Daily Insights: Updates on Crypto, Blockchain, NFTs, Web3, and Play-to-Earn Gaming

Decentraland fashion week, Champions Ascension tournament, NFTs making headlines, and Undead Blocks rolling out Play and Earn features in this week's Web3 gaming news. A lot of play to earn and blockchain gaming activity happened earlier this week. Several games like Undead Blocks, Champions Ascension, Decentraland, and more have come up with their updates. Now you can earn ZBUX by killing zombies, play Champions Ascension without a Web3 wallet, and more. We also saw the winner of Dookey Dash Key NFT making millions by auctioning it off. Moreover, we also have a Web3 metaverse fashion week coming up in Decentralnad. Mirandus also has a playtest open for players to test rolling dice. We also saw some big partnerships where Animoca Brands expands to the MENA region and join hands with Manga Productions and more.

In the ever-evolving landscape of Web3 gaming, developers are on a quest to create decentralized applications (dApps) that not only captivate players but also secure a significant place in the competitive market. Achieving success in this innovative arena requires more than just a groundbreaking idea; it demands a strategic approach to development, community engagement, and market fit. Our series of titles guides aspiring and seasoned game developers through the crucial steps of crafting dApps that resonate with the gaming community. From essential development tips and strategies to insider secrets for building engaging and successful Web3 games, these insights offer a comprehensive roadmap. Whether you're transitioning from gamer to creator, or you're looking to elevate your existing game dApp, our focused titles provide the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the challenges of Web3 gaming, ensuring your project not only launches successfully but thrives in this dynamic ecosystem.

Near Protocol is setting the stage for a revolution in the gaming and blockchain industries with its newly announced Blockchain Operating System (BOS). Launched at the ETHDenver 2023, this innovative platform is designed to significantly enhance the user experience on Web3, offering a seamless, integrated environment for both game developers and gamers. By providing a shared layer for browsing and discovering open web content, Near Protocol's BOS promises to streamline the development process, making it easier and more cost-effective to create games. It supports multiple blockchains, emphasizing interoperability and flexibility. Moreover, Near's focus on humanitarian efforts, notably through the Unchain Fund, showcases its commitment to leveraging technology for social good. With its user-friendly approach, enhanced security, and scalability, Near Protocol aims to bring the vision of one billion people on the open web to life, transforming the digital landscape for developers, gamers, and beyond.

The Funding is for Lowlife Forms, their Debut Blockchain game, and Web3 Game-verse platform VitalXP raises $3M in funds for its debut blockchain NFT game Lowlife Forms, it also plans to utilize funding for its Web3 game-verse platform. VitalXP has raised an extra 3 million dollars in pre-seed financing. The funding came for an action-packed gameverse platform and its debut game, Lowlife Forms. This huge funding, led by Streamlined Ventures and Marbruck Investments, demonstrated how people are still trusting Web3-based games, despite a cryptocurrency crash and challenging circumstances in the blockchain industry. The Round also shows that Web3 games and projects are still getting the funding and attention of investors. Lowlife Forms is set in a gritty yet amusing science-fantasy universe, populated by alien smugglers. The universe has droid bounty hunters, mercenaries, scam artists, and psychotic crime lords. The story resides at the nexus of mysterious shamanistic magic and alien technology.Tarik Malak, creative director for Lowlife Forms, explains how they are starting from the roots, all the way up. That includes the community, helping the players and fans to be part of the experience from day one. The game’s story and development are kind of open-ended, meaning it will develop along the way with the experience of all the factors involved.

In an exciting leap forward for the digital world, Animoca Brands and Manga Productions have embarked on a pioneering partnership to revolutionize the Web3 and blockchain landscape in the MENA region. This collaboration marries Animoca Brands' expertise in blockchain and Web3 technologies with Manga Productions' rich storytelling and content creation prowess, setting the stage for innovative projects that leverage the best of both worlds. Aimed at enhancing digital property rights, promoting local talent, and fostering educational initiatives in blockchain technology, this partnership is a beacon of progress. It signifies a commitment to not only advancing the digital entertainment sector but also empowering the region's youth with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the burgeoning Web3 ecosystem. By integrating Manga Productions' captivating characters and stories into Animoca Brands' extensive gaming and digital platform, this alliance promises to bring a new era of immersive, culturally rich experiences to the global stage.

