Can you Buy Pets in the Metaverse?

As species, we humans just can't imagine life without our furry, feathered, or scaled buddies. Relationships between humans and other animals go back to the beginning of time, and today, they are an integral part of our day-to-day lives.

In the same way that our human relationships have gone digital and virtual in the internet age, it seems that our connections with our pets would follow suit. Virtual pet ownership is nothing new, obviously. There was a point in the 1980s when everyone had a digital pet on their keychain (Tamagotchi) and was responsible for its well-being. Some video games and digital experiences have made virtual pet ownership a major focus. The emergence of the Metaverse is playing a major role in this trend.

Pets in the Metaverse

Since Facebook's announcement, the phrase metaverse has been on the tip of everyone's tongue in the IT sector. The Metaverse, often called cyberspace, encompasses a wide range of technology and human interactions. Metaverse technologies include AR/VR headsets, motion trackers, NFTs, and other cutting-edge innovations. The overall value of the Metaverse is in the billions, and it is likely to continue growing substantially in the years ahead. A few significant players capture the bulk of market revenue, but the growing focus on the convergence of the physical and digital worlds has been the primary growth engine.

Bringing pets into the mix is a growing subset of the Metaverse. Many people have pets they adore and would like to share their digital world with them. Two different avenues are now being explored for bringing pets into the Metaverse. A virtual pet, or metapet, imitates the appearance of a genuine pet. The use of holographic imagery and other forms of 3D imaging technology goes into their creation. Avatars can be used to monitor pets with microchips remotely. One possible use of this technology is in the form of metapets, which would allow distant travelers to keep an eye on their furry friends.

Extending the idea even further, one may also own a pet from the Metaverse. These animal characters are purely fictitious and have no relation to any actual animals. They provide a virtual alternative to pet ownership by simulating specific interactions and providing a similar degree of satisfaction. People who are allergic to pets or who are unable to take care of one in any other way can now enjoy similar companionship. In the virtual world, pets have access to a wide variety of features and entertainment options that typically wouldn't be available in the real world.

Many online communities in the Metaverse now provide pet-related services. Axie Infinity is an NFT pet game where you breed virtual pets to progress to the next level. Players generate more income from the protocol to the detriment of Ethereum and Bitcoin. As of July 2022, this game has already generated millions in revenue. One other platform with a similar structure is CryptoKitties. Over 126,000 people use the site, and more than 2 million digital cats live there

Players can participate in activities such as playing games in the Kittyverse, completing puzzles with the aid of other players, and collecting cats. In order to get pet owners to sign up for their platform, each one comes up with its own special features that make it unique. Pets are another aspect of the physical world that the Metaverse wants to digitize.

What are some popular metaverse pet projects?

Digital Pets Company:The Digital Pets Company declared in April 2022 that it would provide artificial intelligence-driven 3D digital dogs as metaverse companions.
It has received pre-seed investment from Outlier Ventures, Hawk Digital, MaxStealth, and angel investor Rafi Gidron, who founded Chromatis. Specifically, it will use XR and blockchain technology to foster a continuous two-way emotional relationship with a virtual entity over various digital mediums, including apps and games.
By using the company's own PetOS system, the technology will be made available to consumers in the future.
 

MetaGochi:The project's name obviously references the popular '90s electronic pet toy known as the 'Tamagotchi'.
Since its launch on the Ethereum network in July 2021, MetaGochi has been called one of the biggest virtual pet metaverse platforms on the market, with approximately half a million daily active users. The platform has received nearly $30 million in fees since July.
 

MetaPets:MetaPets, which debuted in November 2021, is the newest addition to the pet-a-verse and aims to unite pet ownership and the Metaverse.
Per the company's whitepaper, one of the most intriguing parts of MetaPets is the opportunity to not only design and own their own pets but also to engage in a variety of events and activities such as dog shows and horse races - all while earning cash from the platform.
 

Axie Infinity:In Axie Infinity, users take the concept of collectible virtual pets like CryptoKitties further by forming teams of Axies with which they may engage in PvE and PvP activities, gain experience, and ultimately earn prizes. Because of its competitive nature, Axie Infinity's PvP combat can only be improved by purchasing in-game assets.
Last year in December, Axie developers said that the platform had gained over 500,000 new Axie holders, bringing the total number of users to within striking range of 3 million on a daily basis.
The firm recently announced that it has welcomed its ten millionth Axie to its platform, and it told PCMag that these players are battling and breeding Axie's at a breakneck pace.
 

CryptoKitties:Since its debut in 2017 as one of the first blockchain-based games, CryptoKitties has continued to be a hit with gamers everywhere.
It has been one of the most successful blockchain projects of its sort since its start and has captured the attention of cat lovers all across the globe.
 

Closing note

With the emergence of the Metaverse, the virtual and real lines have blurred. The Metaverse is likely to affect almost every aspect of our lives as people start living in the Metaverse. Hence, it is pretty evident that pets would also become a significant part of this experience.

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