In this issue:

• This Week in Neo Tokyo (by ZeHI)

• Nike’s Digital Collectibles Are Coming to Your Favorite Games (by Tanyo)

• Secret Weapon of the Crypto Gaming Frontrunners (by Koko of NGMI Lab)

• NFT Market Overview (by Flower83)

• NT Builds: Updates from Citizen Project Founders (by BadFuture)

We’re going to keep this Neo Tokyo update concise this week because this newsletter is already packed with quality content.

We are now well into the era of Bytes2.0. Those who staked during the first week were showered with a special promo of maximum community incentive emissions. Big congrats to the citizens who reaped those rewards.

So far, 990 S1s and 920 S2s, along with almost 900k BYTES have been staked.

NT Founders Becker and Ellio jumped into the most recent Founders Round Table to give their description of Bytes2.0 and their vision as to where the community is heading. Check out the recording here.

Becker stressed his desire to see steady growth in the ecosystem and to avoid stimulating any pump-and-dump scenarios with too much hype.

He also touched on the projected use case for BYTES.

Firestorm and the Community Leads will be hosting the next NT Town Hall - Monday 26 June at 4pm Eastern, in the NT Discord.

Don’t miss this week’s Neo Tokyo News NFT Market Monday Twitter Space - 26 June at 5pm Eastern. We’ll have special guests from the Azuki community to let us know how the big Vegas event went, and what to expect for their next Elementals mint.

Nike has been dabbling with digital collectibles for a while now. Two years ago, they bought the digital virtual clothing brand RTFKT. A year later, Nike launched its own digital collectibles platform, Swoosh.

They’re expanding their digital offerings to different games. Earlier this month, they announced their partnership with EA Sports. Nike will introduce its digital collectibles to EA’s upcoming games, which include:

• Madden

• UFC

• F1

Now, Nike is going beyond sports games by introducing their own island on Fortnite (Airphoria)

Every user who plays on the island for 10 mins or more will get an in-game Air Max 86 Back Bling. To become eligible, users have to connect their Epic Games and Swoosh accounts and claim an “Achievement” collectible. They can’t trade that collectible, but it will give them access to an upcoming collection.

The market for NFTs is down at the moment. But announcements like that show that web2 retail giants are continuing to expand their digital offerings.

It’s only a matter of time before other gaming and clothing brands follow and start adding digital collectibles and, by the same token (pun intended), NFTs.

To keep up with all the news and announcements in web3 gaming, subscribe to the Gaming Portal for free.

If you want to go deeper into web3 gaming and figure out the business behind web3 gaming projects and how you can invest in them, check out the paid version.

As the bear market gradually draws to a close, anticipation builds in the crypto space. We're all preparing to cast our lots, keenly observing the vast ocean of projects.

At NGMI Lab, we've noticed a distinct pattern among the frontrunners — a secret weapon that separates the leaders from the pack. This killer move? The strategic forging of partnerships with content creators.

These partnerships are not merely surface-level associations with YouTube celebrities or well-known influencers. They are meaningful, deeply-rooted collaborations with content creators who are born and bred within the community.

They are about nurturing these creators, providing them with the resources they need to thrive, and growing together with them.

Why is this a game-changer? 

Because it fosters a deeper sense of community. It's no longer just about maintaining an active Discord with a slew of events, games, updates etc. It's about having a continuous flow of authentic, diverse content that resonates with the audiences and generates genuine excitement about the project and its game or product.

Let's delve into three gaming projects, all of which we’ve researched or are researching that have harnessed this strategy: Treasure DAO, Illuvium, and SuperVerse DAO.

Treasure DAO has developed a program called "Treasure Create" that is explicitly designed for top video content creators within its ecosystem and gives them access to 150k+ audience of Treasure DAO community members.

The program offers a range of benefits including early access to beta playtests, promotion from official Treasure channels, in-game items, and an exclusive Discord Creator Role.

They have already partnered with more than ten content creators who consistently contribute to the ecosystem. Some of the more high profile of these include Spike, Hantao, Yellow Panther and Raiden.

