Shiba Inu’s lead developer Shytoshi Kusama reflects on 2022 as ‘The Year of Learning.’ Stating on the Shibarium blog that he focused on making Shibarium affordably distinct, Kusama made a “call for an end to the Breeds.” Meant to “help create a structure in an otherwise structureless, decentralized group of volunteers,” Breeds is now named “The Real Team.”

Kusama states, the then core team ‘Shiba Eternity’ hired Playside Studios “to produce a decentralized Shiba game for Shiboshis.” With its cost reportedly running into “seven figures,” Kusama states the “#1 mobile game in both app stores” fell short in “recouping its initial investment at the launch.”

But with a “robust IP, powerful card deck, and fun gameplay,” the blockchain release is anticipated to bring “low-cost improvements” like tournaments and new levels. Shiba, a decentralized community, per Kusama, still needs to create “business entities” to communicate with “outside companies.” Enter “Welly.”

Welly, says Kusama, achieved the following goals:

• We solved problems in real time and found out how to tackle multiple new challenges.
• How can Shibarium be worked into IRL projects as more than just another bonus points app provider?
• How can multiple teams work together to achieve success?
• What are the most important aspects when working with Shibarium as it pertains to security, supply, and blockchain? Is it the cost? The speed? The name?

Giving a new focus to IRL for Shibarium, Welly looks to remodel its “first location, the acquisition and design for the second, and franchise opportunities.” Kusama brings IRL and decentralization to the fashion world with Shiba Fashion.

With the John Richmond team, the Welly Team brought

a big fashion show, NFT drop, signed supermodels.

With the “40 Shib pieces designed, manufactured, and finalized,” at completion, Kusama says, “the market pulled the rug out from under us.”

This again called for Kusama to add personal funds for the project, with a “new strategy to ensure John Richmond’s efforts and involvement wasn’t for nothing.” MV’s Marcie and John Richmond’s Mina worked to

renegotiate the contract to help ensure every Avatar in the MV will wear John Richmond x Shiba gear!

Recouping the huge loss with this arrangement, Kusama looks forward to signing the “new agreement in upcoming days to weeks.” Kusama has reportedly found “affordable and faster tailors,” whereas a “new distribution strategy, and a new pricing” is in the works “to lower bespoke design costs savings.”

With the ‘SHIB.io: The Metaverse’ bracing for the SXSW 2023, ShibaSwag may well be up for grabs, says Kusama.