Welcome to the OpenSea digest. Let’s look back through the biggest NFT and web3 news of the week.

Yuga Labs’ Legends of the Mara Game to Launch Beta This September

Yuga and Faraway announced this week that their metaverse gaming venture, Otherside, will launch an open beta version of their Legends of the Mara game in September of this year. 

According to Yuga, the goal of the open beta is to get feedback from the community about gameplay. In the game, players will reportedly be able to unlock Otherdeed powers and earn future rewards, hatch Vessels, and gather sediment from their Otherdeed NFTs.

Sam Spratt’s ‘The Monument Game’ Has an Official Winner

Last week, we wrote about Sam Spratt’s innovative new NFT, “The Monument Game,” which sold for a staggering 420.69ETH. The artwork was created through a collaboration between the holders of “Player” NFTs, who were tasked with writing “Observations” that created the story of “The Monument Game.” From there, finalists Summer Wagner, Garey Simpson, and Ben Skaar were chosen on August 28th. All three finalists won NFTs from Spratt’s Skulls of Luci collection for their efforts.

On August 31st, Spratt announced that the winner of “The Monument Game” was Player 15, Ben Skaar, a 20-year-old artist living in New York. 

‘The Walking Dead: Empires’ Introduces Blockchain-Based Zombie Survival Game

Gear up, TV fans, because AMC's Walking Dead universe is expanding into the blockchain realm. The Walking Dead: Empires (TWDE), a survival game bringing new adventures to PC gamers, will soon be publicly released.

Developed by Ember Entertainment and web3 gaming platform Gala Games, this apocalyptic new multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) merges the world of NFTs with immersive zombie token mechanics designed to incentivize survival.

As a reward for warding off attacks from the undead, players can accrue in-game items like characters, weapons, and health kits. As with all blockchain-based gaming, these items are minted as tokens that can be used inside the game and sold on secondary NFT marketplaces.

Gala Games built in unique levels of scarcity creating exciting new layers to gameplay. Gamers must learn the art of survival crafting and create gear, weapons, and supplies to use for battles and, of course, zombie doomsday prepping.

NFTs from TWDE have reportedly already generated over 1,396 ETH (approximately $2.3 million) in sales, demonstrating how excited players are to roam a post-apocalyptic realm, battling undead foes.

While an official playtest date remains unannounced, the developers have confirmed the game's full release in 2023.

Unstoppable Domains Enhances Web3 Domains with New Encrypted Messaging Feature

Leading web3 domain company Unstoppable Domains (UD) has just improved the experience of owning a web3 domain with the introduction of Unstoppable Messaging, a new encrypted messaging feature. This new development adds an extra layer of privacy for anyone with a UD domain and gives people the ability to interact without sharing personal information.

What sets Unstoppable Messaging apart from the likes of WhatsApp or Telegram is its ability to set up a messaging connection without requiring users to share personal information, like phone numbers or email addresses. In addition, Unstoppable Messaging includes must-have preferences to manage blocking and notifications within the platform.

This feature is similar to Coinbase Wallet’s messaging which lets users send messages from within the app to other wallet addresses and ENS identities that are also part of the XMTP network.

By offering seamless and secure communication, Unstoppable Domains is improving the experience of decentralized social networking and demonstrating yet another important use case for decentralized identity management. 

Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist Release Album ‘VOIR DIRE’ as NFT Exclusive

If you thought Taylor Swift was good at dropping easter eggs, read about what renowned rappers Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist have unveiled this week. After a two-year period of clue-dropping, the pair released their long-awaited enigmatic music album, VOIR DIRE in the form of an NFT.

Earl Sweatshirt, whose real name is Thebe Kgositsile, gained fame through collaborations with Tyler, The Creator, while The Alchemist, real name Alan Maman, emerged in the hip-hop scene at a young age and later worked with Eminem. The album was teased for two years, with puzzles and hints scattered across various media.

The big reveal finally came on August 24, when decentralized NFT-backed music streaming platform Gala Music tweeted that exclusive streaming access to VOIR DIRE would be accessible through its platform via the purchase of an NFT. 

