Companies Investing in the Metaverse

[TL;DR]

Meta: Company changed its name from Facebook to Meta, announced several projects involving Metaverse through virtual reality, digital real estate, productivity and gaming.

Samsung: Opened a Samsung store on Decentraland, arguably the most popular decentralized metaverse project in the crypto asset class.

Microsoft: Purchased Activision Blizzard and introduced 3D avatars for meetings and productivity tools from the company.

NVidia: Announced the Omniverse, where users will be able to create and interact with AI-enhanced and generated avatars.

Tinder: Purchased social media developer Hyperconnect to create Single Town, a virtual world dating app using digital avatars.

Nike: Introduced the Nikeland in partnership with Roblox, where users will be able to buy NFTs of Nike products and engage in social activities.

Adidas: Introduced the Adiverse in partnership with crypto metaverse project Sandbox, with very similar features as to Nike’s Nikeland.

Budweiser: Announced the creation of the Budverse, with not many details besides NFTs taking an important role in social interaction and trade.


[Full Article]

Metaverse is definitely the word of the moment in all subjects related to technology, virtual reality, augmented reality and most importantly, cryptocurrencies. Loosely defined as 3D virtual spaces where users can socialize and interact with activities similar to the real world, big companies are betting on this new wave of the internet.

Although investments are coming from all over the place, some corporations stand out. With that being considered, here are the top companies that are betting big on the Metaverse.

Meta (Facebook)

It wouldn’t be a fair list without mentioning Facebook. The company had an hours-long announcement back in October 2021 revolving around their decision to change their name to “Meta” to encompass their objectives of, you guessed it, Metaverse projects.

The presentation included a breakdown of this new direction with founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg as host, where he took viewers through their plans which revolved around virtual meetings, games, avatars, real estate, virtual reality and overall social interactions.

There is still very little known on what Meta’s Metaverse will actually look like. But since it’s one of the most valuable companies in the world, owner of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus VR, enthusiasts can expect nothing short of groundbreaking.

Samsung

So far, no company has had a more boots-on-the-ground approach to investing in the Metaverse than Samsung.

On January 6th, the South Korean tech titan opened an actual Samsung store inside Decentraland, arguably the most popular metaverse crypto project currently available.

Inside the store, users are able to use Decentraland’s MANA tokens to buy accessories, items and even actual Samsung hardware like smartphones which are translated to their real-world forms. The store also takes visitors through presentations related to climate sustainability and green protection, where the corporation commits to planting trees through its initiative to promote reflorestation.

So far, this is the most interactive connection a company has made in the Metaverse.

Microsoft

There is one thing in everyone’s mind at the moment when the word “Microsoft” is mentioned; its recent gigantic acquisition.

Although Microsoft recently acquired the gaming company Activision Blizzard for a whopping 69 billion dollars mentioning its intentions to promote the metaverse, the tech corporation had already unveiled products related to this digital novelty.

Through a recent conference, Microsoft announced 3D avatars for Microsoft Teams meetings conducted in virtual reality. These personalized avatars are part of what Microsoft calls Mesh for Teams, which combines the Mesh platform to enhance shared experiences in virtual reality, augmented reality and whatever tool related to productivity and social environments.

NVIDIA

Another company that recently announced its entrance to the metaverse was NVIDIA. The company announced the creation of the Omniverse Avatar, a technology platform developed to provide interactive avatars generated fully by Artificial Intelligence.
The avatars created in the platform are interactive characters that are able to see, talk about a vast range of subjects and comprehend spoken intentions naturally.

The main trend, NVIDIA believes, is that more and more companies will be joining the metaverse through initiatives that seek to develop Artificial Intelligence and automated interactions to populate the ecosystem and make the environments feel more real and connected to their users.

Tinder

This company is definitely a surprise, but a welcome one. Dating tech giant Tinder recently announced its acquisition of Social Media developers Hyperconnect for 1.7 billion dollars.

The reason? To develop a digital reality, avatar-based app called “Single Town” where members will be able to meet in virtual spaces and interact through live conversations.

The company does clarify, however, that the goal is for couples to get to know each other first in this virtual world and then eventually move on to the real world.

Nike

Recently, Nike announced the launch of its own virtual world, inspired and in partnership with the gaming platform Roblox, where users are able to play and interact however they wish within the Metaverse’s tools.

Entitled “Nikeland,” the project allows players to equip their avatars with Nike products in their digital versions through NFT and then interact with free-to-play games and social activities.

Adidas

Adidas recently invested its efforts into building what they call the Adiverse, the brand’s metaverse which will be developed inside the Sandbox crypto platform. Through a conversation with Sandbox developers on Twitter, the company announced its entrance into the metaverse with an explanation video and some teasers to what might come next.

Much like Nike’s Nikeland initiative with Roblox, users of the Adiverse will be able to buy Adidas items on Sandbox which will be sold and traded as NFTs. Judging by an offered image like the one above, users will also be able to purchase real-life products, which will potentially be available with the SAND token.

Budweiser

The Budweiser brand announced last December that it’s releasing its own collection of NFTs. The collection will be attached to exclusive benefits and also work as an entrance passport into the company’s own metaverse, the Budverse.
There are few details on the Budverse itself, but according to the company each NFT will bring in elements related to photographs, advertisements and classic designs related to Budweiser’s history.
According to the project, the NFTs will play an essential role in how the Budverse is developed and how users interact with one another.


Author: Gate.io Researcher: Victor Bastos
* This article represents only the views of the researcher and does not constitute any investment suggestions.
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