Illuvium's content creator program is very similar and allows content creators to receive custom art NFTs, early gameplay access and get to the front of the queue on drops.

Some of the known content creators or influencers involved in Illuvium include Volkin, TSG, Frobei, Nijafe_Plays,and many more​.

However, unlike Treasure DAO, Illuvium has committed to building its own channel and it is one of the best in the blockchain gaming industry with high quality video and almost 50k subscribers with millions of views.

Finally, SuperVerse DAO is leveraging their ecosystem game Imposters to support content generation and project marketing.

New upstart content creators are offered the chance to attend regular workshops, get invaluable feedback and support throughout their creator journey.

This initiative is led by none other than our very own Neo Tokyo overlord EllioTrades.

A significant part of this strategy is the User Generated Content (UGC) Sandbox, where creators can build and monetize original game modes, further enriching the Impostors metaverse while allowing community members to reap the social rewards.

The numbers speak for themselves, with SuperVerse DAO's YouTube channel garnering millions of views and their Twitter account amassing a whopping 237.8K followers​​.

As the crypto market gears up for a resurgence, a wave of new entrants will begin their journey, seeking out communities brimming with passion and potential.

While shoutouts from renowned crypto YouTubers may offer initial exposure, it's the homegrown content creators—those who've lived and breathed the projects they champion—who will keep these audiences engaged.

In this landscape, gaming projects have a unique advantage. They're naturally intertwined with content creation, cultivating spaces where players are inspired to generate fun and engaging content.

This creates a powerful, self-sustaining cycle, where content production drives community growth, which in turn stimulates more content.

These vibrant, creator-led communities are not only attractive to newcomers but provide a steady stream of engagement points, making them an essential strategy for any project looking to rise above the competition in the next bull market.

NGMI Lab members can get detailed reports on a wide range of Eth Layer 2 and crypto gaming projects at: https://ngmilab.com/

With cryptocurrency prices pumping straight up for days now, NFTs took almost no time to readjust their floor prices in terms of their previously held fiat values.

This resulted in lots of bleeding and double digit weekly losses for even the top collections.

This “crypto up, NFTs down” dynamic can be observed quite often, but this time, the prices fell off even further after the initial readjustment. Here is what the top NFTs look like today:

The bulk of the selling pressure seems to be on Yuga, and the only thing that is pumping are those pesky Milady’s. DeGods and 9Gag ecosystem are managing to preserve some of their value by going sideways or slightly up.

There is also still a lot of activity in the BTC portion of the NFT space, with Nullish going parabolic.

For a deeper dive on what the Nullish collections are about and why the ecosystem is pumping so hard, PhoenixxDown has you covered.

Azuki’s Vegas Event

The biggest thing in the NFT space these days seems to be the hype surrounding the Azuki live event in Vegas. It was received with lots of positive sentiment and reinvigorated some of the good vibes in the NFT space.

Following up on one of the most famous web3 moments in history, Zagabond didn't disappoint with another “check your wallets” moment. Here is their official announcement for a new 20k collection.

After the announcement, of course, people started selling. This crashed the floor from 17 all the way down to 15 ETH in just an hour of trading.

Beanz, on the other hand, were all over the place with maximum volatility.

Also, there seem to be loans defaulting on blur.

But overall, Azuki is doing just fine. Let’s take a closer look at another major player in the NFT space, who is not: Yuga.

Yuga FUD: Episode 2

People thought 40 ETH was the bottom and the FUD will subside soon. Well, the FUD did not subside and 40 ETH was not the bottom.

Below is a weekly BAYC chart.

I think his tweet pretty much sums up the whole situation in terms of price action and sentiment:

Why is this happening?

One possible explanation is simple.

The high APY on staking (even some Mutants are making 4-5 figures monthly on $APE, let alone BAYC) has made the price of all the assets ready to decline.

This dynamic is observed across various NFT collections that introduce ERC-20 emissions as rewards, where the value of the NFT becomes tied to the passive yield it generates.

