Nike has taken its first major metaverse steps by creating Nikeland with the digital environment platform Roblox, showcasing the start of a digital-first strategy. Given Gen Zers' preference for digital spaces and communities, Nike is joining them in the metaverse to build new relationships.

Within the gaming industry, innovation is often discussed in the context of new hardware, with players and critics tending to focus on the aesthetic advances afforded by new graphics cards and virtual reality. But how might the introduction of blockchain tech reshape the sector as a whole?

Gamers are used to spending on virtual goods to customise characters and unlock additional content, but how would they feel about IRL brands existing in these environments? As fashion labels seek to capture the next generation of luxe shoppers, how can they engage gamers in an authentic way?

Video games may conjure up imagery of ultra-fantasy but can these play a positive role in mental health? Canvas8 spoke to Joe Donnelly, author of Checkpoint: How Video Games Power Up Minds, Kick Ass, and Save Lives, to understand the benefits of gaming that transcend entertainment.