HyperPlay is a Blockchain Game Launcher in Early Access. Hyperplay is the first Web3 blockchain game launcher of its kind and is being made for MetaMask by Game7 and Jacob.eth.HyperPlay, a Web3 blockchain gaming launcher, is currently available for early access. The software was co-created by Web3 gaming DAO Game7 and former MetaMask operations lead, who goes by the pseudonym Jacob.eth. The app is available for all major platforms but is developed and optimized especially for MetaMask users.HyperPlay is the world's first Web3 game launcher. It lets users bring their wallets, NFTs, tokens, and achievements into any game they want to play. HyperPlay is really permissionless and was created for the Web3 community. Instead of charging developers fees, the new platform plans to make money through cryptocurrency services like exchanges and bridges. Jacob told Decrypt that HyperPlay is "fixing the distribution problem and freeing game developers from the fear of being de-platformed by major monopolies like Apple and Google, or Steam." He prefers to go by his first name or his ‘.eth’ handle in order to protect his privacy. Jacob explains that, unlike the Apple store, they prefer not to take the 30% share of the developer's in-game economy."We're an extremely developer-friendly product,” He clarified. Instead, Jacob stated that HyperPlay will make money by providing "convenient features" within the software; much like MetaMask does, rather than taking a percentage of game sales or transactions. At launch, HyperPlay will have a lot of games, such as Undead Blocks, DeFi Kingdoms, The Sandbox, Voxie Tactics, and The Bornless, to name a few. Both Web3 games and non-crypto games will be supported by the launcher.

The Sandbox Expansion will Bolster its Metaverse Gaming Experience With SviperThe Sandbox is growing by buying Sviper. This will help the Sandbox build its Web3 metaverse and make the blockchain game feel more real.The Sandbox, a Web3 blockchain game, continues to progress and expand as it reaches Germany in its newest acquisition. In its recent buy, The Sandbox has now Hamburg-based game development studio Sviper under its umbrella. Sviper boasts a senior-level development team, skilled engineers, and a creative talent pool. Sviper’s resource pool will now assist The Sandbox, a blockchain subsidiary company of Animoca Brands. The goal of the acquisition is to make the experience more immersive by adding more metaverse, social, and game elements. “The Sandbox’s German team is a creative powerhouse that is already advancing the gameplay possibilities available to our internal teams and The Sandbox creators at large,” Borget added. “From adding social features to designing rules creators can use to prototype game logic to implementing powerful multiplayer features, our Hamburg team is supercharging the metaverse’s creative potential.” In 2016, Sviper came to the scene and got famous for its creative collaborations with major brand partners and experienced team members. The acquisition now expects Sviper to enhance The Sandbox by introducing fresh social features, multiplayer gameplay choices, and Game Maker capabilities for content creators. Agnitio Capital served as the M&A consultant for Sviper in relation to this agreement.“We’ve built a high level of trust with The Sandbox Germany team as they’ve demonstrated tremendous innovation and quality by both working with major partners and ideating on new gameplay concepts," said Arthur Madrid, CEO of The Sandbox.

Sony Game Developers and Ex-EA Developers Comprise Avalon Corp TeamAvalon Corp.'s Digital Universe receives $13 million in funding to launch an AAA project in the Web3, metaverse, and blockchain gamingThe world is molding itself towards the crypto universe for investments as well as the future. Big companies are getting interested in blockchain and metaverse or AAA multiverse and looking for different ways to be a part of it. In a similar effort, Bitkraft Ventures has raised $13 million in funding along with other companies to fund Avalon Corp, a Web3 gaming startup working on Avalon universe. The companies included are Hashed, Delphi Digital, Mechanism Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and others. The round also received funding from some angel investors, including former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst and Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.The big news is their team of developers, has worked in huge tech companies like Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Blizzard, and Sony. The studio's first game will be Avalon, which runs on Unreal Engine 5 and has some MMO and Web3 metaverse elements. However, CEO of Avalon Corp Sean Pinnock and Chief Product Officer Jeffrey Butler told Decrypt in an interview that they don't perceive Avalon as a metaverse. The main reason for the reluctance is how the term has been taken and misapplied in the digital world.Butler remarked of the term "metaverse" that "everyone's kind of leaping onto this word and just pounding the poor word to death," adding that practically every big brand, whether they be a fast food chain or fashion industry, has somehow associated themselves with the creation of their own metaverse.

The Major Rugby League MLR and OVAL3 partnership will bring a unique fantasy NFT game, a valuable addition to Web3 and blockchain gaming.Major Rugby League fans will get their hands on an exclusive Fantasy NFT game using blockchain technology. The official announcement came from OVAL3, a renowned name in Web3 and fantasy sports games, especially rugby. As for MLR, it is a top league in North America, and it recently entered its sixth season last month. OVAL3 intends to offer top-tier blockchain immersive experiences and Web 3.0 engagement to the expanding North American rugby fanbase. It aims to achieve it through the procurement of MLR's exclusive NFT and Fantasy licenses. NFTs are now making a solid transition from profile pictures to in-game valuable assets. MLR has witnessed progress in all major metrics since 2017, consistently captivating new fans to the sport every year. The U.S. securing the 2031 (Men’s) and 2033 (Women’s) Rugby World Cups hosting will result in unparalleled North American focus on the sport in the upcoming years. This is where Oval 3 pledges to provide long-term support to MLR and its followers. Leveraging its fantasy rugby background from global operations, particularly with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, OVAL3 plans to develop MLR's inaugural official fantasy game. This one-of-a-kind and captivating game will connect rugby with NFTs. Additionally, it will also tackle contemporary gaming codes using a Play & Own approach. It will provide a distinctive and immersive experience for both rugby enthusiasts and gamers.

