Digital fashion, NFT avatars and virtual events in VR worlds
Following Facebook’s transformation into Meta, the metaverse has become a tantalizing frontier that draws countless brands into its digital embrace. However, even before this monumental shift, multiple visionary brands had already ventured into this captivating realm. Join us as we dive into the 10 popular brands that are ready to leave their mark on the metaverse.
What is the Metaverse?
The metaverse isn’t just one big virtual world made by a single company like Second Life. It’s more like a mix of different virtual places, digital environments, and decentralized services all rolled into one.
It allows users to maintain a single digital identity and interact seamlessly through a variety of virtual spaces, as if they were moving between locations in the physical world.
Imagine having a single ID that works across all these spaces. You can use the same profile, avatar, and wallet in lots of different virtual worlds and for different things, including immersive gaming, attending virtual concerts, exploring NFT art galleries, socializing with friends, and even conducting business meetings.
This ecosystem of infinite possibilities has caught the attention of many big brands. Below, we will share a list with some of the most popular brands that have jumped into the metaverse.
Top 10 brands stepping into the metaverse
1. Samsung
South Korean tech giant Samsung opened in Decentraland a virtual version of its 837 flagship store in New York.
The virtual 837X store served as a showcase for the company’s announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Vegas. It featured three areas: the Connectivity Theater, the Sustainability Forest, and the Customization Stage. During the first days of the event, visitors could even win limited edition digital fashion.
The Samsung store in Decentraland was open for a limited time, but Samsung has plans to launch more 837X stores across other platforms.
2. Coca-Cola
In 2021, Coca-Cola launched their first NFT collection, together with a virtual event in Decentraland.
All this in the name of Friendship Day on 30 July. Coca-Cola organized a virtual party on top of their virtual coke can building.
Visitors could win very rare wearables, and the party kicked off the auction of the Coca-Cola Friendship Box NFT package.
3. Nike
In 2021, Coca-Cola launched their first NFT collection, together with a virtual event in Decentraland.
All this in the name of Friendship Day on 30 July. Coca-Cola organized a virtual party on top of their virtual coke can building.
Visitors could win very rare wearables, and the party kicked off the auction of the Coca-Cola Friendship Box NFT package.
4. Adidas
Not only did Adidas acquire land inside the virtual world of The Sandbox, but they also launched an NFT collection in collaboration with Punks Comics, Gmoney, and Bored Ape Yacht Club.
This NFT release instantly brought lots of eyeballs as it appealed to various communities. Especially the connection with Bored Apes has been one that brought lots of attention to Adidas’ efforts.
However, the launch of the Originals: Into the Metaverse didn’t happen without some controversy as only 10 thousand out of the 30 thousand NFTs were sold to the general public.
If you’re intrigued by Adidas’ ventures in the metaverse, you’ll also want to explore their latest fashion drops and NFT releases on Alts by Adidas.
5. Louis Vuitton
For its 200th anniversary, fashion house Louis Vuitton did something surprising. They released Louis The Game, a puzzle adventure game in which players could collect NFTs.
It marked the company’s first serious effort into the metaverse. In the game, you play Vivienne, who needs to journey through six vibrant locations to find all 200 collectible candles. You can still find the game in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
Also, during 2023, the fashion brand introduced the Louis Vuitton Mystery Box, embracing the ‘phygital’ trend, where physical items are backed by digital NFT counterparts.
6. Burberry
Announced at E3 2021, Burberry partnered with Mythical Games to bring branded NFTs to the game Blankos Block Party.
Various NFTs sold out in no time as gamers were eager to get their hands on the exclusive and limited edition assets. Burberry armbands would cost $25, while the Burberry Sharky B game character had a $300 price tag.
There was a great deal of buzz around these NFTs, as the Sharky B character went on to sell months later for no less than $700 on the secondary market.
But Burberry didn’t stop there. In June 2022, they released another set of NFT accessories and introduced a branded game within Blankos Block Party.