Fans were challenged to solve riddles and puzzles on Gala Music's website to access the hidden album. VOIR DIRE contains 11 tracks, each accompanied by 1,000 corresponding NFTs, totaling 11,000 NFTs in total. The album maintains the artists' distinct style, with guest appearances enhancing its allure. 

Snoop Dogg and Skechers Launch Footwear Collection Inspired by the Rapper’s BAYC ‘Dr. Bombay’ NFT

Every dawg needs fresh kicks to roam the digital jungle, and that’s just what rapper Snoop Dogg is serving up. The veteran performer and hip-hop celebrity partnered with nostalgic sneaker brand Sketchers to release a new footwear collection inspired by the rapper’s Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) profile picture (PFP) named Dr. Bombay.

The exclusive Sketchers x BAYC collection was unveiled on the Sketchers website in mid-August and captures the essence of Snoop's vibe and BAYC’s now-famous art style. Shoe designs feature animated decals of Snoop’s playful character, combined with Sketchers’ signature comfort features.

Available in many silhouettes and styles,  every shoe in the Dr. Bombay collection was designed to reflect Snoop's versatile street style with customizable detailing meant for all occasions. From sneakers to slide-ons, the Sketchers x Snoop Dogg BAYC collaboration firmly fuses fashion and digital art within contemporary culture.

Cryptoys Partners with Disney to Release 'Mickey and Friends' NFT Toys

Prepare for a surprising twist from the House of Mouse: This September, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto will be the newest releases by digital toy company Cryptoys.  

In an unprecedented move, the iconic trio of Disney characters will grace collectors with 15 exclusive editions, each accompanied by unique accessories. The highlight of this anticipated unveiling is the chance for fans to secure an exceptional Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Cryptoy — a prized reward reserved for those who collect the entire set. 

With an enticing promise of a distinct unboxing journey, enthusiasts are advised to stay tuned for an upcoming blend of classic characters and modern digital enchantment.

Undoubtedly, the Cryptoys partnership marks a leap for Disney, whose identity has long been intertwined with physical items like plush toys, pins, dress-up costumes, and accessories. Disney's foray into the realm of virtual toys might be a bit of an adjustment for some fans.

As of now, there's no fixed release date for the Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, or Pluto Cryptoys collection. However, announcements on social media promise fans they can expect to collect in September. Priced at $40 (akin to previous Cryptoys offerings) these lovable digital toys will hopefully be met with a strong demand from new and loyal Disney collectors alike.

OpenSea and Base Present ONCHAIN SUMMER Series 

Summer’s not over yet! OpenSea and Base, the new Layer 2 blockchain by Coinbase, launched the ONCHAIN SUMMER series on August 9 and are still showcasing the works of talented digital artists and musicians.

Last week, OpenSea showcased new curated creations from artists Jessica Yatrofsky, ZWIST and Max Kulchinsky.

To coincide with Base's public mainnet launch, ONCHAIN SUMMER is a multi-week celebration of on-chain art, gaming, music, and culture. Visit the ONCHAIN SUMMER website daily to catch new art drops, claim your free commemorative NFTs, and rejoice in the growing variety and diversity of NFT art available to collectors. 

OpenSea Launches Redeemables Standard and Roadmap

And now, some news from OpenSea. Redeemable NFTs have emerged as a popular application with widespread traction across fashion, gaming, PFPs, and many more areas where creators are extending NFTs beyond just art with new utility and experiences. However, these projects have suffered from a lack of adopted standards or UI conventions which forces creators to build custom, often closed experiences, leading to limited discoverability and usability. 

This week, OpenSea introduced an open standard for redeemables of both on-chain (NFT -> NFT) and off-chain (NFT -> goods, services, or experiences) varieties. In addition, OpenSea is launching product initiatives to make it easier to create, discover, exchange, and redeem these NFTs directly on OpenSea. Read more about the ERC and SIP proposals on OpenSea’s developer blog here, and read more about OpenSea’s roadmap for redeemables here.

In commemoration of this launch, OpenSea also launched a proof-of-concept NFT, which can be minted and redeemed directly on OpenSea.