, including more than a billion in the last month alone, the early adoption of Firefly demonstrates the unique power of integrating foundation models into familiar workflows that customers know and love.

Mattel, Inc. and Gamefam are excited to announce the forthcoming launch of "Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon" on the popular Roblox platform on the 6th of October, 2023. This marks the first official Barbie game on Roblox, following a successful beta with three million unique visits. "Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon" offers players an immersive experience within the world of Barbie, allowing them to construct their very own DreamHouse with up to four floors and 30 rooms, including exciting spaces like a yoga studio, office, recording studio, and walk-in closets. In addition, players can add various amenities like a movie theatre, game room, bowling alley, and even a helipad. The game invites players to explore each other's DreamHouses and enjoy virtual hangouts at the Malibu Town Square. The Global Head of Digital Gaming at Mattel, Mike DeLaet, expressed their excitement about introducing Barbie to the Roblox community, aiming to connect with a new generation of fans. The game also emphasises inclusivity by offering customisable avatars, with a wide range of options for skin tones, body types, hairstyles, and even hearing aids, with more configurations planned. In "Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon," players can fully immerse themselves in the Barbie universe, exploring Malibu, trying out various careers, and enjoying mini-games. Non-playable characters (NPCs) like Barbie "Brooklyn" and Barbie "Malibu" guide players through this enchanting world. The collaboration with Gamefam, known for its expertise in metaverse gaming, aims to engage Roblox's massive daily user base and introduce both existing and new fans to the world of Barbie. The game will be available for free on various platforms, including consoles, PCs, mobile, and tablets. Players can look forward to ongoing updates and exciting features post-launch, making "Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon" a digital destination for Barbie fans of all ages. Don't miss the chance to explore this exciting new Roblox game when it becomes available on the 6th of October, 2023. Visit Barbie DreamHouse Tycoon on Roblox to play and create your DreamHouse in the metaverse.

In the mid 90s I went to see a stand up comic in a theatre renowned for its hauntings due to the death of a stand up comic on stage. “Oooh’, said the living stand up “I hope I don’t die on stage.” To which someone heckled: “you die on stage every night.” Ba-dum-tish! But seriously, this week’s news has been hogged by the strange death knells of Meta’s metaverse future. Remember those Ray-Ban Stories in the back of the drawer? They’re landfill now, babies, bin ‘em. Ray-Ban and Meta have a new glasses thing happening and it still ain’t the metaverse…. “The Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.” I cannot resist a They Live quote when it presents itself in such an obvious way. I’m always the one pointing with my mouth open wondering why no one gets the joke. So this week’s Meta thing where Emperor Techboi talks for a bit and everyone jizzes has a highlight. They’re not quite doing metaverse or AI right now, no, instead they are doing SUNGLASSES. Again, a They Live trope if ever I saw one. Lex Fridman had a chat with Mark Zuckerberg via Quest 3 (please someone buy his hardware),and they melded minds on all those guy topics in Silicon Valley: challenges, opportunities and other SWOT analyses; then, avatars, identity, and the mind-blowing "meta codec" that's set to revolutionise our virtual experiences (it’s Sunglasses that monitor your web usage and prepare useful ads you might be interested in) all whilst in Quest 3 ““9 minutes into Lex / Mark metaverse podcast I forgot I was watching avatars,”” wrote some acolyte coder. The uncanny valley didn’t give anything away? You weren’t weirded out at all? My god, the idiots really are winning. Epic Fail It’s sad, so sad whenever I read about friends and industry peeps from my industry getting laid off. But here’s the thing: if you’re gonna ramp up, you gotta ramp down. You don’t just keep ramping up, that’s not how business works. Presumably that’s one memo Tim Sweeney didn’t get on his meteoric rise to being Dad of the metaverse because these layoffs are completely unnecessary. This news has naturally sent shockwaves through the metaverse. Ambitious metaverse dreams that involve swallowing up every outsource team is gonna hurt the bank balance when it’s desperately clear that your products are not spiking. Harmonix, Sketchfab, and Quixel, failed to set the metaverse ablaze. Fortnite Creative and Core hasn’t yet met expectations. So it’s time for a trim, but that trim is seldom at the top—trust me, no one's gonna fall on their sword in any game tech ivory tower. My take on this is that the whole of the games industry is on life-support. Decisions made by DAU and schlocky crap that looks good on a press release and down at GDC does not a good industry make. You’re on notice until you start getting creative. Pivoting Towards Nothing Much The UK's Improbable, known for creating massive online worlds, made an improbable comeback after slashing its losses by a jaw-dropping 85%! How did they do it? By shifting gears and providing tools and services to other Metaverse-hungry developers. Partnering with tech titan Tencent, they birthed EdenOS, a platform aiming to simplify the creation and monetization of Metaverse content. However, no one is using it. So let’s not get excited. The folks who should see it