The classic social web game Habbo, which ventured into NFTs in 2021, two decades after its launch as a more visually engaging take on chat rooms, faced a mixed response from its fanbase, similar to Neopets. However, unlike Neopets, Habbo is not parting ways with its NFTs. Instead, it has decided to change the terminology used to describe them.
Habbo recently announced its shift in terminology, replacing the previous "Habbo NFT" terminology with "Habbo Collectibles." In a statement, Habbo explained that it aims to distance itself from the complex jargon associated with the blockchain industry.
"To enhance the understanding of Habbo Collectibles for both current and potential players – which primarily involve collecting and trading items within Habbo – we will reduce the use of terms like 'NFT,' 'Web3,' 'blockchain,' and others in our marketing and communications."
Habbo's decision mirrors the trend seen in various brands and companies that are rebranding NFT assets as "digital collectibles." For instance, Reddit refers to its NFTs as "Collectible Avatars" and avoids using NFT terminology in its public messaging.
However, not all changes will happen immediately. Habbo noted that it will keep the branding for its Habbo NFT Twitter account and Discord server intact, at least "for now."
Habbo's NFT avatars were initially created on the Ethereum mainnet, while subsequent collections, such as digital furniture, were minted on the Ethereum scaling network known as Immutable X. Owners of the 11,600 NFT avatars enjoy exclusive access to a specialized server called Habbo X within Habbo Hotel. On the secondary market, prices for these NFTs start at nearly 0.18 ETH (equivalent to $275) on platforms like OpenSea.
