Xbox's Crypto Crossover? 🙊
Microsoft's 'Oops,' reveals Xbox's crypto-wallet fling and more. Gensler, Crypto, and... Pokemon cards. ICC's big pitch and Meta's AI vision. Mixin says keep $20M, return the rest?
Hello, y'all. What song are you FEELING right now? Oh yes, you can know that. Find out 👉 ImFeeling
What are we listening to?👇🏻
This is The Token Dispatch 🙌 you can hit us on telegram 🤟
So, Microsoft had an 'Oops!' moment, and guess what we've got?
A treasure trove of leaked info on what the future of Xbox holds for us.
Xbox's Crypto Crossover?
Recent leaks suggest Microsoft could be blending the world of gaming with crypto.
Plans for a crypto wallet integration in the next-gen Xbox ecosystem.
Documents tied to the FTC's ongoing case about Microsoft's move to buy developer Activision spill some major beans.
What's the Next-Gen Xbox bringing?
Here's a sneak peek into what the documents hint at.
Crypto Wallets and Gaming: The upcoming Xbox console might let gamers indulge in in-game economies and a special "crypto wallet" feature.
Homemade or Store-Bought? The presentation suggests it would be an "Xbox/Microsoft solution," meaning they might cook it up in-house.
Yet, there's a cliffhanger: Will it be an original creation or a partnership with existing wallet giants like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet?
Time Travel to 2028: Mark your calendar, gamers. The next-gen Xbox is slated for a 2028 release.
But if you're impatient, there's a silver lining. Mid-gen console refreshes for Xbox Series X and Series S are on the horizon for 2024.
A Power Upgrade 💪: Words like "next-gen DirectX ray tracing," "dynamic global illumination," and "machine learning-based super resolution" are floating around.
Microsoft's plans suggest a hybrid model where both local and cloud computing merge for a supercharged gaming experience.
Gaming Galore 🕹️: The game list remains under wraps. But if past trends are anything to go by, iconic franchises like Halo, Forza Motorsport, and newer acquisitions like The Elder Scrolls could make an appearance.
Hardware Hype: Fancy an upgraded Xbox before 2028? You're in luck! "Brooklin" (the revamped Xbox Series X) and "Ellewood" (the updated Xbox Series S) are in the pipeline for 2024.
Microsoft hasn't officially commented on these crypto revelations yet, leaving gamers in suspense. In a twist, confidential Xbox documents related to the FTC case found their way to the public. Not exactly a smooth move, Microsoft.
Phil Spencer of Xbox suggests some evolution in plans since the leaked documents.
Spencer has just emailed Microsoft employees about the leak.
Here's Spencer's memo in full:
Team,
Today, several documents submitted in the court proceedings related to our proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard were unintentionally disclosed. I know this is disappointing, even if many of the documents are well over a year old and our plans have evolved.
I also know we all take the confidentiality of our plans and our partners' information very seriously. This leak obviously is not us living up to that expectation. We will learn from what happened and be better going forward. We all put incredible amounts of passion and energy into our work, and this is never how we want that hard work to be shared with the community. That said, there's so much more to be excited about, and when we're ready, we'll share the real plans with our players.
In closing, I appreciate all of the work that you pour into Team Xbox to surprise and delight our players. In the days and weeks ahead, let's stay focused on what we can control: continuing the amazing success of Starfield, the upcoming launch of the incredible and accessible Forza Motorsport, and continuing to build games, services and devices that millions of players can enjoy.
Phil
Here's a twist in our tale: these grand plans were discussed just a week before the massive crypto market crash triggered by Terra's collapse in May 2022. Given that the crypto scene's been on a rollercoaster since, with giants like Bitcoin and Ethereum lounging way below their 2021 peaks, it's anyone's guess if the tumultuous market has made Microsoft rethink their game plan.
Even if the crypto plans are a tad hazy, Xbox isn't resting on its laurels.
They recently unveiled Xbox-themed Mastercard credit cards. Gamers get points for purchases, exchangeable for games or other juicy rewards.