have barely had a peep, and this is all a bit cloak and dagger. I expect it will stall due to respect for the games industry or whatever but I don’t see this winning formula making waves in a sea of failure. The Little Games That Can A new report predicts that the Metaverse blockchain games market will grow at a whopping 35% CAGR from 2021 to 2027, eventually hitting a mind-boggling $12 billion. This is ACE! I can’t bear any more sad news. In fact I just want to read good news for the rest of today. Games like Binemon, CyberTrade, and maybe Axie Infinity (this game is crap IMO) are leading the charge, letting players collect, trade, and battle with digital creatures. Oh god these are not good examples. I still maintain that Mystic Games and Fumb Games are the most exciting game studios to rise out of the actual game development space, and thank the universe they did! Look at the state of the web2 industry right now. But this is not just a game; it's a financial revolution within the Metaverse so get ready for action. Computer Says No Remember when the term "Metaverse" was all the rage? I do. Let me pull up a sandbag because I was there. I was that soldier. Google Trends data tells us those days are over. Interest in the term has plummeted by 71% since its peak in October 2021. The initial buzz followed Facebook's transformation into Meta and their grand Metaverse vision. But as scepticism grew about Facebook's “intentions”, the hype faded. Even related terms like "NFT" and "VR" saw decreased interest. Jeeeeeeez. As someone still very much in the thick of it, I have seen a definite upturn in metaverse “stuff” lately, and I talked about it when I sat down with the London Speaker Bureau recently. The trough of disillusionment is very real, but I think we’re on the way back up. Don’t you feel it too? Loud Speakers Melissa Malzkuhn, a Deaf activist and storyteller, is on a mission to create a Deaf club in the metaverse. Her vision? A space where Deaf individuals can socialise and communicate seamlessly in sign language. The metaverse offers a myriad of accessibility and inclusion, unlike the real world where Deaf communities often face barriers. Melissa's using motion capture tech and 3D animation to craft expressive avatars fluent in sign language. It's a groundbreaking proposal for a more inclusive virtual world. This is an incredible time to be alive, don’t you think? This story just makes my Marvin the Paranoid Android heart that bit fuller. It made my week! That’s enough metaverse for this week. I’m doing some old fashioned printing techniques for you luddites who want the physical version of my book. DO SOMETHING LESS BORING... In celebration of OpenAI bursting through their 2021 barrier for ChatGPT I thought I’d explore some simple AI tools you can use to raise your game: Fabric - Creators! Never lose that cool content again. Fabric is here to organise you. Strut - Turn rough notes into something less rough. Glimpse - Gives you the Tl;dr on any website. Mori - Figure out your family tree in seconds.

How are we going to eradicate the luddite thinking when it comes to digital advancements? That’s what I’m exploring in my day-to-day life this week. The 1% wedge is making the digital gap wider largely due to the elitist technologies aimed at the haves rather than the have-nots. Just because someone doesn’t understand something, it doesn’t mean that they don’t want it. We need to get our thinking caps on in the west because even the older populations in Asia have this problem nailed. Planet Earth: The Redux Remember when the metaverse was fun? There were, I dunno, two or three platforms to choose from and now look. It’s a world of failed states for as far as the eye can see. Boring. Nonsensical. Useless. But climate change fighting? I kind of did not see this one coming. We made digital twins to explore systems and processes in simulation (read my book) but the digital twins are now becoming the darlings of the race. Researchers from Cornell University have suggested that the Metaverse could actually help lower the global surface temperature by up to 0.02 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This might not sound like much, but it's a step in the right direction, considering how dire our climate situation is. The metaverse can revolutionise the way we meet, work, and collaborate, reducing the need for physical travel and its associated carbon footprint with ease! Imagine attending international meetings, conferences, or even social gatherings in immersive 3D environments without ever leaving your home! Meta has already initiated workrooms to facilitate virtual meetings, making this green vision a possibility. And now everyone’s fave tattooed hot dad Jensen Huang is using Nvidia Omniverse to develop E2, basically a digital twin fashioned on Earth. Tuvalu started it and Nvidia is how it’s going. Putting the Boot In The humble NFT is getting a kicking… again. This time the disgruntled hipsters are turning on the do-good folks to announce the death of the NFT. Wahahahaha! Seriously, wat? Though a recent report reveals that a staggering 95% of NFT collections have zero market value, it doesn’t sound like a death knell where 5% have values over a huge floor price. Beeple, anyone? RTFKT? Louis Vuitton? These have shown, and continue to show value long after purchase. The meteoric rise of NFTs in 2021 led to a flurry of investments and digital art sales, but now it appears that the vast majority of NFT holders are left with assets that hold no real value. And that’s the beef that us do-good utility folks have with NFTs. WE DO NOT WANT TO BUY A JPG and yet the hits still keep coming. While some artists and collectors thrived during the NFT boom, it's