Metaverse News #9 - we read all the metaverse stories so you don't have to 💡

Welcome! Who's got time to read the avalanche of content about the metaverse? Not you, we bet!
Let us take the strain and sort the best of what brands are doing and can do in Web3 and the metaverse for you into concise, regular roundups. It's free!
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Microsoft-owned Minecraft, one of the world's most popular games with close to 170MM monthly users, has announced it will not support NFTs and the blockchain

"NFTs can create models of scarcity and exclusion that conflict with our guidelines and the spirit of Minecraft," Mojang Studios, the creators of Minecraft, said in an official statement
ArkDev, co-founder of NFT Worlds, the most successful project to deploy crypto assets on Minecraft, reacted defiantly to what is effectively a ban
Nike-owned RTFKT's CTO, Samuel Cardillo, questioned the reasoning and called the move "stupid", and Jeff Zirlin, co-founder of play-to-earn game Axie Infinity, said Minecraft is trying to "fight the inevitable"
Despite the reaction of Web3 players, this is a watershed moment and comes after an earlier ban by Steam - other platforms remain neutral so far

In other news:

RTFKT's co-founder Benoit Pagotto shares his wisdom on building NFT projects with brands: "It's all about how you empower the community to do more with what you give them and what they own from you"
Meanwhile, RTFKT launches its first physical + digital wearable clothing with Nike, a black hoodie, which has an NFC (near field communication) chip and is trackable using AR, giving the wearer the option to wear, for example, virtual wings
Unilever has published a blog post on its approach to exploring the metaverse
Automaker Kia's new TV spot for its Soul SUV allows viewers to claim an NFT by scanning an on-screen QR code
Auction house Christie's has launched its own in-house investment firm, Christie's Ventures, devoted to making investments in Web3 companies
Otherside, the much-anticipated metaverse gaming platform from Yuga Labs, creators of Bored Ape Yacht Club, had a soft launch for owners of land plots
Nars dives into Roblox with a game called 'Color Quest', which allows users to unlock special abilities, earn badges and use virtual currency
Elsewhere in Roblox, Burberry is selling one-off cloud and foliage-covered virtual bags
Reddit is launching a new NFT avatar marketplace
Playboy is building a 'Metamansion' in The Sandbox and celeb skateboarder, Tony Hawk, is creating a virtual skatepark and avatar collection there
A look into why token-gated websites are Web3's "virtual velvet rope"
McKinsey has a new report, 'Value creation in the metaverse'

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