Yoda Labs Monthly Recap

As August draws to a close, we've been awash in an array of astonishing advancements. Amazon partnered with Oasys for an ambitious hackathon and collaborated with Polygon's Mojo Melee to offer NFTs to avid Prime subscribers. Meanwhile, Gala Games joined forces with Elixir whilst Immutable and Polygon began public testing of their ZKEVM. Not to be overshadowed, Ultra Arena launched its own blockchain, while the Ronin chain made significant advancements. One of the most anticipated events of the year, Gamescom 2023, covered by Yoda. And with the advent of Social sign-on for Web3, it's apparent that this month has been overwhelmingly bullish. Who said there is a bear market?

Also in our monthly round-up:

• Blockchain Gaming Alliance is building the new version of their industry survey and everyone should participate for a more studied industry

• EA Sports is free from FIFA and plays with the idea of digital assets

• Gamescom 2023 was a huge success and the Saga Multiverse Summit was dedicated to Web3 gaming

• Sony is inching toward Web3 gaming adoptions as it files patent

• Blockchain is important as we enter the fourth generation of mobile RPGs

• Web 3 assets are banned on Steam but developers are finding ways

• WAGMI Games onboards Web2 veterans to widen audience reach

• Playventures raises $78M for its third gaming VC fund

The most comprehensive look at the Gala Games ecosystem and it’s future! Next research article soon 👀 

Web3 Gaming News 🎮

• EA Sports FC has restructured its relationship with FIFA, allowing it to explore new territories and potentially incorporate Web3 tech into its gaming experience

• Blockchain Gaming Alliance is collecting inputs for the 2023 version of the best Web3 gaming industry survey

• Sky Mavis has launched Wild Forest, its first RTS game on the Ronin blockchain, from mobile developer Zillion Whales

• DeFi Kingdoms has introduced the "Mad Boar Challenge," a hunting quest for players to defeat the Mad Boar, in-game items and are XP up for grabs

• Cradles, available on Steam, is a time-traveling MMO is set to launch an open beta phase on September 10th and will let players decide which NFTs are worth trading

• NFL Rivals launches its new kickoff season with an in-app NFT marketplace, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade in-game assets without leaving the game environment

• Battle Showdown by Ethlas, has partnered with BNB Chain to celebrate its 3-year milestone to highlight the shared goal of shaping Web3 interoperability and infrastructure for the future of gaming

• Cosmic Hunt has arrived in the Mocaverse allowing Moca holders to use their experience points to purchase tools and search for prizes, batteries, special rewards, clues, and relics are up for grabs

• PokerGO Play, a platform renowned for its poker-related content, has recently announced its early access phase, along with exclusive discounts for eager participants

• MetalCore is accepting pre-registrations for its open beta, set to launch later this year, players can claim a free in-game vehicle once the beta starts

• Pouyan Rouhi, an investor in digital assets, is launching "Crazy Frens," an innovative NFT project that uses artificial intelligence and a mobile game to redefine the NFT landscape

GamesCom 2023 🕹️

• Immutable displayed its expertise at Gamescom 2023 by showcasing layer-2 scalability solutions and eco-friendly blockchain technologies

• Saga, a Web3 scalability protocol, announced its latest innovations, including Pegasus, a new protocol that allows developers to launch decentralized chains called "chainlets" on its platform

• Shardbound, a next-generation strategy game with collectibles, was presented at Gamescom. The Alpha test version will go live on September 7, 2023, with a limited number of registered players

• QUDO, a blockchain-based platform, showcased its NFTribes website and upcoming mainnet launch at Gamescom 2023. The company's booth at the BGA zone attracted web3 enthusiasts interested in blockchain technology

• BGA, the Blockchain Game Alliance, has returned from Gamecom 2023, a massive gaming event that attracted over 320,000 visitors from over 100 countries

• Sony has filed a patent for the use of NFTs in the gaming ecosystem, indicating a potential shift in the digital entertainment industry

• Hurley, the iconic action sports brand, has announced the release of its new Super Surfer Game and the Hurleyverse, featuring NFT digital collectibles with surf-ready sloths

• Hunters On-Chain launches Season 0, offering leaderboard positions and rewards, but criticisms include limited rewards for the top 10 players and pay-to-win mode

• nWay unveils Wreck League, a Web3-powered multiplayer fighting game featuring over 1.5 quadrillion unique Mech fighter combinations and is to include 4 Yuga Labs collections

New Level of Creativity Merging the Old and New

Wreck League is a groundbreaking concept that introduces a new level of creativity and personalization to the fighting game genre. Traditional fighting games are typically limited to a predetermined roster of fighters. Wreck League differs by allowing players to create their own Mech fighters from scratch. They do this by collecting Mech Parts, which are NFTs. The mechanics allow a staggering amount of unique combinations to create dream fighters. This creativity and personalization is unprecedented in the fighting genre. It allows players to truly express themselves through their Mech fighters.

