Today’s Web3 digest is overflowing with intriguing news from the world of art, music, entertainment, fashion, culture, and many more.

Prominent names that made waves include iHeartRadio, Invincible, Pinko, Meta, Monsta X, and Skybound Entertainment. Meanwhile, Web3-native entities continue to build promising projects on the blockchain. Entities that made headlines include Avalanche, Coinbase, Cool Cats, Dexalot, Doodles, Gam3rs’ Choice Awards, and ImmutableX, among others.

Last but not least, Web3 gaming is always on the move with various developments in the space. Projects that deserve the spotlight recently include AI Arena, Cosmocadia, Mighty Action Heroes, Rumble Kong League, Xborg, and Xtreme Championship Series, to name a few.

Here are the stories that shape Web3.

Top Stories

• Popular non-fungible token (NFT) collection Doodles’ second iteration Doodles 2 has started minting earlier this week. Dooplicators NFTs experienced a surge in price on secondary marketplace OpenSea following the Doodles 2 release. The Dooplicator NFT collection allows holders to create digital wearables that they can use for their original Doodles avatars (CD).

• K-Pop group Monsta X has teamed up with music streaming platform iHeartRadio to launch a metaverse concert dubbed “iHeartRadio LIVE with MONSTA X.” The virtual event is on February 10 at iHeartLand’s State Farm Park, a virtual venue on Fortnite and Roblox (AKP).

• Italian women’s fashion brand Pinko has launched its store in the metaverse. The virtual shop coincides with the company’s opening of its physical outlet in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, in Milan, Italy. Created with metaverse builder Emperia, the platform serves as a virtual extension of the newly opened real-life boutique (MM).

• Social media giant Meta Platforms’ CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains committed to his company’s metaverse initiatives despite a dismal earnings report. Apparently, the company has already lost $13.7 billion last year in efforts to develop the technology. When asked about Meta’s virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) division, the internet magnate stated that none of the signs “suggest that we should shift the Reality Labs strategy long term” (CT).

• Blue-chip profile picture (PFP) collection Cool Cats has unveiled plans to go multi-chain and expand beyond the Ethereum network. Additionally, the team will also airdrop Fracture NFTs to owners of Cool Cats and Cool Pets NFTs. According to Cool Cats co-founder Robert Mehew, the project consists of “dynamic NFTs that enable a new storytelling experience” (DC).

Web3 Games

• The ImmutableX ecosystem will soon launch its “Immutable Passport,” an all-in-one solution similar to Apple ID or Xbox Gamertag. The move aims to onboard gamers more easily. To make this possible, Immutable combined features of a non-custodial wallet and gamer profile. Additionally, the passport also allows fraud protection and authentication across various gaming titles and platforms (CD).

• Web3 gaming organization Xborg has announced the launch of a Web3 esports league called Xtreme Championship Series. Presenting a $100,000 prize pool, the league will feature titles such as Axie Infinity, ev.io, Gods Unchained, and Spider Tanks, among others. In addition, a 15-episode behind-the-scenes series will air as the season progresses (CS).

• Digital gaming company Fragbite Group’s subsidiaries Wagmi and Lucky Kat have partnered with Web3 infrastructure developer Mysten Labs. The collaboration aims to launch the play-and-earn farming game Cosmocadia and its companion NFT collection on the Sui mainnet (MS).

• A new gaming-dedicated blockchain called Bluzelle, has launched the latest iteration of its foundational ecosystem the Cosmos Network. Now known as ‘Stargate,’ the upgraded platform offers gamers cheaper, faster, and more secure experiences. Additionally, Bluzelle is also working on its first title, a card-based battle game called Gamma 4 (CM).

• The recently concluded Gam3rs’ Choice Awards experienced some live-streaming issues that prevented Web3 gaming fans from viewing the event online. However, the team has collected a notable amount of video footage, which they plan to release for the community (TW).

• Collectible sports NFT game Rumble Kong League is back with another edition of “Rumble Rewind.” The team has announced some game updates including a “slam-dunking Samurai,” new player input controls, layup/defensive animation, and beachside basketball courts (TW).

