MotoGP™ world champion Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Metaverse company will work with Animoca Brands Corporation Ltd and Gravitaslabs to jointly explore innovative gaming and Web3 activations across metaverse platforms.
VR46 is a group of companies owned by Rossi and created to manage different projects in motorsport, including VR46 Racing Team, founded to support emerging riders; VR46 Riders Academy, an innovative project to provide professional and sport-related support to young Italian riders throughout their career; VR46 Metaverse, a company that develops the VR46 brand in gaming and Web3; and VR46 Racing Apparel, a sport merchandising project inspired by Rossi’s revolutionary vision.
The three companies are exploring a brand new motorsport experience called ValeVerse on Animoca’s The Sandbox.
"Further extend fandom"
“We are thrilled to partner with Animoca Brands and Gravitaslabs to jointly launch this exciting project to further extend the fandom of VR46 Metaverse experiences across other Web3 and metaverse platforms, and we are excited to offer fans new levels of connection and engagement with our world," VR46 Metaverse CEO Jean Claude Ghinozzi said.
Animoca is a Web3 leader that leverages blockchain to deliver digital property rights to consumers around the world to help establish the open metaverse.
It develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including original games such as The Sandbox, PHANTOM GALAXIES™, Life Beyond, and Crazy Defense Heroes, and products utilising popular intellectual properties from the worlds of sports and entertainment, such as The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E.
The latest collaboration is a major milestone in its MotoGP™ partnership.
World champion and motor racing legend Valentino Rossi said: “This partnership will further expand the range of experiences that VR46 Metaverse offers the motorsport community, enhancing the connection with fans all around the world; I really can’t wait to see what we can achieve together with our partners Animoca Brands and Gravitaslabs.”
The Rossi roadmap
The initial roadmap for the collaboration includes the launch of ValeVerse, a ValeVerse Pass that will grant access to digital items such as collectibles, physical benefits and immersive experiences for Valentino Rossi fans.
In ValeVerse, users can engage in quests to earn rewards, complemented by the ValeVerse Pass which offers additional perks such as merchandise raffles, race tickets and an exclusive session with Valentino Rossi. The platform's official collection on The Sandbox will feature various digital assets, from iconic bikes to avatars, for a personalised gaming experience.
Animoca Brands vice president of commercial strategy Will Griffiths said: “I’m very pleased to work with Valentino Rossi, VR46 Metaverse and Gravitaslabs to bring this racing legend to life in the metaverse across multiple activations. There will be many ways we can create wondrous experiences for Valentino to connect with fans all over the world.”
This initiative marks the inaugural phase of a comprehensive strategy spearheaded by VR46 Metaverse, Animoca Brands and Gravitaslabs. They aim to proliferate digital assets and metaverse games in the automotive and motorsports sectors.
The strategy also opens doors for further collaborations within Animoca Brands' extensive ecosystem. Among the upcoming projects are an exclusive collection with renowned artist Mad Dog Jones and the Roblox gaming venture 'Moto Island'.
“Our partnership with Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Metaverse will bring a new level of fan engagement and Web3-oriented experiences to one of the world’s most well-known motorsports legends. There will be nearly endless opportunities for fans of motorsport, Valentino and VR46's other riders, to be more connected and even be rewarded by their engagement in Web3, and we’re incredibly excited to start this collaboration,” Gravitaslabs CEO Chris Lewis said:
For more details on ValeVerse and its future plans, visit the official website at www.vr46metaverse.com/valeverse.