Additionally, the game has two versions that appeal to both traditional and Web3 gamers. The Web2 version will be free and accessible to traditional gamers not familiar with Web3. The Web3 version requires cryptocurrency ownership and offers exclusive features like trading Mech NFTs and on-chain prizes. This hybrid model appeals to diverse audiences across the gaming spectrum.

The icing on the cake is the integration of Yuga Labs NFTs. No doubt this will generate excitement in the NFT community and attracts new players. It also adds collectability with rare Yugaverse Mechs, adding a new level of competition.
We could see more builders take this approach, unifying gaming audiences both new and old.

• Sky Mavis, the developer behind Axie Infinity, has unveiled Project T, an early prototype that extends the digital universe of the game

• Playa3ull Games has unveiled "Nexus," a MOBA shooter game that combines strategic gameplay with fast-paced action

• Upland is introducing Totems, living game assets that require nurture and care to grow and produce rewards. The first phase features 11 different Totems, distributed over five chapters, with 5,555 in total

• Gala Games and Elixir Games have partnered to launch popular titles like Town Star and Spider Tanks on Elixir's Web3 distribution platform

• The Walking Dead: Empires is a Gala Games’ blockchain-based survival game set in AMC's "The Walking Dead" universe the game merges NFTs with MMORPG mechanics

• Champions Arena, for mobile and PC is a role-playing game, featuring turn-based combat, strategy, and PvP battles has been launched on the Gala Games platform via the Gala Launcher 

• Nexon's MapleStory Universe has partnered with Chainlink to enhance the authenticity and fairness of game experiences within its expansive virtual realm on the Polygon Supernet

• Zillion Whales has partnered with Ronin Network to release "Wild Forest," a real-time strategy (RTS) mobile game. The game combines fast-paced player vs player battles with NFT-collection elements

• Kaido, a popular webtoon, is now a NFT-powered RPG game on the Immutable platform. The game, inspired by anime, is free to play and draws inspiration from classic sagas

• Tearing Spaces is set to launch phase 2 of its beta, featuring new game modes, expanded leaderboards, and the ability to forge weapons into higher rarities

• Fabwelt Studios and REI Network have partnered to create an innovative gaming experience that transcends imagination and security

• Oasys and Amazon are hosting a Web3 Gaming Hackathon, inviting developers worldwide to showcase their skills in creating innovative game projects

• Google's blockchain content policy prioritizes user safety, transparency, and accurate transaction terms in the gaming industry, ensuring innovation without compromising trust

• Mojo Melee, a polygon-based NFT game, has partnered with Amazon Games to provide free NFTs for Prime subscribers.

• Ultra Arena, a Web3 esports platform, launched on August 8 with its own blockchain network, allowing individuals, brands, and organizations to create tournaments or leagues using UOS tokens

• GameStop is to discontinue cryptocurrency and NFT wallet services by the end of 2023 due to regulatory uncertainty, removing iOS and Chrome Extension wallets on November 1, 2023

• Immutable’s Guild of Guardians is a Web3 RPG, featuring dungeon combat, crafting, and forging mechanics coming to Android & iOS

• WAGMI Games onboards prominent Web2 gaming professionals to leverage their expertise in bringing Web3 experiences to a broader audience

• Mighty Action Heroes battle royale by Mighty Bear Games announces social login which is often regarded as a stumbling block for Web3 games for onboarding Web2 gamers

• Capcom’s Mega Man X Dive is to embrace NFTs for its characters but the company insists they won’t be integrated into the game just yet

• Rumble Kong League calls time on a development partner, as missed deadlines, dev milestones, shortfall in talent force the decision however Brazilian-based game studio Hermit Crab is now on board

• Artist Sam Spratt creates an interactive NFT game inspired by his journey of self-discovery, a powerful and moving experience that offers players a unique opportunity for self-reflection

• Downstream by Playmint is designed to be an autonomous world, meaning that players will be able to create and modify the game world through the use of smart contracts

• AWS and the Fantom Foundation have partnered to launch a developer workshop on creating decentralized fantasy games on the Fantom blockchain

