Web3 Projects Join SXSW, Amazon NFT Platform Rumors, Yuga Labs' TwelveFold NFTs

Mar. 07, 2023

Today’s Web3 digest will put the spotlight on blockchain gaming, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the metaverse.

Here are the stories that shape Web3.

Web3 Games

Rumble Kong League: Over the weekend, NFT basketball game Rumble Kong League (RKL) held a “courtside presentation” that focused on “alpha topics.” The session covered various facets of the project including rookies and boosts, as well as marketing strategies. Additionally, the team also touched on cards, clubs, and the next testing sessions (TW).

Citizen Conflict: Massively multiplayer online (MMO) game Citizen Conflict teased the project’s upcoming Alpha 2.0 in Q2 2023. To hype things up, the QORPO Game Studio-produced title shared a video teaser that gamers can “re-watch.” Moreover, the devs also revealed that 2.0 will introduce new heroes, abilities, maps, game modes, and tournaments (TW).

Anito Legends: Philippine folklore-inspired battle royale strategy game Anito Legends has announced some new updates to the project. V1.0.2 introduces several improvements including new class abilities and daily bonuses. For example, each ‘Anito’ (mythical creature) class now possesses its own innate abilities. Besides that, the new upgrades will also allow players to earn 40 $GINTO tokens and two bonuses a day (TW).

NFT Gaming Company: Digital gaming platform developer NFT Gaming Company Inc. has acquired artificial intelligence (AI)-based assets of speech recognition tool Voxpow. The firm plans to implement Voxpow’s technology into NFT Gaming’s proprietary Web3 gaming portfolio. In addition, the new offering will also enable players to use their voice in controlling game movements and responses (GNW).

Guild of Guardians: Immutable Games Studio’s fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Guild of Guardians has partnered with game dev studio Mineloader. The Web2 gaming company is best-known for titles such as The Division 2, The Last of Us Part 1, and Final Fantasy. Furthermore, the studio brings 20 years of industry experience working with renowned gaming entities such as EA, Sony, Square Enix, and Ubisoft, among others (PRN).

Few and Far: NFT platform Few and Far recently secured $10.5 million in a funding round led by Pantera Capital. Other entities that supported the fundraise include Cypher Capital, Huobi Ventures, Hypersphere, K5 Global, Mantis Partners, and Metaweb. The company plans to utilize the capital to grow its workforce and improve user experience. Furthermore, Few and Far is also aiming to build a suite of developer tools designed to aid IP owners and creators (NFTG).

Sparkles: Metaverse-enabled NFT marketplace Sparkles is now live on layer-1 (L1) blockchain Flare. The L1 protocol’s interoperable system will enable the digital collectible platform to provide more NFT utilities for the holders. “We believe Flare will be home to many new artists, brands, companies, games, metaverses and much more,” Sparkles founder Mohammed Kanoun stated (FF).

Forkast Labs: Web3 data intelligence platform Forkast labs has launched the “Forkast 500 NFT Index.” Aiming to be the “proxy of the entire NFT market,” the project will track the performance of digital assets across 21 blockchains. Another key point to consider is Forkast’s goal to utilize the indices in improving data transparency for the investors (TIA).

Rebel Girls: Girl-driven digital media company Rebel Girls has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by publishing conglomerate Penguin Random House. The firm aims to use the funds to expand the brand to various media including television, theater, and the metaverse. According to CEO and chairperson Jes Wolfe, Rebel Girls’ goal is to enter the metaverse during the second half of 2023 (FC).

Ault Alliance/BitNile: Earlier this month, diversified holding company Ault Alliance launched its metaverse platform BitNile.com. Released in 176 countries, the platform allows users to access the virtual world through a web browser across various devices. Moreover, BitNile also brings a host of offerings such as social networking, 3D games, and other forms of entertainment (BW).

Ristband: Creatives-focused virtual world platform Ristband is returning to the SXSW Conference as its official “Music Metaverse.” From March 12-18, the platform will showcase immersive experiences alongside SXSW’s extended reality (XR) and music festival offerings. In addition, attendees will also get the chance to hear indie electronic band Miro Shot’s unreleased tracks exclusively on Ristband (AUG).

Impossible Cloud: Web3-based cloud storage solution provider Impossible Cloud has raised 7 million euros (almost $7.5 million) in a seed funding round. The new fundraise brings the company’s warchest to a grand total of $11 million. The capital will help Impossible Cloud develop an enterprise-grade cloud platform that offers a “full suite of services” while employing a fiat payment system (RB).

Bitcoin of America: Bitcoin ATM firm Bitcoin of America is facing charges for operating 50 unlicensed cryptocurrency kiosks in the State of Ohio. Crimes that the company and three of its executives are charged with include money laundering and conspiracy, among others. To date, authorities have seized 52 Bitcoin ATMs so far. Apparently, the machines were instrumental in raking in $3.5 million for Bitcoin of America (BC).

Infodriver Capital: London-based investment firm Infodriver Capital recently launched a new $10 million fund. The funding aims to support Web3 startups, specifically GameFi, decentralized finance (DeFi), and artificial intelligence projects. “We believe that Web3 is the future, and we are committed to helping shape that future by investing in startups that are working on innovative solutions,” Infodriver Capital founder and CEO Kirill Mishanin stated (YF).

Brycent: To celebrate Web3 RPG Illuvium’s ‘Illuvitars’ launch, Web3 content creator Brycent announced a live “Free Mint” game. Participants are required to follow Illuvium’s Twitter page, choose a number between 1-1000, and post it on Brycent’s announcement as a comment. 20 Lucky winners will receive one Standard Disk each as a reward.

Cagy: Web3 gaming YouTuber Cagy puts the spotlight on Solana-based open-world strategy game Alaska Gold Rush. “I tested @alaska_game! Pretty smooth experience for an alpha stage,” Cagy tweeted. On March 9th, Cagy will give away 10 free NFT mints to lucky participants. Additionally, the content creator has also allotted 30 free mints for Juice Team Key holders.

Hustle: In another edition of Crypto Banter’s “In The Game,” host Hustle highlighted several Web3 gaming-related projects. Names that Hustle featured in the latest episode include Avalanche, Polygon, Gala Games, and ImmutableX. Furthermore, Hustle also touched on video game streamer Dr. Disrespect’s first-person shooter (FPS) game Midnight Society: Deadrop.

Spike: Web3 content creator Spike has partnered with trading card game (TCG) Mechanized Mayhem. The campaign aims to give away 20 Silver white lists. According to Spike, Mechanized Mayhem draws inspiration from rogue-like deck-building game Slay The Spire and tactical RPG Mega Man Battle Network.

Stache: The latest edition of Stache’s “Around the Metaverse” featured Web3 influencers Iceyyy, Bulldog, FlyeKitesJay, and co-host A_Dom. In the latest episode, the content creators discussed several projects in the space. They also put the spotlight on two trending titles: Illuvium and Deadrop.