Meta’s New Business Model
In a world where digital assets are soaring to unprecedented heights, Meta has decided it’s time to capitalize on the trend—well, at least in their own way. With plans to charge an eyebrow-raising 47.5% on items sold in the Meta Quest app store, which includes non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the tech giant has stirred the pot of discontent among potential customers.
Breaking Down the Fees
Let’s dissect that hefty percentage. The fee structure includes a 30% hardware platform fee coupled with a 17.5% usage fee specifically for Horizon Worlds. For those keeping score, that’s a whopping cut from each sale! Imagine handing an extra 47.5% of your hard-earned crypto just to sell an NFT. Ouch!
What the Competition Looks Like
In comparison, other players in the NFT arena seem to be sailing in much calmer waters. OpenSea, a frontrunner in the NFT marketplace, charges a mere 2.5% fee, while LooksRare is even kinder at just 2%. Even Apple’s App Store puts a cap at 30%, leaving Meta’s aspirational appetite for profit looking out of touch.
Reactions from the Collectors
The NFT community didn’t take long to express their views. Notably, Pranksy, a popular NFT collector with nearly 400,000 followers on social media, voiced his displeasure: “This is perhaps the greatest example of being completely and utterly out of touch with something that I have ever witnessed.” If a collector with such clout is saying it’s an outrageous cut, you know the buzz is real!
Quenching Thirst in the Metaverse
As Meta gears up for its NFT efforts, Coca-Cola has waded into the waters of the Metaverse with a sprightly product: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Byte. The marketing wizards have concocted a beverage that is said to taste like pixels—and, no, that’s not a joke. Launching on May 2, it comes equipped with an Island Code, granting gamers access to special maps and mini-games on Fortnite. It seems like a fizzy dream come true for those lost in the virtual realm!
Curious Flavor Combinations
People are already speculating what a pixel-flavored soda could taste like! Would it be like carbonated nostalgia or a blast of digital sweetness? The creativity in responses could rival the drink’s bizarre premise!
Airlines and NFTs: A Match Made in Heaven?
On a more practical front, the airline industry is also taking strides into the virtual world. TravelX has partnered with Air Europa to introduce NFTickets—airline tickets in the form of NFTs. Imagine not just flying to Miami Beach, but owning a piece of digital art associated with your ticket. Every 14 days, a limited number of these tickets, auctioned off via the Travel Exchange, promise to mix travel with blockchain excitement!
NBA Goes Virtual
Of course, we can’t overlook the NBA’s aspirations in this digital expanse. They’ve put forth a patent application for something of a virtual merchandise bonanza. Imagine game tickets and collectibles transformed into NFTs—that’s the future of fandom, folks! Fans are already collecting moments through NBA Top Shot, and now our virtual experiences might soon include those illustrious dunk moments as tradeable tokens.
The Wider NFT Landscape
Meanwhile, gaming industry giant Sega looks to the cloud, merging gaming and NFTs into their Super Game project. Additionally, NFT startup Genie has secured $150 million in Series C funding, solidifying its status as a tech unicorn. While the NFT hype train rolls forward, there are certainly those who are wary of the direction it’s heading!
