Nike Prepares for Metaverse with 7 Trademarks, Microsoft Is Testing Its Own for Early Next Year Launch
After Facebook, Nike is taking steps to enter the Metaverse.
The Oregan-based apparel giant has filed several new trademarks this week that indicate its intent to make and sell virtual Nike-branded sneakers and outfits.
Nike filed applications late last month for “Nike,” its swoosh logo along with “Air Jordan” and “Jumpman” logos and the famous slogan “Just Do It,” according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The company has submitted a total of seven different applications.
Metaverse is a priority for the brand and will be making more virtual rollouts in the months ahead, CNBC reported citing people familiar with the company’s strategy.
Nike has also been posting job openings for a virtual material designer of footwear and other virtual design roles as part of the Digital Product Creation group — “a team focusing on igniting the digital and virtual revolution at Nike.”
In 2019, the Jordan brand partnered with the online video game Fortnite where characters wore Nike-branded sneakers. The same year, it filed a patent for “Cryptokicks,” which the company plan to use as an NFT. Nike also has had several collaborations with another online game platform Roblox.
Pandemic Induced Science Fiction
Another company joining Facebook in Metaverse is Microsoft which is planning to bring PowerPoint and Excel to the virtual world. The tech giant is planning to create a more corporate version of the Metaverse.
Its first offering, which is currently in testing and will be available in the first half of 2022, is a Teams chat and conferencing program that features digital avatars. Here, customers will be able to share Office files and features like PowerPoint decks in the Metaverse.
“This pandemic has made the commercial use cases much more mainstream, even though sometimes the consumer stuff feels like science fiction,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in an interview with Bloomberg.
At the company’s Ignite conference on Tuesday, Microsoft said the new Teams features would let businesses create immersive spaces where workers can meet. The technology uses the software called Mesh that enables augmented reality and virtual reality experiences across a variety of goggles.
Microsoft also presented a Dynamics 365 Connected Spaces that will let people move and interact within retail and factory spaces. The company also expects its Xbox gaming platform to take part in the virtual future. “You can absolutely expect us to do things in gaming,” said Nadella.
AnTy
