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

Ultra Games, a web3-driven platform for gaming and entertainment, has recently launched its latest game store to transform the way people play. Ultra Games is revolutionizing the video game market through the development of an ecosystem. It goes beyond the idea of a simple game store. Also, the Uniq Marketplace, the Ultra Wallet, and the Ultra Games store are the three distinct applications that make up the Ultra client. They all work together to provide gamers with simple access to games and digital goods. The web3 platform has made it feasible for users to earn extra money by enabling gamers to monetize their games through a secondary market. Furthermore, Ultra has added a wide range of web2 and web3 games. In this recap, we will discuss some of the playable titles and upcoming titles.

Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside, has hired Mike Seavers as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This makes Yuga Labs even more of a rising unicorn business. After Daniel Alegre, the former President and COO of Activision, was named Yuga Labs' new CEO, this was a smart move. Yuga Labs hopes to make the most of the growing potential of Web3 technology by adding these key people to its leadership team. Yuga Labs also made itself a major player in the metaverse and NFT environment. Mike Seavers has worked at Riot Games and Epic Games in the past, so he has a lot of knowledge. Seavers helped support hit games like League of Legends, Legends of Runeterra, and Valorant when he was the CTO at Riot Games.

Karting is now heading to Web3 gaming thanks to Zooracers efforts, now everyone can race and earn. In this fast-paced, guns and laser beam blazing kitties, and super fun play-and-earn game, the experience is highly rewarding and enjoyable. The beta version of Zooracers showcased chic graphics and solid movement mechanics of karts. The game offers massive tracks and maps that can host up to 16 players. Just imagine the mayhem and sensory overload when the lobby is full with your friends and families eager to race, destroy, collect, and win. First and foremost, you need to signup on the Zoo platform and create a Google authentication code for the game. Moreover, you also need to have a wallet, like Meta Mask

Get ready to heat things up in the world of Eternal Dragons! The latest addition to the game's Affinity lineup is none other than the scorching Fire Affinity. With the halfway mark now surpassed in Affinity additions, the game continues to evolve and offer exciting new possibilities after Alpha League. So, prepare to ignite your gameplay and set the battlefield ablaze! Are you ready to face off against other skilled players in intense PvP battles? Look no further than the Eternal Dragons Leagues, where you can showcase your mastery of the Fire Affinity and other formidable forces. As the game evolves and new features comes, your support and enthusiasm make it all the more rewarding. So, gear up, embrace the flames, and dive into the exhilarating world of Eternal Dragons!

This article explores the rise of Web3 casual games and their impact on the gaming industry. It starts with an introduction to Web3 gaming and the importance of casual games in this space. The article then delves into the definition of casual and hypercasual games, and their significance in the mobile game industry and in the context of Web3 gaming. The conclusion summarizes the importance of casual games in Web3 gaming, the potential for growth in the industry, and the future of Web3 casual games. Overall, the article provides insights into the emerging trend of Web3 casual games and their impact on the gaming industry.

The majority of the gaming community already knows about the integration of Web3 technologies and video games. The Web3 gaming niche is evolving constantly and in progressive stages. The first wave of these games in 2021 generated tons of buzz, but ultimately didn't live up to the hype. Why? Because they were play-to-earn games that focused on incentivizing economic tactics, rather than quality gameplay experiences. Such games had a high entry barrier in terms of mandatory NFTs to play. This is something that puts off the gaming community and hinders the gamer migration from Web2 to Web3. The next play-and-earn games followed a similar path, and unfortunately, faced a similar decline. Enter play-and-own games, where players actually own their data and progression across games, platforms, and publishers. This means that gameplay is the top priority, not ownership of digital items and collections. Finally, games that are truly built with the player in mind.

In the ever-evolving landscape of online gaming, a new contender has emerged, inviting players to experience the thrilling world of Bushi. This exciting alpha shoot-'em-up developed by Web3 studio Onenet combines the adrenaline-pumping combat of hero shooters like Overwatch with a unique Japanese twist. With its captivating aesthetics, rapid-fire acrobatics, and promising gameplay mechanics, Bushi is poised to captivate gamers seeking an action-packed adventure. Step into the feudal Japanese setting of Bushi, a world steeped in rich history and folklore. The game introduces players to Son Goku, a Japanese interpretation of the legendary Monkey King from Chinese mythology, as the main character.

Yuga Labs has had a blast with its Otherside Second Trip playtest. The Web3 gaming juggernaut knows how to stay in the limelight, whether it’s the endless mocking of its brazen toilet humor or its exorbitant ludicrous NFT access pass prices. Irrespective of the good side or the bad side, Yuga Labs stays in the conversation in the crypto and gaming world in equal parts. After the massive success of Dookey Dash, Yuga Labs eyes further scaling up its gaming venture by launching Otherside. Otherside Second Trip is a metaverse game and its latest playtest last month makes it a super promising game. The playtest had thousands of players in the lobby talking, interacting, and ready to leap into the other side. This is something you don’t see in other Metaverse games out there.

The article discusses Star Atlas, a metaverse game that utilizes web3 technology and features a new mini-game called Escape Velocity. The game's movement system is entirely blockchain-based and promises endless possibilities for player-owned gaming in the metaverse. The recent technical showcase allowed the web3 gaming community to test the movement system at a massive scale, enhancing the robustness and resilience of the forthcoming browser game module, Star Atlas: Golden Era (SAGE). Escape Velocity allows players to explore the Galia Expanse in Star Atlas using their spaceship, experiencing the marvels of moving through the blockchain while witnessing the underlying web3 technology in action.