• Bandai Namco partners with Oasys and Attructure to create RYUZO, an AI-powered virtual pet game featuring NFT-based creatures

• The Bornelss an FPS action shooter packed with a variety of gameplay modes in tearing up the charts on STEAM, the Web3 game built on Immutable is being embraced by traditional gamers

• Champion Ascension the high stakes skill-based arena RPG is now available on STEAM further cementing a changing of the tide and embracing of Web3 games

• Take-Two Interactive will release Sugartown, the publisher behind Grand Theft Auto gaming franchise will release its first Web3 game on Ethereum, Oras will be available for minting later this year

• The Epic Games vs. Apple legal battle raises questions about the future of NFTs and Web3 gaming, Apple's App Store control limits will continue to prevent links to external payment systems or marketplaces

• Star Atlas takes Web3 gaming to the stars with SAGE Labs, the Web3 space economy simulation game is now playable via the browser unlocking the open-world

• Immutable launches the public testing phase of its ZK-Ethereum Virtual Machine in collaboration with Polygon Labs to secure transfers, ensuring a robust and secure gaming environment.

Immutable X Boosts Web3 Gaming With zkEVM Testnet

As a leading layer-2 scaling solution for Web3 games, Immutable X launched a testnet for its zkEVM technology to further boost innovation in blockchain gaming. zkEVM allows Ethereum transactions to be processed off-chain while retaining Ethereum’s security guarantees.

The zkEVM testnet provides a significant advantage for web3 games built on Immutable X. It enables gas-free and highly scalable gaming experiences by handling transactions off the main Ethereum network. This is a major benefit for gamers who faced high fees previously.

For game developers, the zkEVM testnet provides an easy on-ramp to build world-class web3 games without the complexity of working directly with Ethereum. Immutable X makes minting NFT assets and integrating blockchain features like digital ownership seamless.

Immutable X already powers popular web3 games like Illuvium, Embersword and Guild of Guardians with more partnerships in the pipeline. The zkEVM testnet will further cement Immutable’s position as the leading platform for the next generation of blockchain gaming.

By tackling scalability and cost issues through innovations like zkEVM, Immutable X is delivering on the promise of true digital asset ownership, creative freedom and play-to-earn economics for gamers and game builders alike. The zkEVM testnet launch proves Immutable X is focused on supercharging mainstream adoption of web3 gaming.

Web3 Gaming Trends 🚀

• AI-driven Web3 games are transforming the gaming industry by offering a richer, more dynamic experience, combining AI's data processing capabilities with decentralized blockchain technology

• Asia has the potential to become a global hub for Web3 games and blockchain, with 55% of the world's blockchain gamers residing in Asia

• Supra introduces HyperNova, a bridgeless technology for cross-chain communication via L1 consensus, enabling interoperability between blockchains and facilitating cross-chain gaming

• The fourth generation of mobile RPGs is emerging, with 3D interactive battles, RPG world as an interface, and PvE monetization, blockchain can enhance this trend by enabling player-owned assets, transparency, and cross-platform play

Blockchain Tech To Improve 4th gen RPGs

The mobile gaming industry is continuously evolving, with RPGs consistently at the forefront. Historically, three distinct eras of mobile RPGs have emerged, each distinguished by unique attributes. As we stand on the cusp of the fourth generation, the defining characteristics are becoming clear: 3D interactive battles where every move counts, the game world itself acting as the primary interface, and a pivotal shift in monetization from player-versus-player to player-versus-environment.

At the forefront of this transformation is Azra Games, an innovative mobile game studio. Their upcoming title, Project Legends, embodies these new-age features, promising an immersive experience. Azra Game CEO Mark Otero recognizes the power that blockchain will play and confirms blockchain technology can improve fourth-generation RPGs (like it did previous generations) by allowing player-owned assets to be used carefully and meaningfully in specific areas.

With these advancements, Azra Games, along with many industry insiders, anticipate that the fourth generation will usher in a renaissance for mobile RPGs, positioning it as the most impactful era yet.

• Dimensional's CEO explores the integration of crypto and video gaming, predicting that this could lead to new opportunities in in-game economies

• Blockchain-based games with cryptocurrency or NFT elements are banned on STEAM, despite the ban, developers are finding ways to launch these games on the platform

• The Sandbox launches its mobile interface, a significant step in making metaverse experiences more accessible to a wider audience

• Ethereum-France President suggests that blockchain games need account abstraction to improve usability as they struggle to compete with Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft

• Sky Mavis, creator of Axie Infinity, has launched Mavis Hub: Greenlight as part of their builders' program. The platform supports new game developers by sharing early builds

The Importance of SDKs and Supporting Builders for a Better Product

SDKs are vital tools that allow developers to efficiently build applications on specific platforms. By providing pre-built components, access to platform capabilities, standard interfaces for consistency, and extensive support, SDKs enable developers to focus on creating great user experiences.