In a recent episode of Decrypt's gm podcast, Polygon Labs' President Ryan Wyatt shares his insights on the future of Web3 blockchain games. He believes gamers will eventually adopt Web3 adaptations, driven by improved gameplay and true digital ownership through NFTs. Despite initial skepticism and challenges, Wyatt emphasizes that gamers, being tech-savvy, are likely to embrace these innovations as technological barriers decrease. He discusses the potential of NFTs to revolutionize digital property rights in gaming, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade in-game assets freely. Wyatt also highlights the need for developers to create engaging and sustainable Web3 gaming experiences. As blockchain technology evolves, Web3 games might simplify the user experience and integrate seamlessly with traditional gaming models. Dive into Wyatt's vision for the future of gaming, where Web3 and NFT gaming are set to transform the industry.

After selling the Dookey Dash Key NFT, Mongraal, the winner of Yuga Labs' Dookey Dash NFT game competition, received 1000 ETH.

Companies involved in blockchain and cryptocurrencies are thinking about changing the names of concepts like crypto, NFT, blockchain, Web3. Web3, Blockchain and NFT Projects are urging to Stop Calling it Crypto as it has become “Old school."Big companies are abandoning terms like NFTs and Web3, partly due to the bad name and bear market. Words and names have had huge importance in commerce and the economy since the inception of the crypto market. There was a time when companies used to add the “blockchain” word to their names and would see their valuations skyrocket. But now these terms have turned into toxic words, and people are trying to distance themselves from them. If you are looking for NFTs on social media, you will have to search for “digital collectibles” instead of NFTs; otherwise, you might never find one.Brynly Llyr, head of blockchain and digital assets of the World Economic Forum, recently suggested that the crypto market should renounce old names. And instead, rebrand itself as “decentralized systems.” If you think about it, it’s not that bad of an idea at all, as these terms and jargon have turned into a safe haven for all the digital pirates. A big Bitcoin mining company, known as Riot Blockchain, has recently rebranded itself and is now called Riot Platforms. Sounds funny, right?

Trip Hawkins joins Games for a Living GFAL to work on NFT games, starting with Elemental Raiders.Two of the gaming industry’s top veterans have joined hands to work on NFT games. Recently, the founder of Electronic Arts gaming studio, Trip Hawkins, joined Games for a Living video gaming studio. Along with Trip Hawkins, Manel Sort the VP at Candy Crush Saga developer King is also in this project. The team will start with Elemental Raiders which is already available in a free-to-play version on Steam. However, in March, the game will introduce NFT, token elements, and a battle pass. The studio plans to roll out its own token; Games for a Living token. Despite the slump in crypto and challenges in Web3, we are seeing industry veterans exploring the niche. Trip Hawkins, the original founder and CEO of Electronic Arts (EA), is the latest addition to the list of famed video game industry legends. Similar legends of the gaming industry are flocking to the crypto world. Another example includes developers such as Will Wright and Peter Molyneux. These developers are currently working on NFT-based games.A couple of days ago, Hawkins was announced as the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Games for a Living. GFAL is a startup that focuses on creating games using NFTs and blockchain-based tokens. Manel Sort, the former first vice president at King, the developer of Candy Crush Saga, is one of the co-founders of Games for a Living. He teamed up with Hawkins, his former colleague from the mobile gaming startup Digital Chocolate, to create this new venture.

Blockchain Gaming Takes Off in February: Ubisoft Launches Rabbids NFTs, and Wallet-Free Gaming Is Now a Reality! February continues to see plenty of blockchain gaming activity. We have new in-game content, NFT airdrops, beta testing, new partnerships, ease of access, and many more. The biggest news is that Ubisoft is still making progress in Web3, having launched its Rabbids NFTs on the Sandbox. Moreover, we have super news for gamers that do not want to indulge in any digital wallets: Champions Ascension goes wallet-free. Top blockchain game Gods Unchained launches its pre-alpha mobile test, Genopets adds minigames, and Planet IX brings new in-game drops. Let’s check out these blockchain gaming developments in detail.

Blur dominates the NFT marketplace and OpenSea trials; this article checks some of the facts and happenings in the Web3 NFT industry 2024. The hype was real surrounding the airdrop, as Blur has dominated OpenSea's NFT trading volume. According to Dune Analytics statistics, the marketplace had a volume of $601 million over the past seven days compared to the $104 million of OpenSea. These numbers correspond to Blur Marketplace controlling an 85.2% market share compared to OpenSea's 14.8%.Daily volume numbers are also evident in this comparison. According to DappRadar statistics, Blur achieved a trading volume of $98.6 million in the last 24 hours. While OpenSea, in second position, only managed $17.92 million. Additionally, compared to OpenSea, its daily average transaction price has consistently been greater.It's important to note that Blur has designed its incentives strategy to avoid rewarding volume in order to discourage wash trading. By tweaking its royalties reward structure, the market has attempted to bypass OpenSea's constrictive approach. This policy change is a defensive measure designed to safeguard its survival as it was forced to make this decision as a result of OpenSea's non-competitive position. Blur and OpenSea do not pay royalties to the same creator on both platforms.