Weekly Digest

Big-name players Epic, Lego, Ubisoft, and Apple are all making headlines proving that Web3 gaming is a sector that is continually moving forward. Add the ERC-6551 standard-the dream of frictionless onboarding and in-gaming assets management could be solved. Are you as bullish as we are on Web3 gaming?

Also in our weekly digest:

• Axie Infinity: Origins secures its place on iOS

• A new metaverse is on its way with Leo and Wpic teaming up

• Assassins Creed fans are entering Web3 via Smart Collectibles

• Gaming companies struggling due to unclear regulations

• Is it time for global recognition of digital assets - Sandbox Co-Founder thinks the time is now

The most in-depth research on the future of E-sports, Web3 gaming and crypto by Yoda Labs

Co-authored by BGA & DappRadar

Web3 Gaming News 🎮

• Axie Infinity: Origins made its debut on Apple's app store, previously available on 'google' play store & on 'PC' this is a significant milestone for the game and Web3 gaming going mainstream.

• Epic Games and LEGO Group collaborate to create a safe, engaging, and family-friendly Metaverse, prioritizing safety and enjoyment for all ages.

• Unioverse' by Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty developers on Polygon is progressing nicely it will allow anyone to download the Unioverse assets and tell their own stories based on the parent lore

• Gala Games' Mirandus MMORPG blends Minecraft, WOW, and Animal Crossing to offer a medieval fantasy experience with farming, crafting, and high-risk hunts.

• Superior introduces a two-week playtest, integrating NFTs and web3 gaming for players to earn rewards while playing.

• Walken unveils "The Cuze," a game ecosystem merging Web3 technology, play-to-earn mechanics, and diverse games to attract Web2 players to Web3 effortlessly.

• Polo & Pan and Immortal Game collaborate to create limited edition NFT chess pieces that blend art and gaming.

• Blights Wrath by Equilibrium Games' launches open beta, combining Dark Souls-RPG-inspired gameplay on the XRP blockchain.

• Tamadoge launches a new website that encourages players to interact, compete on leaderboards, and earn incentives through their play-to-earn mechanic.

• Line Next introduces Game Dosi, a Web3 gaming platform, and reveals five upcoming NFT-based games for release in the second half of 2023

• Mecha Fight Club NFT game halts its developments due to US regulatory uncertainty, highlighting the urgent need for clear crypto regulations

Lack of clarity is making it difficult for Web3 companies to operate in USA

Numerous US crypto companies are contemplating expanding as the United States government struggles to regulate the industry. Some of the brightest young entrepreneurs have relocated to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions, such as the Cayman Islands, Singapore, Portugal, and Dubai, as a result of the US’s lack of regulatory clarity.

Mecha Fight Club is not alone in regulatory issues. Chief Executive Officer John Linde of California-based game studio Mythical Games has stated that due regulatory uncertainties in the U.S. around digital assets have also prompted the the comany into taking conservative approach to the use of cryptocurrencies and related services in its games.

Due to regulatory uncertainties, many blockchain and crypto startups are struggling in the US. Initially affecting DeFI and Web3 platforms, uncertainty has affected Web3 gaming. To escape regulations, some enterprises have moved abroad. Such lack of clairty will no doubt slow innovation within the space.

• Spielworks launches Wombat X Accelerator, a blockchain startup that aims to revive Web3 gaming development and increase its reach.

• Fableborne closed playtest will focus on player progression, taking place from May 18-21 players can beta test the game's newest version and all of the newly added features.

• Mini-Royale introduces a create-and-earn system that lets users design custom skins and sell them in-game, revolutionizing modding and user-generated content monetization.

• Plushie Guardians sells exclusive NFTs for its GameFi model, giving players and investors a chance to participate in a sustainable long-term economy in the expansive universe.

• Illuvium’s much-anticipated Illuvium: Overworld Private Beta 2 is set for deployment and anticipation is extremely high.

• Axie Origins Season 4 introduces new features and improvements with a unique player experience, starter Axie upgrades, quicker progression, and improved gameplay features.

• CROOZ launches PROJECT XENO, a celebrity collaboration NFT game featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. on smartphones and PCs globally.

• Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA) launches "Impact NFT" on PlayMining GameFi, allowing gamers to donate a portion of their crypto earnings to charities or the needy.

• Affyn launches Buddy Arena, a web3 mobile game that uses Nexus World buddy NFTs and web3, blockchain, and NFT technologies to create a unique gaming experience.

Web3 Gaming Trends 🚀

• Sui and Aptos, are emerging blockchains in Web3 gaming whilst Solana, Hive and Celo are losing transaction, indicating emerging blockchains designed specifically to target gaming industry wll become more prevelant.

• Ubisoft and Integral Reality Labs launch Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles, combining NFTs and physical collectibles in a groundbreaking blockchain and gaming collaboration

Web2 Gaming Companies are entering Web3 by driving innovation

Web3 gaming giant Ubisoft, partners with Integral Reality Labs to introduce a new concept called Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles. These innovative assets are essentially NFT access passes created on Polygon. They are not just digital tokens, but are also tied to physical collectibles inspired by the popular Assassin's Creed action franchise.

