The term “metaverse” was famously coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel “Snowcatcher,” but it wasn’t until late 2021 that the metaverse became less theoretical and more of a reality. The big mover was Facebook (since renamed Meta Platforms), which refocused its mission from social media to the metaverse.
Since that announcement, there has been a flurry of announcements related to the metaverse, but which brands are the early movers and which ones are on top? Here’s a list of some of the top brands in the metaverse. (This list excludes Meta Platforms and instead focuses on brands that are doing their best to make a splash in the metaverse.)
Gucci: Gucci launched its first NFT in May 2021, and a virtual replica of the Gucci Dionysus bag sold for more than $4,000 on gaming platform Roblox.
Hyundai: In October 2021, Hyundai launched Mobility Adventure, a metaverse space on Roblox.
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Nike: Nike announced its acquisition of RTFKT, a non-fungible token studio that produces digital collectibles to link culture and gaming. Nike also filed seven trademark applications for Nike-branded footwear, accessories and apparel in virtual environments.
Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola partnered with Tafi to design virtual wearables for Coke’s NFT collectibles in the Metaverse to celebrate International Friendship Day.
Louis Vuitton: To celebrate its founder’s 200th birthday, the brand released Louis: The Game, a metaverse video game.
Wendy’s: When a foodfight was announced in Fortnight between Team Pizza and Team Burger, Wendy’s created an avatar on Twitch, dropped it into the game and began destroying burger freezers.
McDonald’s: McDonald’s has applied for 10 metaverse-related patents that aim to deliver food online and in-person.