Champions Arena is an upcoming Web3 game developed by Gala Games, offering captivating graphics and engaging gameplay. It's a simulation NFT card game that showed promise during its playtest in November of the previous year. A new playtest has been conducted, revealing several enhancements and additions to the game.Notable Updates:New Content: The recent playtest introduced Tower Trials and improved game operations and tools. A major update is the introduction of Estate content, still in development and expected to see further improvements before the official launch.In-Game Rewards: Players now receive daily gem rewards by logging in, promoting a level playing field. Higher-ranked players receive better rewards, emphasizing effective resource management and team composition of Champions with various roles.Gacha System: A Gacha update includes regular and Premium Gachas. Premium Gacha guarantees a Champion Hero, albeit at a higher gem cost. Another way to obtain a Champion is by combining characters from Mayhem raids.Launch Date: Champions Arena is tentatively set to launch in Q2 2023 across iOS, Android, and PC platforms. The development team is actively working on adding content and refining the game.Seasons and Battle Arenas: The game will feature seasons in its Battle Arenas, determining player ranks based on PvP match stats. Rankings reset at the end of each season, with pre-seasons allowing experimentation and testing of strategies.Tokenomics: Gems serve as the primary currency, crucial for acquiring, growing, and enhancing Champions. The demand for gems will lead to players spending $GALA tokens. Developers are continuously working on refining the game's tokenomics.NFT Integration: NFT Heroes offer exclusive PvE rewards, but non-NFT Heroes are sufficient for gameplay. The game also features NFT accessories, gears, and Estates. Some non-NFT items can be converted into NFTs through Minting Scrolls.Debut Pre-Sale: A pre-sale for Champions Arena is set to launch, offering bundles with utility. The first NFT available is Nexus, a limited-edition Champion with unique capabilities, allowing players to rent items to others. Nexus also grants access to Estates and future Estate purchases.Champions Arena aims to deliver an immersive and diverse gaming experience, blending NFT elements with exciting gameplay mechanics. Its evolving content and mechanics suggest a commitment to creating a dynamic and engaging Web3 gaming ecosystem.

This week brings a lot of excitement and energy for Web3 gamers as we have a deluge of alpha playtests live right now. You can play and test upcoming Web3 games like Champions Ascension, Champions Arena, Star Atlas, Wildcards, and Tearing Spaces. Other gaming news had Mythical Games launching NFL Rivals, MMA Web3 game on the cards, and Eternal Dragons eyeing another successful tournament. This week we also saw Star Atlas rolling out its mini-play and earn game; Escape Velocity. Finally, we have Sandbox bringing us another Land Sale, this time it is Mega City 3 with 250 plots.

Polygon has seen unprecedented growth in the past few months, with the number of active users and total value locked (TVL) in Polygon’s DeFi ecosystem increasing rapidly. During April, Polygon zkEVM Mainnet experienced up to +300% growth in key metrics. This month recorded some huge numbers for Polygon Mainnet as it gained further support for its community and larger Web 3.0 ecosystem. We will discuss these key metrics on gas costs, total value locked (TVL), net value bridged (NVB), and development activity in this report. its zkEVM Mainnet Beta exceeded 50,000. A total of 95.25 ETH, or almost $177,000 in fees, is already generated across all transactions on the high-performance Zero-Knowledge platform. DappRadar report also indicates that Planet IX, a strategic play-to-earn NFT game, dominated the on-chain activity on Polygon in the first quarter.

With the rise of embedded markets, Web3 gaming is changing. These built-in markets fit right into the game experience and offer a new way to buy, sell, and trade in-game items. In this blog, we'll talk about the idea of "embedded economies" in Web3 games. We'll talk about how they help game makers and what they mean for the future of the gaming industry. Embedded economies in Web3 gaming are when in-game markets are built right into the game itself. In the past, game makers had to use outside platforms to buy and sell in-game assets.

Animoca Brands Notre Game joins forces with MMA One Championship to bring web3 NFT game One Fight Arena with plans to launch in 2024. These two notable companies are creating One Fight Arena. An NFT-powered MMA mobile game that will make use of the extensive IP library and a rich lineup of fighters from ONE Championship. Later this year, the NFT game will be tested to figure out shortcomings or glitches before its actual launch in 2024. It will be free to download when it launches on both Google Play and Apple's App Store.

By using blockchain technology, immersive gameplay, and economic incentives, Web3 games have changed the gaming business. This article looks at Axie Infinity, STEPN, and Illuvium, three famous examples. Each game has its own features, which brings in a wide range of users and shows how much promise the Web3 gaming ecosystem has. The play-to-earn model of Axie Infinity lets players earn cryptocurrency, while STEPN rewards physical exercise by combining fitness and gaming. Illuvium is an open-world game with beautiful graphics and gameplay that is driven by the community. These games show how Web3 gaming can change things by giving players economic chances and letting them own in-game assets. Through Web3 innovations, the future of game seems to be decentralized, player-centered, and financially rewarding. This article looks at Axie Infinity, STEPN, and Illuvium, three popular Web3 games. Also, each game is different, which brings in a wide range of users and shows how much promise this growing gaming ecosystem has.