7. Domino’s
Sure, it was not Domino’s itself stepping into the metaverse, but enthusiastic developers that made it possible for US citizens to order a pizza.
The entire ordering process happened from within the virtual world of Decentraland. This shows that brands and services will also find their way into the metaverse even without efforts from said brands themselves.
In addition, this shows that business in the metaverse can complement businesses in the real world.
8. Sotheby’s
2021 will go down as the year NFT art made it into the mainstream. Auction house Sotheby’s played a crucial role in this.
They even opened a virtual gallery, made after their London gallery, inside Decentraland. The virtual gallery didn’t open for no reason, as Sotheby’s had the Natively Digital auction in June 2021.
Here they auctioned an artwork by Robert Alice, while various NFT artworks from famous NFT artists were on display.
9. AMC’s The Walking Dead
AMC’s The Walking Dead is much more than a TV series, as it has spawned sequels and spin-offs, all kinds of merchandise, and now also a play-to-earn game.
The Walking Dead Empires will tap into the Gala Games ecosystem, allowing gamers to own land, earn and find assets, trade with other players, and so on. Of course, it’s nothing new to see games based on The Walking Dead, but this marks the first time that players can own a bit of the game world.
On top of that, owning land can generate passive income, while survivors in the game world can earn through trading. This is a big brand moving into play-to-earn. We didn’t even mention that comic book company Skybound is also bringing The Walking Dead into the metaverse, thanks to The Sandbox.
10. McDonalds
The fast food giant also continues to move into the metaverse. In mid-2023, its Hong Kong McDonald’s division launched its own immersive experience, McNuggets Land, on The SandBox platform.
Some rewards are exclusive to Hong Kong players, such as coupons for free food redeemable at local McDonald’s restaurants, while other rewards, such as NFT-based in-game items and SAND tokens, can be earned by players located anywhere.
This is not the first time McDonald’s has ventured into the Web3 world. McDonald’s France launched NFT artwork inspired by the Big Mac burger in April 2021, while the company’s main U.S. division unveiled McRib-inspired NFTs in November 2021.
- Make sure to check out the article: Top Toys Brands Betting on Web3 and Digital Collectibles
Other popular brands that have stepped into the metaverse
Meta (formerly Facebook)
Its decision to rebrand was a strategic shift from being a social media giant to becoming a driver of interconnected virtual spaces, such as Horizon Worlds and Horizon Workrooms.
Meta envisions a metaverse where people can work, play and connect in immersive 3D environments. To achieve this, the company has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality technologies, including in hardware such as Oculus Rift and Meta Quest 3.
Mastercard
Mastercard has entered into partnerships with two key players in the digital realm: Xsolla, a prominent video game commerce company, and Immersve, a leading web3 payment platform.
While the first partnership allows Mastercard customers to leverage their reward points for various in-game purchases, the second one empowers consumers to use crypto directly from their web3 wallets at any establishment that accepts Mastercard payments.
By forging these connections, Mastercard is strategically positioning itself as the go-to electronic payment network for the metaverse. Interestingly, DappRadar was also selected by Mastercard’s Lighthouse incubator project.
Zara
The renowned fashion chain of the Inditex Group has taken significant steps into the metaverse.
Following the success of its collaboration with Ader Error in the virtual realm, the renowned fashion chain of the Inditex Group presented “Lime Glam,” a distinctive capsule collection that responds to the preferences of Generation Z and Alpha.
This collection encompasses a diverse range of physical and virtual fashion pieces, including clothing, accessories and beauty items, designed to be enjoyed both in the physical world and within the Zepeto metaverse.
Starbucks
At the end of 2022, the well-known coffee shop brand launched the “Starbucks Odyssey” program. This program complements the existing loyalty program, but adds so much more.
The program allows customers and employees to earn and purchase collectible digital stamps, each of them an NFT on the blockchain.
These digital stamps not only serve as fun collectibles, but also unlock access to unique experiences and rewards. These rewards range from virtual espresso martini-making classes to exclusive Starbucks products.
