EA Founder Enters Web3, Audius x TikTok, Animoca Brands Boosts Projects

Feb. 27, 2023

Today’s Web3 digest highlights blockchain games, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the metaverse.

Here are the stories that shape Web3.

Web3 Games

Crabada: Avalanche-powered autobattler game Crabada has kicked off week 35 of its Weekly Arena Challenge, which will run from February 27-March 5. This week’s tournament will employ a level cap of 120, as well as updates to Legendary Transformation and First of Transformation features, among others (TW).

Big Time: Massive multiplayer online role-playing game (RPG) Big Time, has released the patch notes for v0.25. The team introduced improvements to the title’s gameplay, VFX, animation, audio, etc. Other updates also include bug fixes and performance optimization, as well as changes to NFTs, artificial intelligence (AI), and personal metaverse, among others (T W).

OpenBlox: NFT gaming ecosystem OpenBlox has announced plans to launch its own decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The team plans to leverage the “OpenBloxDAO” to “launch a new era for the OpenBlox ecosystem with Web3 games and applications.” Essentially, the initiative will enable the community to participate in decision-making processes that will shape the project (T W).

Stella Fantasy: Web3 action RPG title Stella Fantasy has announced the game’s pre-registration phase. Interested gamers can visit the project’s website to participate and gain exclusive perks. Some of the benefits include a three-day Early Access Ticket, an EXP Potion Package, and an Adventure Resource Package (TW).

WyndBlast: WyndBlast, an autobattler game on the Avalanche blockchain, has announced its WyndBlast Tournament. Running from February 28 until March 14, the event will allow players to “show off their skills” against the best competitors in the game. “Win amazing prizes and prove that you’re the ultimate champion!” the team stated (T W).

Medieval Empires: Polygon-based adventure strategy game Medieval Empires has announced the latest round of its “exclusive monthly airdrop.” This week, the team will give away tier five land NFTs to lucky landowners. The campaign will run from Monday to Friday (T W).

Lotte Group: South Korean corporation Lotte Group is planning to expand its NFT initiatives with partner the Polygon blockchain. Currently the fifth largest conglomerate in the country, Lotte Group will release a rebranded version of their project BellyGom NFTs. Additionally, the collaboration will also see a re-release of the company’s profile picture (PFP) digital collection Lotte Homeshopping (F K).

Machi Big Brother: NFT ‘whale’ Jeffrey Hwang (aka Machi Big Brother) sold 1,010 digital collectibles in what experts claim to be the biggest dump ever. In the span of 48 hours, the collector raked in 11,680 $ETH ($19,144.805) from the massive sale. The bargain includes well-known NFT projects such as Azuki, Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC), and Otherdeed (C T).

OpenSea: Members of the NFT community have spoken in support of reinstating creator royalties on platforms such as digital collectible marketplace OpenSea. This previous week, California metal band Avenged Sevenfold’s lead vocalist M Shadows ditched the platform due to the removal of artist royalties. The singer shared plans to move to rival marketplace Coinbase NFT to buy and sell Deathclub, an NFT project popularized by Avenged Sevenfold (D C).

Clay Nation: Claymation art project Clay Nation has become the first Cardano blockchain project to be integrated into popular metaverse platform The Sandbox. Essentially, the team will build the virtual world project in conjunction with Singapore-headquartered “metaverse architecture & creative agency” Smobler Studios (TW).

Decentraland: Virtual world platform Decentraland is setting the stage for the Metaverse Fashion Week 2023. Running from March 28-31, the four-day event will feature a “Future Heritage” theme. The expo aims to connect next generation creators and traditional fashion designers, and showcase “the potential of fashion to bridge realities and worlds (TW).

Nokia: Telecommunications company Nokia chief strategy and technology officer (CSTO) Nishant Batra recently revealed the phone brand’s industrial metaverse aspirations. “This is the new age of digitalisation – and in this age, there will be digitally augmented worlds, there will be solutions to different challenges,” Batra stated (T C T V)

Chain Reaction: Israeli Web3 start-up Chain Reaction has raised $70 million in a Series C funding round. Crypto influencer Anthony Pompliano’s venture capital firm Morgan Creek Capital led the fundraise. The Tel Aviv-based company plans to utilize the capital to expand its engineering manpower to speed up development of blockchain-focused silicon products (B T C).

Animoca Brands: In an interview, Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu emphasized the importance of creator royalties to the industry. Additionally, he also blasted the decision of several NFT platforms to back out from imposing royalties, citing its negative impact to the economy. “If you kill the royalties, you kill the very industry that fed you, so it has to be protected,” Siu said (D C).

Art on Avalanche: Blockchain ecosystem Avalanche has announced the launch of an official Twitter account called “Art on Avalanche.” Basically, the arts and culture-focused page aims to highlight “the diverse and innovative works being done in the ecosystem.” Art on Avalanche’s list of initiatives include showcasing projects and “creating conversations on NFTs, Art, and Culture” (T W).

Cagy: Over the weekend, Web3 YouTuber Cagy participated in a Midnight Society tournament featuring video game streamer Dr Disrespect’s project. Titled Deadrop, the first-person shooter (FPS) game is built on the Binance Smart Chain.

Hustle: Crypto Banter host Hustle tweeted recently, stating that his marketing agency of his NFT gaming collective This Thing Of Ours (TTOO) is “picking up momentum.” According to the Web3 content creator, they TTOO’s marketing arm is pursuing plans to expand its user base and provide various experiences.

Spike: Web3 content creator Spike recently partnered with PvP strategy game Planet Mojo for a 24-hour giveaway campaign. The competition will reward 10 lucky participants with one Mojo List each. Basically, Planet Mojo is a competitive autobattler game on the Polygon network.