TTD Gensler 😐
Crypto, politics, and... Pokemon cards?
Gensler was talking about them all in the the SEC grill fest.
Gary Gensler, the SEC Chair, found himself under the microscope on Capitol Hill for nearly five hours! Members of the House Financial Services Committee, spanning both party lines, bombarded Gensler with questions ranging from crypto classifications to the SEC's big plans.
Rep. Tom Emmer didn't mince words, suggesting Gensler was on a power trip, "crushing opportunities for everyday Americans."
He even went as far as to imply that Gensler was damaging the financial future of the country and crushing market competition.
Crypto: Compliant or Not?
Straight from the get-go, Gensler tackled the digital assets beast, stressing his consistent point: Crypto companies are capable of registering compliantly, they simply don’t want to.
For him, crypto markets and investors deserve the same legal protection as any other securities. Gensler has got it all in there.
“There is nothing about the crypto asset securities markets that suggests that investors and issuers are less deserving of the protections of our securities laws … Congress could have said in 1933 or in 1934 that the securities laws applied only to stocks and bonds. Yet Congress included a long list of 30-plus items in the definition of a security, including the term ‘investment contract.’”
The Pokemon Card
Gary Gensler acknowledged that a Pokémon card, in the traditional sense, is not a security under U.S. law. However, when posed with the question of a tokenised Pokémon card being considered a security, Gensler remained non-committal, saying, “I’d have to know more.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres mentioned, “Chair Gensler’s answers to my questions were as incoherent as his overall approach to regulating crypto."
Torres stressed that tokenising a Pokémon card or moving it onto the blockchain shouldn’t change its status. He insinuated Gensler might have a bias against blockchain technology, despite claiming to be 'technology-neutral'.
Bitcoin ETF Enigma: Amidst a courtroom drama around spot bitcoin ETFs, Gensler played his cards close to his chest. A recent legal verdict nudged the SEC to reconsider its stance on the ETFs, but Gensler only teased that the matter is "still an active consideration." The crypto community's big question on the SEC's next move on this front remains unanswered.
TTD HelloWeb3 👋🏻
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is stepping up its game in the Web3 domain. In partnership with Near Foundation, the ICC will unveil a blockchain-driven Web3 fan engagement app for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
And what's the occasion? The grand spectacle that is the 2023 Cricket World Cup was held in India.
The Strategy Session 🏆
Pre-match Strategy: Ahead of the much-awaited ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India commencing on October 5, fans will be immersed in a unique strategy exercise.
Test Your Cricket IQ: Enabled by NEAR's B.O.S., the challenge will position fans against one another, allowing them to showcase their cricket acumen. Fans will make key decisions to optimise their teams' batting, bowling, and fielding combinations.
Real-life Influence: As the on-ground matches unfold, each cricket team's performance will directly impact their fans' rankings.
Leaderboards & Rewards: Fans' expertise and strategy will be tracked on leaderboards. The weekly top-performers can anticipate exciting rewards ranging from match tickets and exclusive Men’s CWC merchandise to special events that bring fans closer to the cricketing pulse.
Technological Might of B.O.S. 🌐
Reliability: By choosing NEAR's B.O.S., the ICC will leverage one of the world's most scalable, community-centric, and secure blockchains.
Connecting Fans Worldwide: The ICC aims to create experiences that bind the vast cricket fandom globally, enhancing interactions between fans, iconic ICC events, and their cherished teams and cricketers.
The Long Innings 🤝
Beyond 2023: The collaboration doesn't end with the 2023 World Cup. Both entities will delve deeper into crafting long-term Web3 applications that reward fan loyalty. The bigger the fan's engagement, the more they'll be pampered with unparalleled access to the cricket world.
A Fan Passport: With B.O.S.' comprehensive Web3 features and seamless onboarding process, ICC envisions the creation of a fan passport. This digital passport will serve as a repository where fans can safely chronicle their interactions and cherished moments across various platforms, both offline and online.
