Futureverse News - August 2024
Welcome to the latest edition of Futureverse News, your go-to source for updates and insights from our ecosystem and beyond. You might notice things look a little different around here — we're making some changes to the format to make it even easier for you to stay on top of all the latest developments. Whether you're here to track new product releases, learn from our team and founders, or just to catch up, we've got you covered. Let's dive in and take a closer look at this month's highlights hot off the Futureverse News desk.
Your Kingdom awaits...
All eyes were on the FLUF World social channels for the exclusive debut of a cinematic teaser for The Third Kingdom: Cataclysm, Episode 1. Shortly after, the team launched the new website, which provided more details on the upcoming game and its story. To make things exciting, we also launched a FutureScore Quest that encouraged the community to share the teaser far and wide.
The teaser reveals how the fate of The Third Kingdom hangs in the balance. The Wreck has plunged the region into chaos, and invaders are lurking in the shadows. Episode 1 is your call to arms, a chance to take your first steps on a shared mission to bring The Third Kingdom back from the brink of destruction.
With the launch date approaching fast, now's the time to prepare for an evolving journey as a land owner, where you cultivate resources to revive your pocket of this once-flourishing realm. Every choice you make shapes your path as you build an empire and restore The Third Kingdom, unlocking untold rewards along the way.
Real talk: Insights on the future of web3 gaming from Aaron McDonald
Futureverse co-founder and CEO Aaron McDonald dropped a thought-provoking article on X that uncovered truths about the current state of web3 gaming. The article emphasizes the unfulfilled promise of true digital ownership and interoperability, outlining the core technological and economic issues that have prevented true interoperability from becoming a reality, and how Futureverse aims to solve them. Our solutions are the tools, protocols, and technologies that can enable true interoperability for open gaming, like the Universal Blueprint Framework, Sylo, Wearables Engine, Material World, FuturePass, and ASM AI Protocol stack.
The article also details the need for an ultimate hero to show the world how true interoperability could and should work in the ideal state – and how our Ready Player One partnership introduces new users to the future of gaming. Open gaming clearly relies on intelligent agents and AI-generated content, and the solutions are already at our fingertips. These solutions will completely transform how games are made, played, and even shake up the economics of gaming itself. Click the embedded post to read more about how we are making it easy for brands and developers to build the open metaverse – this one might be from back in July, but trust us, it’s a must-read.
ASM puts intelligence in everything
ASM is pushing the boundaries at the intersection of AI and gaming. A groundbreaking paper on the ASM Protocol introduced a new direction for making anything in the open metaverse intelligent with Non-Fungible Intelligence. Published alongside a slick rebrand deeply influenced by the company’s roots as a leader in web3 technology, the paper outlines three new core components to the ASM AI Protocol. These components are designed for scalability, interoperability, and usability for developers working at the intersection of web3 and AI. With three games already in-market and the chance to experiment with B.R.A.I.N.S. in different ways, the team has been able to lean into actionable insights about how the ASM AI Protocol can interact with games and agents. They’re using these learnings to adapt the Protocol, with the goal of unlocking the full potential of web3 and AI.
New Jen features hit all the right notes
Generative AI music platform Jen launched an early-release feature called R3IMAGINE for community testing. The feature allows anyone to generate music from a whistle, a tap, a clap, or even a hum. Jump in, test it out, and see what it's like to transform a simple whistle into an instrument or a full track – your feedback is welcomed. R3IMAGINE wasn't the only update involving Jen this month. You can now use your TikTok or X accounts to create a FuturePass via the Jen platform. Visit Jen and turn what’s in your mind into music in seconds.
The Root Network got an upgrade
Imagine if you had to swap out your car’s engine while driving. That might be the oversimplification of the century, but it’s one way to illustrate the scale of the task The Root Network team faced when upgrading to a new version of Substrate. This release marks a major milestone the team has been focused on for some time, and didn’t come without its challenges. Throughout the journey, several hurdles were successfully addressed, with each one contributing to a more robust system. v1.0.0 introduces several key improvements in performance, security, and interoperability and ensures The Root Network can leverage these advancements and maintain compatibility with upstream changes. Congratulations to everyone involved in getting the update out smoothly and efficiently – we’re looking forward to seeing all the exciting projects that get built using the new and improved Substrate framework.
A note from leadership
Blink and you’ll miss it
Flufs hop past a huge milestone
The FLUF World team and community partied like it was 2021, celebrating the third birthday of our furry friends. They grow up so fast, don’t they? A Flufs Unleashed teaser, a Mystic Valley stronghold in The Readyverse, and prizes like 350,000 $ROOT, Flufs, Prysms, and SurrealScapes were just some ways they marked the occasion.
