Weekly Digest

August seems to be the month of announcements as Google asserts its Web3 guidelines for gaming in its play store, Amazon partners with Polygon-based game Mojo Melee acquaints itself in Web3, Gala Games switches its assets from Ethereum to GalaChain to save costs for players, Animoca’s, TOWER partners with Gameswift to launch three new games and ASUS gets in on the act with a digital creation contest. Are the biggest brands now waking up to Web3 gaming?

Also in our weekly digest:

• Apple and Google Play stores approve Space Stiker Web3 game

• WAGMI Games onboards Web2 veterans to widen audience reach

• The Sandbox introduces KYC

• Ultra Area allows brands to create tournaments and leagues

• NFT World Cup is back and this time it includes WAX projects

• We discuss how NFT-based games will be the new normal for the gaming industry

Yoda’s next instituional level in-depth research is here. The most comprehensive look at the Gala Games ecosystem and it’s future!

Web3 Gaming News 🎮

• 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 to provide free NFTs for Prime subscribers.

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

• In a move to empower gamers, Gala Games, is also transitioning unsold and reserved NFT game items from Ethereum to GalaChain, reducing gas fees and improving web3 functionality

• 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

• The NFT Gaming Company, Inc. has announced that its first completed game, Space Striker AI, has been approved for publishing by both the Apple App Store and Google Play

• 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

• Life Beyond is launching GameOn, offering players the chance to win a share of the prize pool, the game is free to access and features a Mac client

• Corpse Party, the classic survival horror adventure is to offer digital NFT goods that include exclusive short stories, video tutorials, and student handbooks for characters

• Metalcore, a mech-themed shooter game, combines elements from popular titles like Titanfall and Destiny with NFT integration

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

• Com2uS introduces the Mileage Shop in Summoners War: Chronicles, a marketplace for converting free in-game currency Rahild into Mileage, which can be exchanged for Xlium, the XPLA token

• Fableborne's first "play to mint" event is now open, allowing players to participate in the alpha version and compete for the top fifty spots

• 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.

• 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

• OKX Wallet integrates with Mhaya Game, allowing users to store, manage, and trade their gaming assets making it more accessible and empowering growth of the Mhaya Game community

• Animoca Brands, GameSwift, and TOWER have joined together to develop three exciting new fighting platforms. Crazy Defence Heroes, Crazy Kings, and Co-op Battle are the titles

• Pocket Gamer Connects returns to Helsinki on September 12-13, 2023, with over 150 speakers discussing blockchain gaming, AI, and the metaverse

• Phantom Galaxies has launched a new beta phase called Beta - Cohort 3, featuring PvP combat, Starling in-game currency, and a Gear system for player customization

• Genesis League Sports, a subsidiary of Splinterlands, has launched the open beta for its tactical football simulation game, Genesis League Goals

• The NFT World Cup, organized by Intraverse and Aphelium, will feature 32 superior NFT projects, including WAX projects for the first time

Web3 Gaming Trends 🚀

• Gaming industry evolves with NFTs, transforming virtual assets, play-to-earn, cross-platform, AI-powered, and NFT-based collectibles

• Crucible has introduced the Emergence SDK for Unity game developers, expanding its interoperable gaming capabilities, available on Unity's Asset Store

• 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 💸

• 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 🛸

• The Sandbox, a metaverse platform, has introduced KYC verification for staking processes. Only verified users can deposit SAND and claim rewards

• 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

• NFTxLV, a three-day blockchain conference in Las Vegas, will showcase advancements in blockchain gaming and the Metaverse with over 3500 attendees and 145 exhibitors

• The Sandbox will release 3,000 licensed Elvis Presley NFT avatars to celebrate his legacy in the Ethereum metaverse game. These avatars will be usable in multiplayer mode and unlock upcoming features

• Voxels, an innovative Metaverse platform, will introduce an AR feature for iPhone and Vision Pro users to experience their Metaverse parcels via their mobile devices

Alpha Test, Early Access & Hands-On Gaming ⚒️

Metastrike Battle Pass NFT Sale (August 3-15)

Upcoming Free Gaming Mints ⚒️

Fableborne 
Build Raid Conquer the ladder F2P mobile ARPG x Base-Builder

GOA 
GOA:Battle in ancient Rome with the strategic NFT game featuring unique gladiators -embrace your inner warrior and rise

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-Yoda

See you same place same time next week!

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Yoda Labs team