a stark reminder that not all that glitters in the Metaverse is gold. My advice is simple. If this NFT looks good and you like it, buy it, it’s a jpg. But if you want your NFT to work for you, find one that does something (like my current collection with YEON does). A Divisive Digital Democracy (For All?) Meta (formerly Facebook) that well-known online advertising behemoth is making moves to democratise access to the Metaverse. Last week it was free hugs with headsets and finally Meta has opened its Horizon Worlds metaverse “video game” (oh but I wish it was) to users on phones and web browsers. This means that more people will have the opportunity to explore and interact in the metaverse without the need for expensive VR gear. Thank you for listening, Mark, you’re about 3 years late but at least you showed up. This expansion is still in its early stages and that says to me at least that this device port is gonna be literally filled with bugs, accidental porn and anything else you can think of which will drain your phone battery and kill your joy. It’s only available to a select few for now—that’s how QA tends to work but hey it's a step toward Meta's vision of making the metaverse accessible to everyone, no matter their device. It's a big leap towards the Metaverse becoming an integral part of our digital lives but you will have to pay with your personal data, probably. Digital Fashion for Dahhhlings Imagine trying on clothing virtually before making an online purchase – it's a glimpse into the future of fashion, except it isn’t. The metaverse is changing not only how we socialise but also how we dress. Here comes this week’s monkeys with a typewriter moment: FabriX, a Hong Kong-based digital fashion initiative, is taking centre stage (seriously?) at London Fashion Week. Here we go, here we go, I am ready to be disappointed. Attendees can virtually try on specially commissioned designs from talented young designers, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. WOW! Set the time machine for 2020/2021 didn’t Gucci or Dolce and Gabbana do this spectacularly badly during the pandemic? This event should showcase the growing trend of digital fashion and how the metaverse is revolutionising the way we shop and express our style. Let me stop you there. I have this nailed. Trying to get some ham-fisted artists to produce something that won’t kill your phone is an artform where only the game developer is going to succeed. Not Fade Away In a fascinating yet somewhat eerie development, generative AI is enabling what some call “digital necromancy” – the recreation of the deceased through their digital traces. I talk about digital death a lot and while this technology allows people to interact with digital simulations of their loved ones, based on texts, emails, photos, and more—it’s going to explode into a huge business sector in the coming years. While this might sound like science fiction, it's becoming a part of our grieving and remembrance practices. People have long sought ways to keep the memory of the departed alive, whether through photographs, letters, or mementos. Generative AI is simply the latest tool in this age-old practice. While there are ethical concerns, it's important to remember that we've always used media and artefacts to commune with the memory of the departed. The difference is that a lot of million-dollar startups are preying on the weak and grieving to give them their familial equivalent of Tupac or Elvis. It’s creepy. What I would like to explore is how we can give people actual tools to do this than having digital funeral directors. What we really want after death is someone to burn our boner jams and that’s about it. The Land of Broken Toys China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is getting serious about the metaverse. They’ve never been relaxed about anything to be fair. This week they're forming a working group to establish standards for this emerging technology sector. As someone who has created standards I can confirm it takes a nation to make shit happen. This is a significant move as China aims to become a global leader in setting standards for new tech, but to me this feels like a power move on the democratisation of future technologies. The metaverse is still in its early stages, and there's no consensus on what exactly it is (except when there is), which is where standards come into play (except when they don’t). MIIT recognises the challenges, including the lack of clear definitions, that the metaverse industry faces. But it will probably respond with power and that’s ok, this is what China does… well. With China's commitment to shaping the metaverse's future, can we expect exciting developments and perhaps a more structured virtual world? Nope. We can expect censorship and crackdowns, probably. That's enough metaverse for this week. I’ve got a book launch to plan, but instead I’m procrastinating making a list of the next crop of disgraced celebs to try by social media. Not so much of a dead pool, more like a sleaze bucket. I’ve guessed at least 2 so far. You can read the latest and greatest long form stuff in our lovely hot off the press online where only we can do chaotic opinions and super takeaways in just one place DO SOMETHING LESS BORING... In my running series on AI saving your life. Forget the DJ - get into the music. It will set you free. Pixelynx - a full on blockchain-powered music ecosystem for creators Loudly - Create and edit songs to be the next Miley Drake. Beatbot - It makes songs so you don’t have to. Musnet - The ChatGPT of music. It’s OpenAI so that’s what you are getting. Aiva - it’s a generator and a tool so you can write the theme tune and sing the theme tune (with AI).