Metaverse Weekly

Your weekly dose of web3 and metaverse news so you can stay up to date.

Google I/O

Google I/O took place this week with a number of key XR developments including more immersive views of cities constructed from satellite images, more enhanced object recognition and on-screen data augmentation, and - potentially - an upcoming headset. The AR glasses were mentioned as an early-stage prototype and intended to showcase real-time translation tools, but arguably stole the show.

Also teased during the keynote - a virtual wallet. We don’t have all of the details yet, but the “wallet” seemed to be less about storing money and more about storing personal data like information associated with various accounts. This kind of digital identity service may be more important to navigating the future than a digital coin holder.

OpenSea updates account verification

Speaking of digital coins, non-fungible token marketplace OpenSea is updating its verification process . The initiative will have its first primary impact on creators, which will make it easier for buyers to identify trustworthy sellers and tokens. However, traders will also be able to get account verification to make them more trustworthy in the eyes of potential buyers.

Enter the Chibiverse

To stay with OpenSea, a new project launched this week. Chibi Dinos is a collection of 10,000 unique dinosaur-themed collectibles. In 3D, the Dinos are viewable in AR. On desktop, the Dinos can be used in a series of play-to-earn sports games. An ambitious roadmap for the planet includes other media around the idea, including a comic book.

Madonna and Beeple Partner for Charity NFT Auction

Madonna and Beeple have partnered on “Mother of Creation ,” a series of digitally-produced videos minted as NFTs. The series focus on pregnancy and delivery, as well as the artistic themes of technology and nature. The auction, currently live on SuperRare, will benefit three charities that support women, mothers, and infants who have been impacted by war, social injustice, or violent crime.

Decentraland Game Jam returns

A Decentraland blog post announced the return of Game Jam . The event, live from May 17 – June 14, encourages coders to compete to create games playable within the Decentraland virtual world. Entries will be judged on game design, interactivity, creativity, and “wow factor.” Competitors have the chance to win virtual land or MANA, the virtual world’s native cryptocurrency.

This Year’s AI 50

Forbes has released this year’s AI 50. The fourth such list recognizes 50 standout companies in the field of artificial intelligence and computer learning – and is even presented in an AI-generated design. The list presents startups and established companies, developers, and service providers.

Meta's Project Cambria

Later in the week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a brief video of him trying out Cambria - the company’s anticipated but secretive headset. This release follows recent news about the company’s VR roadmap, as well as their quarterly earnings call – during which stakeholders voiced concern over the company’s outsized XR R&D budget.

NFTs Come to Instagram

In yet more Meta news, CoinDesk reported that Instagram will support NFTs . This includes as profile pictures – an idea that was pioneered by Twitter but that currently only works for subscribers to the social network’s paid tier, and is only supported on the iOS version of the mobile app. Instagram will support the most popular NFT blockchains, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and Flow. Our friends at Boss Beauties were one of the first creators to start posting their NFTs on Instagram.

Virbela Campus and “Mind Gym”

Virtual coworking platform Virbela ’s new campus and graphics engine updates are now live. These, along with still in-coming updates to the avatar creation tools, were announced during an in-world summit in March.

The campus also features a new “Mind Gym ” created for Mental Health Awareness Month. In the Mind Gym, visitors to the open campus can explore mental health through educational videos, guided meditations, and even a series of javascript games that can be played within the platform. All in all, the Mind Gym includes over 60 modules.