NFT News

• LA-based physical and digital art space Superchief Gallery’s 3D artist Equinoz recently dropped an artwork which sold out within minutes. Dubbed “Cybernetiz,” the project was dropped on the 31st of January, on NFT marketplace playNomm. The 7-day auction ended abruptly after a collector bought the artwork for 40,120 $LM ($18,374.96 as of this writing) (YF).

• Crypto exchange platform Coinbase has paused future drops on its NFT platform to focus efforts on building features and tools for creators. Additionally, the company also clarified its stance towards its digital collectibles marketplace, which was rumored to be shutting down. “Our mission for Coinbase NFT remains unchanged and we remain optimistic about our future as we continue building,” a Coinbase spokesperson stated (DC).

• In other related news, Coinbase has added several safety features to its wallet. Following NFT scams that plagued the platform, Coinbase Wallet started integrating ways to improve security and transparency. The wallet now offers transaction previews, a flagged dApps list, as well as spam token management, among others (DC).

Into the Metaverse

• Facebook’s parent company Meta has started testing members-only environments on its gamified VR social platform Horizon Worlds. In essence, the new feature will enable creators to produce a unique experience for select fans. Meta stated that the company’s goal is “to put design in the creators’ hands so that they can fully craft the experience they want to offer others” (SP).

• Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has launched the third edition of its Creative Solutions initiative, which focuses on nurturing immersive technologies. The latest cycle will feature 10 of the top talents showcasing their prototype projects to potential investors. Furthermore, the participants also received a grant and an 18-week development phase that included mentorships (PRN).

• Skybound Entertainment’s comic book franchise ‘Invincible’ is now on the metaverse platform The Sandbox. The project is based on the Invincible comics by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley. It tells the story of Mark Grayson, a teenager who started manifesting powers inherited from his superhero father. The title’s following surged after an Invincible animated series was launched on Amazon Prime (SB).

Around the Blockchain

• Decentralized exchange (DEX) Dexalot has launched a hybrid subnet on the Avalanche C-Chain ecosystem. In essence, the update combines the user experience of centralized exchanges (CEX) and the transparency of DEXs. This will enable users to deposit and withdraw digital assets through Dexalot’s dual-chain app (CD).

• Web3-focused innovation fund the Venom Ventures Fund has formed a strategic partnership with blockchain scaling solution Everscale. The collaboration aims to solve the Web3 industry’s scalability problems. Venom Ventures Fund has invested $5 million on the project to support the company’s growth while boosting its initiatives (CT).

• Blockchain company Simba Chain, has received an additional $30 million in funding from the United States Air Force (USAF). “Our new project for the USAF will pave the way to more efficient and comprehensive management of assets within the Department of Defense supply chain,” stated SIMBA Chain VP of government operations Stacey Betlej-Amodeo (BW).

Web3 Content Creators

• Brycent: Fresh off his appearance at the Gam3rs’ Choice Awards, Content Creator of the Year Brycent took to Twitter to thank his supporters and the organizers behind the event. The Web3 gaming specialist also vowed to “go much harder” in 2023. “We got some cool stuff playing, with games and organizations,” Brycent stated. 

• Cagy: In his latest YouTube entry, Cagy put the spotlight on a best-selling Web2 game called Rust. Although the project isn’t on the blockchain, Cagy revealed how to play the title on a server that allows gamers to earn cryptocurrencies. First introduced in 2013, Rust is a multiplayer survival game developed by Facepunch Studios.

• Hustle: Jonny aka Hustle announced that his NFT gaming collective This Thing of Ours (TTOO) will be competing at AI-powered gaming platform AI Arena’s beta tournament. According to the Crypto Banter host, TTOO has already selected 5 team members for the competition. In celebration, Hustle and the team gave away 10 spots to AI Arena, the Playground Demo.

• Spike: Web3 content creator Spike shared a video of some of the best projects that he has played in January. The highlight reel featured titles such as Citizen Conflict, Collider Craftworks, Mighty Action Heroes, Oath of Peak, and Star Atlas, among others.

• Stache: One of Web3 gaming’s favorite YouTuber Stache made his presence felt at the recent Gam3rs’ Choice Awards. At some point, the content creator even gave the organizers at Web3 Gam3r a trophy to honor their efforts. The trophy was a figurine of the “the man, the myth, the legend, agent Crypto Stache” going full hardboiled detective.