Samsung has launched its new Galaxy S22 premium smartphone line in the Decentraland metaverse via its virtual Samsung 837X space. Although the event met with some technical difficulties, some users were pleased with the development.
The “Samsung Unpacked 2022: The Epic Standard of Smartphone Experiences” event drew over 100,000 people in the first 11 hours after it went live on February 9 at 1:37 p.m. UTC, making it one of Decentraland’s most popular locations to date.
On a screen in the Samsung 837X space’s “Connectivity Theatre,” the South Korean multinational electronics manufacturer displayed the new Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Fans who aren’t interested in the metaverse might watch the stream on Samsung’s YouTube account and other social media sites.
By clicking on a symbol that took them to Samsung’s website, they could theoretically preorder the new devices. However, the feature was beset by technical glitches, with many users venting their frustrations on Samsung’s Twitter account.
“Did the site go down? I can’t even put my item in the cart,” one user wondered. Another person responded, stating that they had experienced the same thing. They went on to say that “scalpers and robots” appear to be attempting to “steal the show.”
Others, meanwhile, expressed dissatisfaction with their inability to receive the NFT badge for completing the event’s “Turning Red Hearts Green” treasure hunt game. The “hunt” will last five days, ending on February 14.
A hologram greets customers as they enter the Samsung 837X space, instructing them to find and gather five discarded cardboard boxes in order to earn a present. The gift turns out to be a seed to plant in Samsung’s virtual forest, emphasizing the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Users are meant to earn a heart badge in exchange for planting the seed. They must return on Valentine’s Day (to show their love for the forest) to exchange the badge for an “exclusive new wearable” in order to obtain a genuine present.
Despite the technological difficulties, users appear to be satisfied with Samsung’s environmental commitment and readiness to adopt emerging technology. “CheddarQueen,” a user who attended the event, informed Cointelegraph that they liked the “sustainable element” of it.
“Many people say the Metaverse disconnects us from the natural world but this challenge proves just the opposite.”
Some mainstream media outlets that covered the event, on the other hand, were not impressed. It was an “example of what not to do when using the Metaverse to host a product launch,” according to Cnet.
“This could have been a lot of fun, but instead felt rushed and incomplete. It was a halfhearted attempt in a long line of cultural zeitgeist moments from Samsung.”
The Samsung 837X location on Decentraland debuted on January 6 as a virtual copy of the company’s physical storefront at 837 Washington Street in New York City.
In the same month, Samsung announced a partnership with Veritree, a blockchain technology firm, to plant 2 million mangrove trees in Madagascar over the following three months.
