Flipkart launches ‘Flipverse’ Metaverse shopping experience


In partnership with eDAO, a Polygon-incubated organization that designs and launches global art, media, and entertainment IPs at scale into Web3, Flipkart, India’s home-grown e-commerce marketplace today launched Flipverse, a metaverse space where consumers can discover products in a photorealistic virtual destination and shop on the Flipkart App.

FireDrops by Flipkart: Flipverse

Flipverse will give users access to their favourite brands, Supercoins, and digital collectibles in a gamified, dynamic, and immersive digital world. The initiative aims to “reverse” the shopping narrative, bringing consumers closer to their favourite brands in a two-way metaverse. Flipkart’s FireDrops app will offer Flipverse.

  • Flipverse will give several companies a chance to show off their unique products, find new ones, and get people excited. It will also allow brands to develop their own metaverse-ready virtual twins.
  • The digital twin can then try things, win deals, and claim digital collectibles for exclusive experiences.
  • This initial Flipverse will feature sports gear, wearable devices, fashion, home appliances, and cosmetics from a variety of businesses in a virtual theatre.
  • This edition will have ads for Puma, Noise, Nivea, Lavie, Tokyo Talkies, Campus, VIP, Ajmal Perfumes, Himalaya, Butterfly India, and more.

Flipkart and eDAO collaborated on a Big Billion Days digital treasure hunt. After the 10-day celebration, customers received “The Strand” digital collectible, eDAO’s all-access passport to a worldwide pop culture ecosystem that includes art, sport, gaming, entertainment, and more. Polygon, the dominant Web3 infrastructure, hosts the Digital Collectible for low-carbon minting.

Availability

Flipverse’s first phase is an Android-only experience that will be available for a week starting today. The goal is for millions of people to use Flipverse, which will change the way people shop in the future, said the company.

Speaking on the announcement, Naren Ravula, VP and Head, Product Strategy and Deployment, Flipkart Labs, said,

The future growth of e-commerce will be influenced by the immersive technologies of today, and Metaverse is one of the significant revolutions in this arena with immense potential. The launch of Flipverse will continue to have an impact on innovative industries like e-commerce and enhance the customer experience while delivering a gamified and an immersive shopping experience, especially in light of the adoption of the metaverse and web3 platforms by multiple brands in India. By providing customers with access to their preferred brands, offers, SuperCoins, and digital collectibles, we are aiming to improve their shopping experiences in a virtual and immersive setting.

Commenting on the launch, Sandeep Nailwal, Co-Founder of Polygon, said,

While we have only just begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible in the metaverse, we see e-commerce as one of the killer use cases. Combining top brands with Flipkart’s e-commerce expertise in a virtual environment stands to revolutionize online retail as we know it. Flipverse will be a vibrant, visible expression of the metaverse, and I’m proud that this activation is taking place on Polygon.

Speaking on the partnership, Anand Venkateswaran, CEO of eDAO, said,

A metaverse must enable a tangible connection for consumers with brands and creators. It must function as a portal to new experiences and engagement loops. With partners like GuardianLink and Surreal Events, Flipverse does all this in just its first iteration. Flipverse can unlock much value over time, but for Diwali, we simply optimized for delight. Bringing creative and technical heft to Flipkart’s vision is a privilege for eDAO.