This Week In Gaming | CARV TGE Kicks Off, Off the Grid Tops Free Games on Epic, Ubisoft Announces Champions Tactics, Ronin Network Integrates Chainlink CCIP, and the Latest Free Mint & Airdrop Updates

Oct 14, 2024

Web3 Game Development

Off The Grid Becomes Top Free Game on Epic Games Store After Early Access Release Read More

The Avalanche-based battle royale shooter Off the Grid has quickly risen to the top of the Epic Games Store’s Most Popular Free-to-Play list following its early access release. Developed by Gunzilla Games, the game surpassed popular titles like Fortnite and Rocket League. It also gained significant traction on Twitch, with 148,000 viewers on Friday, and streamers such as IlloJuan attracting 28,000 viewers. Off the Grid features Avalanche L1 for its GUN token and in-game NFTs, allowing players to mint and trade assets. The game is also available for early access on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Ubisoft to Launch Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles on October 23 Read More

Ubisoft has announced the release of Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, its first original blockchain game, set to debut on October 23 on the Oasys network. The tactical PC role-playing game allows players to assemble teams of 75,000 unique Champions—digital collectibles with special abilities—for player-versus-player battles in a dark fantasy setting. The game also features a crafting system called The Forge, enabling players to combine Champions to create new ones with different traits.

Ronin Network Adopts Chainlink CCIP to Enhance Ethereum Bridge Security Read More

The Ronin Gaming Network has implemented Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to enhance the security of its Ethereum bridge after a vote by validators. This decision follows a selection process where Chainlink was chosen over other protocols, including LayerZero and Axelar. Sky Mavis, the developer of Ronin, emphasized that security was the top priority in selecting the cross-chain infrastructure. The move comes in response to previous hacks, including a $12 million exploit in August 2024 and a $622 million attack in 2022. The full migration to CCIP is expected to be completed in the next few months.

Decentraland Unveils Major Visual and Performance Upgrade with New Desktop Client Read More

Decentraland is set to launch its long-awaited desktop client on October 22, bringing significant visual and performance upgrades to the Ethereum-based metaverse game. The update enhances graphical detail, improves avatar interaction, and allows for smoother transitions across the virtual world. With improved performance, faster load times, and the ability to support over 200 players in the same area, the update marks a shift towards a more social focus for the platform.

Universal Health Token’s Pillars of Health NFTs Sell Out Instantly Read More

Universal Health Token (UHT), a preventive healthcare platform backed by Animoca Brands, saw its Pillars of Health NFT collection sell out in seconds. The collection of 1,500 free-mint NFTs offers holders exclusive perks, including priority access to real-life and online events, product launches, and future initiatives. The NFTs also come with an airdrop during UHT’s token generation event. UHT, integrated with GOQii’s global health platform, incentivizes healthy behavior by rewarding users with tokens for completing wellness activities.

Shardbound Open Beta Now Available on Epic Games Store and Steam Read More

Bazooka Tango has launched the open beta for Shardbound, a free-to-play fantasy trading card game featuring turn-based tactics. Available on both the Epic Games Store and Steam, Shardbound offers strategic gameplay on a 3D hexagonal battlefield, where players deploy Minions and Relics to defeat opponents. Over 100,000 pre-registered players will receive exclusive rewards, including rare and legendary cards, while completing in-game quests can earn IMX tokens through a partnership with Immutable’s Main Quest. The game, which avoids pay-to-win mechanics, will eventually expand to mobile platforms, enhancing its accessibility.

Guild of Guardians Unveils Frostmire Expansion, Adding New Guardians and Gameplay Features Read More

Guild of Guardians (GoG) is set to release its Frostmire expansion on October 16, introducing two new Legendary Guardians, Lisca and Dolvir, along with a snowy new environment and raising the Commander level cap from 100 to 120. The expansion offers new challenges, enemies, and strategic gameplay opportunities as players explore the frozen realm of Frostmire. Players will also access higher-level equipment and an evolving narrative that deepens the GoG experience.

InfiniGods to Launch God Vaults NFT Collection with Exclusive Staking Rewards Read More

InfiniGods, a web3 gaming studio backed by Pantera Capital, is set to release its third NFT collection, God Vaults, on Magic Eden in Q4 2024. The collection features high-value ERC-721 artifacts that grant access to Valhalla Staking, where holders can earn $GOD tokens, InfiniGods' in-game currency. Whitelist spots can be secured through a Premint raffle, holding previous InfiniGods NFTs, participating in giveaways, or completing social missions via the Valhalla Missions dashboard. The $GOD token will not be available publicly, making God Vaults a key opportunity for staking rewards and exclusive access.

Game Financing

Movement Labs Announces Finalists for $2M Web3 Hackathon "Battle of Olympus" Read More

Movement Labs has revealed 85 finalists for its Web3 hackathon "Battle of Olympus," which attracted over 2,100 project submissions. The event, focused on Move smart contract technology, showcased standout projects across categories such as DeFi, AI, SocialFi, NFTs, and GameFi. Notable projects include StakedMove, a liquid staking token, and Gasyard, a protocol optimizing gas fees for cross-network DeFi transactions. Finalists will receive up to $100,000 in grants, access to the Move Collective accelerator, and technical mentorship, as Movement Labs prepares for its mainnet launch with strong financial backing.

Infinitar Completes $9M Series A Funding, Led by Lam Group and AccelByte Read More

Infinitar, a Web3 AAA MOBA blockchain game, has announced the completion of a $9 million Series A funding round, led by Lam Group and AccelByte, who fully subscribed to the remaining amount. This brings the company’s post-money valuation to $150 million. On October 1, Infinitar also completed $2.9 million in seed and angel rounds, aiming for a total funding goal of $9 million.

PiP World Secures $10M Seed Funding to Build a Gamified Crypto Learning Ecosystem Read More

Web3 gaming and edtech platform PiP World has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by fintech company Exinity. The funds will be used to develop a gamified learning ecosystem described as the "Duolingo for the cryptocurrency space." PiP World's product suite includes PiP Trader, a AAA strategy game for building trading portfolios, Gold Rush, a click-to-earn game on Telegram, PiP Academy, a gamified financial education app, and StockRise, a stock simulator.

Dragonz Lab Raises $9M to Accelerate Development of Play-to-Earn Game Dragonz Land Read More

UK-based Web3 game studio Dragonz Lab has completed a $9 million funding round led by Syndicate Capital Limited Partnership Fund (LPF), a venture fund focused on Web3, blockchain, and artificial intelligence investments. The funding is aimed at advancing the development of Dragonz Land, a utility-driven Play-to-Earn game, while also promoting digital ownership and the broader Web3 ecosystem.