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

Pudgy Penguins hit GameStop and Target shelves

The penguins are taking over! Pudgy Penguins just launched its Pudgy Toys line at Target and GameStop nationwide. The toys included in the physical collection have all been licensed through OverpassIP, an intellectual property marketplace that lets NFT holders authorize the use of their penguin’s artwork for special projects. 

Through this strategic retail placement, Pudgy Penguins hopes to connect the dots between NFTs and mainstream consumers. 

“With toys now live in Target, our onboarding efforts will expand to millions of more people,” said the brand in a tweet.

Ubisoft’s innovation VP talks web3

Game publisher Ubisoft has been developing web3 projects for years now, but the company recently reentered the chat.

In a conversation with VentureBeat, Nicolas Pouard, vice president of Ubisoft Strategic Innovation Lab and head of blockchain initiatives at Ubisoft Entrepreneurs Lab, unpacked what the company has learned from early fan critiques of blockchain and how it’s since pivoted to a community-driven approach to web3 onboarding. 

In 2023, Ubisoft made headlines for its strategic partnership with the Immutable blockchain. In January 2024, it became a Node Council Partner for Wemix, the blockchain of Korean game publisher WeMade.

The Voice enters the metaverse

The Sandbox, a decentralized gaming platform, recently announced a partnership with the production company behind the hit talent competition, The Voice. A forthcoming metaverse experience will soon turn fans into virtual coaches and allow them to collect NFTs while they play a game that follows along this year’s 25th season of the show. 

As coaches, players’ decisions affect the outcome of the game. Perks of the NFTs could include attending a live recording of the show.

Sotheby’s announce auction for Alpha Centauri Kid’s artwork

A limited 300 editions of “la nuit étoilée” from visionary crypto artist Alpha Centauri Kid will soon be auctioned on Sotheby’s Metaverse. 

Phase One, priced at 0.2 ETH each, opens on June 6 2024 for allowlisted members. There will be a 24-hour purchase window before Phase Two opens, at a slightly higher price tag of 0.3 ETH. 

As of May 13, some 30 allowlist spaces remained. Priority will be given to Sotheby's existing clients and holders of “Themes and Variations” by pioneering generative artist Vera Molnar, which was auctioned by Sotheby’s in July 2023. 

ART TRUCK by ART GIRLS Gallery makes its final stop in Lisbon

Attendees of the upcoming NFC Summit in Lisbon can expect to see art on wheels. 

ART GIRLS GALLERY, a popup gallery founded in 2021 by art critic and curator Annelise Stern, will be concluding its nomadic exhibition run with ART TRUCK, a physical installation at the NFC Summit from May 28 to 30, 2024. The show will feature the work of 12 standout web3 artists from around the globe. It is inspired by the story of the trailblazing art dealer Iris Clert, who in 1972 turned a Berliet Stradair truck into a roving artspace after her gallery hit hard financial times. 

This might be the last time to catch ART GIRLS on the road, as Stern will soon be opening a permanent space in France.

Christie’s to auction exclusive DeeKay animation

Christie’s is auctioning a piece by retro-inspired animator DeeKay May 17. The work, “Hands of Time,” is a one-of-one depicting a tree with platforms at every branch, on which a friendly avatar jumps and moves through the different stages of life.

Interested collectors can place their bids in real life or find more information here.