It de-pegs from the value it had before, be it art, access to a community, or a simple status flex. Consequently, people start taking profits on the token emissions they get and leave the rest of the coins locked in staking. Thus, a logical downtrend follows, particularly during bear markets.

There might be more reasons, too. For example, the SEC going after a lot of alt-coins, and holding $APE might not be a smart play right now.

If you want a full breakdown of why I think this is occurring and how it relates to the Otherside metaverse, read my article about the topic from a few months ago where I discuss this a bit more in-depth.

NOTE: This market account is not financial advice. Trading is dangerous. Please trade at your own risk.

Greetings and welcome to #NTBuilds, where we showcase some of the remarkable accomplishments of the Neo Tokyo Citizen project founders and the exciting initiatives emerging from The Citadel.

MintDefense, the popular digital security platform, has introduced a limited-time opportunity for owners of lifetime licenses to mint their licenses as NFTs. Only those who already possess a lifetime license are eligible for this exclusive offer. Users who have migrated their accounts can find detailed instructions in the MintDefense discord. For license holders who have not yet migrated their accounts, the platform provides step-by-step guidance for the migration process. Individuals without a lifetime license can purchase one from the official MintDefense collection on OpenSea.

Naffles’ recent minting of Elevation Passes has set the stage for an eagerly awaited reveal, creating a buzz among enthusiasts. Holders of the Naffles Elevation Pass are in for a treat, with the opportunity to win enticing prizes through exclusive lotteries. Additionally, a referral bonus system, notification access, and pre-sale token allocation await pass holders.

Chronoforge, formerly known as PxQuest, has excited its community by releasing an exclusive gameplay preview for its dedicated holders. The project has forged partnerships with IMX and Epic, and plans are underway for a launch on the prestigious Epic Games store. In addition, Chronoforge is in discussions to secure exclusive content for NT holders, leveraging its reputation as an NT-led project.

Watch the exclusive gameplay preview on Twitch here.

NGMI Lab, the renowned research team specializing in crypto gaming and NFTs, offers an exclusive 50% discount on lifetime memberships to celebrate the launch of Bytes 2.0. Join NGMI Lab as a lifetime member for only $250 USDC and stay ahead in the crypto space.

Fukushima Fish, the renowned gaming company, introduces their latest creation, the Choose Your Own Adventure game titled 'KOISTORI.' Partnering with MiStori, led by @Xenophan, the game has been meticulously developed, leaving Fukushima Fish elated with the outcome. Experience the excitement firsthand by playing the game for free.

Fury AI - NT Citizen Dev Som has partnered with a leading agency to create a platform revolutionizing cold outreach conversion rates. Fury AI generates personalized emails, pitch videos, and landing pages, resulting in a tripled booking rate over 6 months. Now open to more clients, they offer a 7-day free trial. Experience the value of their service for your cold outreach efforts.

MHL Solutions is close to announcing two strategic partnerships with Web3 communities, signaling their growth in the industry. The MHL Solutions Discord Server is upgraded and a referral program is on the horizon. Lastly, the exclusive Bank of Neo Tokyo event offers limited-time deals on in-house services for citizens who have staked their NFTs.

Mustardseed Realms provides exciting updates on their endeavors, including the completion of drafts for Book 5 in their epic fantasy series and the upcoming release of Book 1. Submissions for characters in their web3 storyline receive strong community participation. A podcast with five recorded episodes is set to launch soon. Additionally, MSR hints at two upcoming gaming projects and highlights their integration with the Neo Tokyo community.

Good Game Hunters introduces a new initiative called "Hunt-And-Earn," enabling gamers in their community to earn money by sharing outstanding games. Every other week, a bounty is placed on a nominated game for the "Rising Stars in Blockchain Gaming" list. Full details and the game list can be found on their Twitter page.

If you’re an NT citizen & Project Founder, and you’d like to get an update about your project in our Newsletter, just drop a message in the NT News Division and tag @ZeHI or @BadFuture.

All content from Neo Tokyo News is for entertainment purposes only, and not financial advice.

That’s it for our 4th edition of the Neo Tokyo News-letter. Be sure to subscribe and share with your friends so you don’t miss out on future content.

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