A custom shoe for Shaq
Reebok Impact continued its run of spinning up AI-designed sneakers for some of the biggest names in the game. This month, they shared a collab Instagram post with Reebok featuring a custom sneaker for basketball legend Shaq. Check out the post and create your own digital Reebok on the @reebokimpact Instagram account.
Futureverse and DRx merch drop
The latest example of blending the physical and digital worlds came in the form of a merch drop from our friends at Drug Receipts. For each piece of Futureverse clothing purchased, buyers received a game-ready digital wearable.
Party Bears take the wheel in RAICERS
With more brains than your average bear, these drivers add a new layer of fun to every race. The latest RAICERS update lets you pick a Party Bear as your driver — bringing us one step closer to a future of interoperable games.
Futureverse in real life
The Futureverse team hit the ground running in Seoul for a huge few days at Korea Blockchain Week 2024. Along with several presentations, they shared demos of Jen, Reebok, and The Third Kingdom: Cataclysm game with the world. If you were there, we’d love to see your photos — be sure to share them tagging @futureverse and using #KBW2024.
Behind the mic
Our co-founders have been busy dropping knowledge across different platforms this month. Explore the latest podcast episodes here:
- The Manager’s Playbook: Inside Shara Senderoff's Music & Tech Universe!
- The BrAIn: Shara Senderoff, CEO Jen Music AI (& Why They Are "Ethically Sourced")
- Token Relations: The Root Network Quarterly Ecosystem Update
- Chibi Clash Next Frontier: AI-Powered Gaming in Chibi Clash Universe and Beyond
- Driving Web3 Adoption via Gaming & the Open Metaverse
Plus, we recommend having a listen to this incredible X Space with our founders and Head of Intelligence, Leni Ayoub.
Note: You need to be logged in to your X account to access links to Spaces.
Ecosystem happenings
Zerpmon launches on The Root Network
The highly anticipated integration of the Zerpmon game and The Root Network is here. Discover an innovative and evolving digital TCG and find out how it’s expanding the reach of XRP-powered gaming through multi-chain support.
Tradeverse continues its hot streak
Following Tradeverse’s launch on The Root Network, the gamified marketplace has gone from strength to strength. It has already clocked up three successful mints for Root Punks, RCADIA, and Zerpmon with more on the way in the near future.
Futureverse partners with Gen3 Games
Futureverse has partnered with Gen3 Games to develop Untamed Isles on The Root Network. This young, dynamic team are excited to share ongoing updates during the development process as they leverage Zerpmon IP and Futureverse AI technology to bring the game to life.
RCADIA are going places
Congratulations to RCADIA for their first mint on The Root Network. The team is excited to introduce new Genesis pass holders to experiences that bring back a nostalgic arcade atmosphere. They aim to create an inclusive gaming guild environment in preparation for the adventures that await in the open metaverse.
Content creator of the month
A big shoutout to our Content Creator of the Month, Maxpoker247. This marks the one-year anniversary of the award, and we’re proud to honor all those who've cultivated a deeper sense of belonging for our community. As we continue to shape our experiences at Futureverse, we have also made the decision to sunset this award. Maxpoker247, there’s no one better to close out this chapter than you! Here’s to you, and all the stories yet to be told.
Humans of Futureverse
Krista Gambrel,
Head of Social at Futureverse
With over 14 years of experience in marketing and leading content strategies for global brands, Krista is a true connector – both online and offline. Whether strategically crafting a campaign, optimizing content, or analyzing results, she ensures every story resonates with its intended audience, fostering a deep sense of belonging within the communities she builds. When she's not immersed in work, you might find her hiking through the Swiss Alps, designing custom jewelry, or getting lost in Spotify's 'Suggested For You' section. Krista's global perspective, unwavering love for people, and creative spirit are just some of the reasons we're excited to have her on board.
FutureScore Quests - August Edition
In return for spreading the word of The Third Kingdom and their shared mission, those who complete the Kingdom Quest unlock rewards like $ROOT or an increased Engagement Score.
Thanks for joining us for this month’s edition of Futureverse News. We hope you feel more connected than ever to the pulse of what’s happening in our ecosystem. Our aim is to keep you in the loop on all the latest product launches, thought leadership articles, and company updates. Stay tuned to our social channels for weekly wrap-ups covering the exciting developments shaping our virtual worlds. Until next time, remember, we’re not building the future. You are. 💫