Sky Mavis recognizes the immense value of SDKs for building games on its NFT gaming platform. The company launched the Axie Infinity SDK to provide developers access to key platform features like blockchain integration and NFT functionality. Sky Mavis also introduced Mavis Hub, an initiative to support developers joining the Axie ecosystem. Mavis Hub offers funding opportunities, promotes games through community engagement features like a voting system, and provides the Axie SDK to accelerate development.

The Axie SDK handles blockchain complexities behind the scenes so developers can concentrate on game logic and UX. Following standard interfaces and best practices, it ensures consistency across the Axie gaming universe. Extensive documentation, sample code, and tutorials help developers quickly leverage the platform.

For new game developers, Mavis Hub and the Axie SDK provide the ideal gateway to build innovative NFT games on Sky Mavis’ established platform. Creators can tap into the vibrant Axie community and focus their efforts on crafting amazing play-to-earn experiences. By providing robust tools and support,. This enables developers to focus on their creative visions rather than technical complexities. This will lead to more fun, engaging games that capture the possibilities of blockchain technology.
We see this trend continuing as other ecosystems open up and support their creative economy of builders.

Web3 Funding News 💸

• Play Ventures has raised $78 million for its third gaming venture capital fund. The Singapore-based company has invested in over 100 gaming studios and early-stage companies

• Monsterra NFT Game celebrates 1st anniversary, showcasing significant growth and exciting future plans, raising $2.5M from investors, a thriving community, and 100M matches completed

• FC Barcelona has raised $132 million through its Web3 studio initiatives, showcasing the growing interest in sports, entertainment, and blockchain technology

• Illuminati Capital, a Dubai-based venture capital firm, has launched a new $50 million fund to invest in Web3 games and NFT infrastructure

• Blockchain gaming saw a $297 million surge in funding in July, driven by strategic collaborations and announcements. The sector currently has 712,611 unique active wallets

• Jump Crypto, a leading blockchain and crypto investment firm, has led a $13 million seed round for ZTXS, a metaverse platform

• Mahjong Meta raised $12M, a Web3 gaming platform on Ethereum, offering innovative gameplay, a vibrant community, live matches, expert commentary, and educational resources for Mahjong enthusiasts

Exploring the Metaverse 🛸

• French artist and DJ Agoria has introduced his innovative NFT avatar collection, The Sandbox Metaverse, which combines art, science, and diversity

• Sony has filed a patent for a VR headset that uses audio cues to detect and recreate real-world objects in a virtual space

• The Sandbox will introduce the Agorians the first Web3 avatar collection with automatic appearance transformation, it will change every six hours to match the real-time of day -the platform also introduced KYC verification for staking processes. Only verified users can deposit SAND and claim rewards

• Chiliz Labs has partnered with Crypto Blockchain Industries to integrate the Chiliz Chain into Football at AlphaVerse, a 3D virtual world dedicated to football

• Affyn, a blockchain-based gaming and metaverse platform, has entered a long-term partnership with the Grand Prix Season Singapore 2023

• BattleDome is integrating with Alien Worlds, players can now use their Trilium NFTs within the BattleDome ecosystem

• UK provides guidance on NFT trademarks in the metaverse, addressing intellectual property rights and potential infringements

• ASUS launches the "Digital Creation Contest" for creatives to showcase their best artworks in the Metaverse, earning prizes and recognition as an NFT

• Japan's WebX conference highlighted its growing embrace of Web3 technologies, with Prime Minister emphasizing its importance and a major metaverse project

Alpha Test, Early Access & Hands-On Gaming ⚒️

Legendary: Heroes Unchained launches public alpha with a playtest, 28th August-5th September

Metahorse Unity public mint on OnePlanet, 1st September

Fableborne Esperkin PFPs mint on Magic Eden, 12th September

Wreck League box open and game launch, 14th September

Upcoming Free Gaming Mints ⚒️

Cursed Stone August 22nd - 5th September

Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements!

^{"Pass on what you have learned”}
-Yoda

See you same place same time next week!

❤❤❤

Yoda Labs team