Where’s ETF?🚨
According to Bloomberg analysts, Ethereum futures ETFs could begin trading in the United States as early as next week👇🏻
TTD Meta ♾️
In their recent Meta Connect conference, the Meta bigwigs made it clear that AI isn’t just an afterthought; it’s front and centre in their metaverse dreams.
CTO Andrew Bosworth even declared …
“AI is shaping the way we build the metaverse.”
Meet MetaAI
MetaAI promises to be a multifaceted personal assistant, responding through voice, text, and gestures.. The game-changer? Pair it with Meta’s brand-new smart glasses crafted with Ray-Ban (going for $299). You can casually ask MetaAI about that mysterious building you’re staring at, or tell it to snap a picture of your dog doing something adorable.
Expanding Image Capabilities: Meta is broadening its approach to image interaction. The 'Restyle' feature facilitates text-driven image editing, while 'Backdrop' provides intricate photo manipulation capabilities. Powering these features is 'Emu', an AI model designed to generate images swiftly, enhancing the immersive experience within the metaverse.
Safety First, Always: Meta’s introducing a “red team” for LLaMA-2, ensuring its open-source AI language model doesn’t go off the rails.
Interact with AI Characters: Meta is set to release 28 AI characters. Some of these are modelled after notable figures such as Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady, and Naomi Osaka, offering users an interactive experience with virtual representations of these personalities.
Tools for Developers: In a significant move for developers, Meta, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), is simplifying access to its AI offerings. Alongside this, the newly launched AI Studio will serve as a comprehensive toolkit for developers, promoting AI innovation across various sectors.
Meta Quest 3
The Quest 3 is Meta's latest standalone headset, succeeding the Quest, Quest 2, and the upscale Quest Pro. It seamlessly blends designs from both the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro. Its main draw? A media-consuming device designed for games, apps, and streaming, priced somewhat like a gaming console. Yet, it's loaded with the mixed-reality capabilities of the Quest Pro without breaking the bank.
Mark your calendars for October 10. It's launching in two storage variants: 128GB and 512GB. Remember, it's a standalone device, so choose wisely based on your storage needs.
The 128GB model is tagged at $500, and if you're eyeing the 512GB one, it's $650. Compare that to the Quest 2 starting at $300, and you've got options to suit your budget and feature preferences.
TTD Hack 🦹🏻
Mixin Network, recently targeted in a $200 million hack, is extending an olive branch to the perpetrators. The blockchain protocol has offered a whopping 10% (that's $20 million) as a bug bounty to the hacker(s) involved.
What's the Damage? After a nail-biting silence since the hack, Mixin Network tweeted that the damage isn't as devastating as previously estimated. However, the exact figures remain under wraps.
Not only is Mixin Network communicating through regular channels, but they're also using blockchain messages to negotiate with the hacker. They’re proposing that the hacker keeps $20 million as a reward and returns the rest.
One user appealed to the hacker’s humanity, expressing that the loss could be life-shattering for them.
"Sir, I know you are a good person. I have 83.8 ETHs in it, and now I have nothing left. That's all my money, which is all my savings for the past ten years. If it disappears, I may die. I hope you can consider giving it back to me. I still have children and elderly people to support. Thank you and God bless you with a safe life."
FBI Involvement? Maybe… An Ethereum Naming Service (ENS) address, seemingly representing the FBI, reached out, urging the hacker to negotiate the funds’ return. However, the authenticity of this address couldn't be confirmed.
TTD Surfer 🏄
Do Kwon has requested a federal court to reject the SEC's request to question him in the U.S. regarding the collapse of the Terra ecosystem.
Former NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova has joined Bitcoin financial services company Swan as its vice president of business development.
Sam Bankman-Fried has been granted permission by a federal judge to use an "air-gapped" laptop during his trial next month.
If you like us, if you don't like us .. either ways do tell us✌️
If you dig what we do, show us love on Twitter, Instagram & Threads🤞
So long. OKAY? ✋