Weekly Gaming News Digest with CARV | Matr1x Unveils the Alpha Test Phase

This is the weekly gaming news powered by CARV, covering the game updates and industry news from August 14th to August 20th, 2023.

As a platform focusing on gaming, CARV consistently strives to stay updated with the ever-changing game industry. In order to ensure that you are kept abreast of the latest gaming news, we are delighted to present you with a review of last week's highlights.

📌 Game Updates

Matr1x Unveils the Alpha Test Phase

MATR1X FIRE announces its alpha test, Mission Frontier, from August 8-28, 6-11pm (SGT). Available on both Android and iOS, this closed alpha requires 3GB space with specific device configurations for optimal play. Players need to activate the Mission Frontier Battle Pass for entry. The game features competitive and team modes, customizations, weapon purchases, and an EMP strategy. Unique weapon skins can be unlocked and equipped, varying by wear.

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Axie Infinity Introducing: Project T

Sky Mavis unveils Project T, an early prototype of a new Axie game. This interactive experience allows players to engage with their axies and fellow owners through mini-games. The game features the ancient species, sapidae, for the first time, enhancing the Lunacia universe. Currently in testing with Mystic Axie owners, Land owners, top Origin leaderboard winners, and Origin axie owners. Project T aims to foster emotional bonds in the Axie community while exploring new gameplay dynamics.

Zynga Announces Its First Blockchain Game "Sugartown" Mobile gaming developer Zynga, known for hits like Farmville and Words With Friends, is stepping into blockchain gaming with its first-ever blockchain game, Sugartown. Leveraging Ethereum-based NFTs, Sugartown introduces players to creatures called 'Oras' in an alternate dimension. Players holding one of 10,000 Ora NFTs can access the gamified city and embedded free-to-play minigames. Ora NFT holders can also 'stake' their NFTs for in-game currency, enhancing the experience. The release date for Sugartown is yet to be announced, while the Ora NFT collection is expected later this year.

Metaverse Yuliverse Now Supports Bitget Wallet Chrome Extension Yuliverse, a game-based metaverse platform, collaborates with Bitget Wallet to allow users to connect via their browser extension. Through Bitget Wallet, users access Yuliverse's web-end, engage in game modes, earn rewards, socialize with other players, and create unique characters. Both web and mobile users can access the official Yuliverse site through Bitget's DApp browser. Yuliverse previously completed a seed financing round led by LIF and involving investors like Animoca Ventures and Lionrock.

Play Pauper Mode in Gods Unchained

Gods Unchained introduces Pauper Mode, a new gameplay option where players can only use common and rare cards in their decks. This mode aims to provide a balanced experience by excluding overpowered legendary cards. While powerful rares like Pyramid Wardens and Underbrush Boars remain, the absence of epic and legendary cards offers unique gameplay. Currently casual, Pauper Mode might become a ranked option based on player feedback. Gods Unchained is a blockchain-based card game on Ethereum, offering various play and earn opportunities.

Star Atlas Unveils SAGE Labs: A New Web3 Space Economy Simulation Game Star Atlas introduces SAGE Labs, the world's first Web3 space economy simulation game on Solana's network. SAGE Labs is an open-world game with real-time gameplay, offering crafting, trading, and play-to-earn opportunities entirely on Solana. The game uses blockchain technology for its logic and state, integrates with Star Atlas and Solana features, and presents a $1.5 million Golden Ticket promotion. SAGE Labs showcases the potential of decentralized gaming and anticipates the larger game, SAGE: Starbased.

Gala Games Announces Official Release of Web3 Game “Champions Arena” and Sales of Champion Boxes! – Sanspo

Gala Games announces the official release of the Web3-based turn-based fantasy RPG "Champions Arena" for PC and mobile (Android/iOS) on August 24, 2023, featuring over 100 champion types, PvP "Arena" content, exploration, and co-op mode. The game introduces Play-to-Earn (P&E) functionality, allowing Champion NFT owners to earn $GALA tokens based on victory points (VP) earned in the arena. Nexus NFTs guarantee item ownership and enable champion lending, with VP rewards shared among users. Nexus will be gradually unlocked after launch, focusing on content enrichment initially.

📌 Industry News

NEOWIZ, Intella X and Aptos Foundation Form Strategic Ecosystem Partnership

NEOWIZ, Intella X, and Aptos Foundation are partnering for an ecosystem collaboration to advance the Web3 gaming landscape in South Korea and globally. The partnership involves technical reviews, business consulting, and Web3 business development, aiming to achieve mass adoption of Web3 gaming. Aptos, a Layer 1 blockchain, contributes its user-centric technology, including AptosBFTv4 consensus mechanism, for seamless and immersive gaming experiences. NEOWIZ, a game publisher, brings its expertise to the Intella X platform, dedicated to revolutionizing Web3 gaming.

Animoca Brands and CyberConnect partner to build decentralized social layer for Mocaverse

CyberConnect, the Web3 social network, has partnered with Animoca Brands to create a decentralized social layer for Mocaverse, Animoca Brands' NFT collection. The partnership will use CyberConnect's smart account infrastructure, CyberAccount, to power the identity layer of Mocaverse. This will allow companies within Animoca Brands' portfolio to build their own social graph and offer interoperable user experiences across games, products, and services. The collaboration aims to create a Web3 social network model that enhances user experiences across applications.

Immutable zkEVM Testnet is Finally Here: The Gold Standard of Gaming on Ethereum

Immutable has launched the zkEVM Testnet, a dedicated blockchain for gaming with EVM compatibility, low cost, and high scalability. It offers integration with the Immutable gaming platform and tools, enhancing game development and user experiences. Partners include game studios and marketplaces. Migration to zkEVM is possible, and the platform aims for Mainnet release in Q4.