The collectibles have an embedded NFC chip. When tapped with a smartphone, owners can view a digital version of their character within a companion app - allowing users to interact with their collectibles in a more immersive way whilst also providing a way to verify the authenticity of the physical item.

In addition, the Smart Collectibles also offers a number of other benefits. For example, owners will be able to access exclusive content and events, and they will also be able to earn rewards for participating in gameplay activities. This makes them a valuable asset for collectors, gamers, and Ubisoft.

The launch of Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles is a significant step forward for the gaming industry as a whole. It is one of the first major projects to use NFTs to create a truly unique and immersive gaming experience. It is likely that other gaming companies will follow suit, and we can expect to see more and more NFT-based games and smart collectibles in the future.

• Console giants provide hope for Web3 gaming, but sustainable tokenomics is crucial, warns Animoca Ventures lead.

• Gaming dominates 38% of April's crypto transactions despite fewer active wallets, driven by meme tokens and the emergence of the Sui network.

• NFTs are changing the gaming industry; they give players true ownership of in-game assets, encourage player-driven economies, and allow games to work together.

Web3 Funding News 💸

• Red Beard Ventures raises $25M in a funding round" led by Animoca Brands and SuperRare to support blockchain gaming and DeFi projects and launch a tokenomics accelerator.

• Launchpad XYZ's presale raised $450,000, indicating strong interest in its all-in-one web3 trading, DeFi, P2E gaming, and Metaverse platform.

• Taiwan-based Comma3 Ventures raises $20M in a $45M fundraising round to support early-stage blockchain infrastructure and Web3 startups.

Exploring the Metaverse 🛸

• Undeads Metaverse Introduces Dynamic NFTs and Play-to-Earn Mechanics in Post-Apocalyptic MMORPG Game.

• Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood collaborates with OKX to launch an exhibition in the OKX Collective metaverse featuring three of her original NFT trainers.

• Relics and Steve Aoki created the Idol III, an NFT-based Metaverse jukebox that offers a virtual music experience and new channels for artists to reach audiences.

• Mitoworld and NFT Malaysia create a fan-made Metaverse for a virtual Star Wars celebration with special in-game features and a Holocron quest.

• Shiba Inu (SHIB) Metaverse to Unveil Four New Hubs, Including Wagmi Temple and Rocket Pond, by September, Offering PC, Mobile, and VR Access.

• Apple's much-anticipated mixed-reality headset is expected to give the Metaverse industry a boost.

• ALTAVA Group partners with PERPLAY to create an exclusive NFT collection, offering new ways for users to engage with the luxury Metaverse through the Game-and-Earn platform.

• Sandbox co-founder advocates for global recognition of digital assets as 'proper property' due to the rise of 'digital natives' and their significant investments in crypto and NFTs.

• METAV.RS, the Web3 platform combining gaming, social media, and online shopping, was the finalist for the 2023 LVMH Innovation Award, proving its commitment to changing luxury shopping.

• "The Voice" opens permanent residence in Decentraland, creating a Metaverse fan zone where fans can play music-themed games, meet the stars, and buy exclusive merchandise.

• Kinetix launches Emote Infrastructure, a vast library of cloud-based emotes for Unity games to boost user engagement and revenue.

• DatChat Inc. introduces Habytat, a mobile metaverse platform providing free NFT house properties, aiming to make the metaverse accessible to all.

• Epic Games teams up with CLO Virtual Fashion to boost digital fashion in the metaverse, expanding Unreal Engine's application beyond gaming.

• Unstoppable Domains joins OMA3, forming a partnership to standardize land domain trading and enhance digital identity in the decentralized metaverse.

Upcoming Free Gaming Mints ⚒️

TamaFoxie
Nostalgia returns to Ethereum! Join the FoxieList for 1 Free TamaFoxie NFT and a $FOXIE airdrop! All interactions will be considered for FoxieList

Knights Of The Ether
The 1st Web3 deck-building roguelike. Fight through generated maps and upgrade gear to climb the leaderboard.

Starkfighter
Team is thrilled to announce that Starkfighter, the mini-game where players can compete for over $12,000 in prizes, will be releasing three exclusive NFTs!
All participants can mint a Bronze NFT, even with a score of 0s.
If your score is above 50 and below 100, you can mint Silver and Bronze NFTs.
If your score is above 100, you can mint Gold, Silver, and Bronze NFTs.

Destructible Droids & NanoRachnids
The team is giving away a free mint from both their Destructible Droids Static 3D Game-Ready NFT collection and their NanoRachnids Dynamic 3D Game-Ready NFT collection to all lucky winners.

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

^{"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will”}
-Yoda

See you same place same time next week!

❤❤❤

Yoda Labs team