Valentine’s Day in the Metaverse: Fostering Inclusion and Connection
“People are able to meet and uniquely interact with others from any location or interest, across a diverse set of experiences not enabled by the real world,” he said.
David Paskett, Head of Content and Community at gaming company Upland, believes personal expression is a central feature of the Metaverse. Therefore, he views Valentine’s Day as an enhanced opportunity for players to showcase their individuality.
“This Valentine’s Day Upland will offer a range of in-game cosmetics and Block Explorers, allowing users to customize their appearances and interactions within this virtual space,” said Paskett. “These tools serve not only as a means of personalization, but also as a way for players to engage more deeply with the game’s community and events, particularly during special occasions like Valentine’s Day.”
Valentine’s Day NFTs Create Ongoing Value
Paskett added that Upland’s Valentine’s Day Block Explorers, which are in-game assets, can be sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This creates additional utility and revenue for users during the holiday.
Other Valentine’s Day NFT projects are also coming to fruition as non-fungible tokens gain traction this year.
“Heartsleeves” is a generative-NFT video project that allows individuals who participate to experience an immersive, love-themed video environment. Artists Tali Hinkis and Kyle Lapidus – also known as “LoVid” – created the Heartsleeves series presented by Tonic.xyz, which launched on Feb. 8 this year.
“Heartsleeves embraces the theme of human emotions and connection in the age of technology and Web3,” Hinkis said. “Romance and other forms of love are included in this series.”
Will The Metaverse Attract The Mainstream?
While Valentine’s Day celebrations in the Metaverse may appeal to existing ecosystem participants, the question remains if these experiences will attract the mainstream.
Statistics from Influencer Marketing Hub show that the metaverse global market value could reach $936.6 billion by 2030. Findings also suggest that the metaverse has more than 400 million active users each month.
Given this, Lapidus believes that projects like Heartsleeves will cater to people from various backgrounds.
“The series includes both a generative video which is mesmerizing to look at and a portrait studio that draws the viewer in that welcomes play and exploration for everyone,” he said.
Metaverse growth will also likely increase with the release of new technologies centered around virtual and augmented reality. For example, Apple’s headset Vision Pro will be incorporating a metaverse app from Victoria VR, which is a company that combines blockchain with virtual reality to ensure real-world experiences.
Borget mentioned that Metaverse platforms should strive to create authentic experiences as an extension of physical cultural moments to attract mainstream consumers.
“We expect visitors at the Love and Music Festival to be a combination of Web3 enthusiasts alongside the broader gaming community and fans of the featured IPs/partners who are excited to interact with their favorite brands and celebrities in a unique way,” he said.
Conclusion
The Metaverse offers a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with others, express themselves, and engage with special occasions like Valentine’s Day. Projects like Upland’s Block Explorers and Heartsleeves’ generative-NFT video series provide users with customization options and the ability to monetize their in-game assets. While these experiences may appeal to existing participants, the challenge lies in attracting mainstream users to the Metaverse. However, with the projected growth of the metaverse market and advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies, there is potential for broader adoption. Authentic experiences and collaborations with well-known brands and celebrities can further enhance the appeal of the Metaverse to a wider audience.
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