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

Refik Anadol Creates World’s First Nature-Based Open-Source Generative AI-Model

This week, Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol unveiled “Living Archive: Nature,” a generative art installation created from a dataset described by Anadol as “the world's first nature-focused open-source AI model.” The installation debuted at the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 

Though AI models trained on biological organisms do exist, Anadol asserts that the open-source model he used to create the artwork is the first dedicated to ecology. The model uses data from institutions such as National Geographic and the Smithsonian Institute to generate scenes based on various ecosystems. 

The art also pulls from Cornell Lab’s database of over 250,000 Amazonian bird songs so that viewers could enjoy multi-sensory elements like birdsongs and scents created in collaboration with master perfumers.

Pudgy Penguins Partners with Old Master Q for IRL Retail Pop-Up in Malaysia

Pudgy Penguins is making waves in Asia! The loveable NFT brand announced a partnership with Old Master Q (老夫子), a major Asian comic brand that’s celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

From January 15 to February 24, Pudgy Penguins and Old Master Q are setting up shop at Fahrenheit88, one of Malaysia's largest malls. The month-long pop-up will feature artwork by Hong Kong artist Prof. Joseph Wong, son of fellow Old Master Q creator Alphonso Wong, along with other collaborators.

This move marks a major milestone in Pudgy Penguins' strategic expansion into Asian markets in 2024. By collaborating with Old Master Q's six-decade legacy, Pudgy Penguins 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 Reboots ‘Dookey Dash’ as Free-to-Play

Yuga Labs' hit game Dookey Dash is back with a twist. It's now free-to-play and comes with token rewards. The new 'Unclogged' edition will open to the public and be available on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.

In its original version, players raced through 3D sewers as apes, dodging obstacles for high scores. It was exclusive to NFT holders and incentivized intense competition. One player — Fortnite pro 'Mongraal' — even sold his winning NFT key for a whopping $1.63 million.

This revamped version, set for a mid-February release, is not just for NFT holders. However, select Yuga NFT holders will be eligible to win benefits in the game (potentially ApeCoins). The new version will also feature in-app purchases like Coins, Boosters, and Energy, plus a new "Sewer Rank" system with competitive tiers from Amateur to GOAT.

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 a broader community of players. It's a fresh 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 stage with backing from Chess.com and celebrated chess grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen. After securing $1.5 million in seed funding last year, the game, developed by blockchain gaming studio Animoca Brands, currently features a single-player mode and is launching a player-vs-player feature in Q1 2024.

The game creatively blends traditional chess strategy with spellcasting, a fantasy storyline, and web3 elements. It features NFTs called Orbs of Power, which players can collect for free by completing daily puzzles. These Orbs, varying from "Pawn of Water" to "King of Aether," unlock further challenges and rewards.

Since their release on the Polygon network in August 2023, the Orbs have seen significant trading volume. Anichess also integrates Moca ID from Animoca Brands' "Mocaverse" loyalty platform. Plans for the game include player-versus-player gameplay and tournaments, adding an exciting twist to traditional chess.

Artist Joe Pease Releases New Piece Titled ‘Out of Time’

On January 11, Australian artist Joe Pease dropped a new artwork that fans described as “phenomenal,” “stunning,” and even a “masterpiece.” With little foreshadowing — just a January 10 tweet saying “new work tomorrow” — Pease revealed the new artwork on X (formerly Twitter).

Known for his surreal video loops, Pease’s art has been described as layered motion capturing everyday scenes, akin to a collage artist but with dynamic movement. “Out of Time” employs these same signature techniques. It features pedestrians crossing a busy asphalt intersection and Pease’s recognizably surreal palette. 

Ubisoft Backs Gaming Network ‘Wemix’ as a Validator

Ubisoft, the powerhouse 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 validator nodes on the new "Wemix 3.0" network, an Ethereum-compatible blockchain.

This move marks Ubisoft's continued foray into blockchain gaming, following its early adoption with in-game NFTs in its Tom Clancy series back in 2021, as well as operating nodes for other blockchains like Hedera and Cronos. Ubisoft seems to be doubling down on web3 gaming, recently even teasing its blockchain game 'Champions Tactics.' 

Starbucks Odyssey Releases First ‘Journey’ of 2024

Starbucks' 2024 Odyssey program kicked 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.

This first journey features two activities: "Crafting the Classics," a game where players replicate drink recipes in 90 seconds to score at least 1,500 points, and “Seasonal Innovations,” which requires customers to buy items like the Pistachio Latte or the Chicken Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich. 

According to unofficial sources, the remaining activities will open on January 30, 2024 and February 13, 2024.