Welcome to the OpenSea Digest, our recap of the biggest NFT and web3 news from the week.
Refik Anadol creates world's first open-source nature-based generative AI model
This week, Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol unveiled “Living Archive: Nature,” a generative art installation created from a dataset that Anadol describes as “the world’s first open-source nature-centric AI model,” which debuted at the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
While AI models trained on biological organisms do exist, Anadol claims that the open-source model he used to create the artwork is the first focused specifically on ecology, using data from institutions like National Geographic and the Smithsonian Institution to generate scenarios based on various ecosystems.
The artwork also draws from the Cornell Lab’s database of more than 250,000 Amazonian bird songs so that viewers can enjoy multi-sensory elements such as bird songs and scents created in collaboration with master perfumers.
Pudgy Penguins partners with Old Master Q for IRL retail pop-up store in Malaysia
Pudgy Penguins is making waves in Asia! The adorable NFT brand announced a partnership with Old Master Q, a major Asian comics brand that celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
From January 15 to February 24, Pudgy Penguins and Old Master Q will set up shop at Fahrenheit88, one of Malaysia’s largest shopping malls, for a month-long pop-up that will feature artworks by Hong Kong artist Professor Wong Cho-chung (son of Old Master Q creator Alphonso Wong) and other collaborators.
This move marks an important milestone in Chunky Penguin’s 2024 strategic expansion into the Asian market, and through its partnership with Old Master Q’s sixty-year heritage, Chunky Penguin is introducing its brand to a whole new audience.
For the latest updates and more details, Pudgy Penguins directs fans to follow @PudgyAsia and @pudgymalaysia.
Yuga launches free-to-play reboot of Dookey Dash
Yuga Labs’ hit game Dookey Dash is returning in an unusual way: it’s now free to play with token rewards, and a new “Unclogginged” version will be available to the public and available on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.
The original version, in which players played as apes running through 3D sewers, dodging obstacles to get high scores, was exclusive to NFT holders and spurred fierce competition, with one Fortnite pro player, “Mongraal,” even selling his winning NFT key for $1.63 million.
This revised version, set to be released in mid-February, won’t just be available to NFT holders, however, selected Yuga NFT holders will be eligible to win perks (likely ApeCoins) in the game.
The new version will also feature in-app purchases for coins, boosters, and energy, as well as a new "Sewer Rankings" system that includes a tiered ranking of competition from amateur to the best players.
Why the upgrade? According to sources, Yuga Labs is doing this to overcome the cheating issues faced by the original, reward OG holders, and engage with the wider community of players. This is a new take on a familiar favorite, inviting everyone to dive into the underground world of Dookey Dash.
‘Anichess’ Chess NFT Game Launched by Animoca Brands, Chess.com and Magnus Carlsen
Anichess, a Polygon-based NFT chess game, has launched its first phase with the support of Chess.com and renowned chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.
The game, developed by blockchain gaming studio Animoca Brands, is currently single-player and will launch player-vs-player functionality in the first quarter of 2024 after securing $1.5 million in seed funding last year.
The game creatively blends traditional chess strategy with spellcasting, a fantasy storyline, and web3 elements. It features NFTs called Orbs of Power that players can collect for free by completing daily puzzles. These orbs vary from “Pawn of Water” to “King of Aether” and unlock more challenges and rewards.
Orb has seen significant transaction volume since its launch on the Polygon Network in August 2023, and Anichess has also integrated Moca ID from Animoca Brands’ “Mocaverse” loyalty platform. Plans for the game include player-vs-player gameplay and tournaments, adding an exciting twist to traditional chess.
Artist Joe Pease Releases New Work "Out of Time"
On January 11, Australian artist Joe Pease released a new piece of art that fans have described as “phenomenal,” “amazing,” and even a “masterpiece” Pease revealed the new work on X (formerly Twitter) with little foreshadowing — just a tweet on January 10 saying “new work tomorrow.”
Known for his surreal video loops, Pease’s art has been described as layering motion-captured everyday scenes, similar to a collage artist but with dynamic movement. Out of Time uses the same signature technique and features pedestrians crossing a busy asphalt intersection and Pease’s distinctly surreal color palette.
Ubisoft supports gaming network 'Wemix' as a validator
Ubisoft, the powerful game publisher behind Assassin’s Creed, is expanding its blockchain horizons by joining the Wemix Blockchain Node Council. As part of Wemix’s 40-partner-strong collective of node validators, Ubisoft will now run a validator node on the new “Wemix 3.0” network, an Ethereum-compatible blockchain.
The move marks Ubisoft’s continued push into blockchain gaming following its early adoption of in-game NFTs in the Tom Clancy series in 2021 and running nodes for other blockchains such as Hedera and Cronos. Ubisoft appears to be doubling down on Web3 gaming, recently even teasing its blockchain game “Champions Tactics.”
Starbucks Odyssey launches first 'journey' of 2024
Starbucks’ 2024 Odyssey kicks off on January 16 with “Coffee Heritage” – a 1,500-point journey that invites fans to dive into the brand’s 50-plus years of history.
The first journey features two activities: “Make a Classic,” in which players replicate a drink recipe in 90 seconds to score at least 1,500 points, and “Seasonal Creations,” which requires customers to purchase items like a pistachio latte or a chicken maple butter and egg sandwich.
According to unofficial sources, the remaining events will be available on January 30, 2024 and February 13, 2024.
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