Dolce & Gabbana
The Italian luxury fashion brand has always embraced the metaverse with a distinctive style.
Dolce & Gabbana ventured into digital fashion by launching an exclusive NFT collection and took part in the first-ever Metaverse Fashion Week held in Decentraland, showcasing their high-fashion designs in a completely virtual environment.
This pioneering approach allowed the brand to experiment with digital fashion shows and explore new ways of engaging with a global audience in an immersive, virtual setting.
- Don’t miss the article: 10 Fashion Brands Going Digital with NFT Wearables for the Metaverse
Atari
Last but not least on the list is Atari, a gaming company that made early moves into virtual worlds like Decentraland and The Sandbox.
Here they bring their classic, iconic gaming franchise to life inside the metaverse. As a game company, Atari has had troubled times, but has a brand it still stands strong.
It could very well be that Atari’s presence in the metaverse is the spark the company needs to truly blossom once again.
Why are brands joining the Metaverse?
It’s no wonder global brands like the ones listed above are riding the Metaverse wave.
As we previewed in our Dapp Industry Report 2021, all metaverse-related projects experienced considerable appreciation in value during that year, with virtual land NFTs selling for up to $2.5 million. Two years later, that hasn’t changed. More projects entered Web3, and the initiatives are becoming more ambitious.
The metaverse offers an unprecedented opportunity for different reasons, including:
- Brand visibility: by establishing a presence in virtual spaces, these brands can connect with a global audience in an increasingly digital world.
- Immersive brand experiences: brands can stay ahead of the curve and create unique interactions with their audience by creating virtual events and activities.
- New monetization strategies: the metaverse fosters new forms of digital commerce, where brands can launch exclusive collections of NFT (non-fungible tokens), sell virtual products and explore new revenue streams.
By recognizing the immense potential of the metaverse, major global brands are leveraging it to redefine their presence in an increasingly interconnected world.
But what are the metaverses and virtual worlds that offer brands the perfect canvas to craft their strategies?
What are the best metaverse virtual worlds for brands?
There are a multitude of blockchain-powered virtual worlds, however, not all of them will be optimal for any brand’s interests.
In our article on Top 10 Best Metaverse Virtual Worlds with Land NFTs, you will find a list of the best blockchain-powered virtual worlds.
Here we share the top 3 blockchain-powered virtual worlds for companies.
1. Decentraland
Since its public launch in February 2020, Decentraland has become an attractive option for both users and brands entering the metaverse.
The virtual reality platform operating on the Ethereum blockchain, and with its unique native token, MANA, users can easily transact in this digital realm.
At the same time, they can acquire parcels of virtual land, which serve as a canvas for creative expression and monetization.
2. The Sandbox
This virtual world, running on Polygon, has captured the attention of brands seeking metaverse opportunities.
This platform allows users to own, create and profit from their game projects. Through tools such as VoxEdit and GameMaker, users create game assets and experiences, which they then share or sell through the Sandbox marketplace.
With its mix of social interaction and game development, The Sandbox metaverse presents an accessible avenue for brands to have a significant metaverse impact.
3. Voxels
Formerly known as Cryptovoxels, this blockchain virtual world stands out for its accessibility, as it requires no specialized software or hardware to explore it.
Each Voxels parcel is represented as an NFT, ensuring its uniqueness and sparsity. Factors such as proximity to popular areas, building height and location influence the value of plots, offering both ownership and rental opportunities on Voxels.
Even without owning a plot of land, users can interact with Voxels, making it an inclusive space for virtual interactions.
Keep learning about the metaverse with DappRadar
What’s your favorite brand from this list? Or do you know about other brands doing something cool in the metaverse? Let us know and join our Discord to discuss things with the community.
We at DappRadar will continue to follow the most revolutionary metaverse virtual worlds and keep you posted on the top opportunities.
If you want to know even more about this topic and access to real-time data, make sure to visit the best projects in the exciting world of metaverse.
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