Weekly Gaming News Digest with CARV

This is the weekly gaming news powered by CARV, covering the game updates and industry news from July 3rd to July 9th.

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

Eyeball Games partners with Immutable to launch Web3 Mobile Game Eyeball Pool [Read more]

Mobile game developer Eyeball Games is partnering with Web3 platform Immutable to release a blockchain-based pool game called Eyeball Pool. The game, currently in beta, aims to provide players with full ownership of their digital assets and incorporates features enabled by blockchain technology. Eyeball Games, known for the popular game 8 Ball Pool, has designed Eyeball Pool from scratch, including its own physics engine and graphics. The partnership with Immutable will accelerate the game's development and leverage Immutable's APIs to reduce costs and time. Eyeball Pool completed a successful mint of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) called Balldroids, with additional NFTs planned for multiplayer gameplay. The full launch is scheduled for Q1 2024.

Stake SPS for Extra Splinterlands Rewards [Read more]

Splinterlands, a popular game, is removing the requirement for players to own valuable cards to advance in higher leagues. Instead, they are introducing a new system that rewards players for holding staked SPS tokens. The Collection score, based on the number of cards owned, currently determines league access. The upcoming change will allow players to reach any league without card ownership but encourages holding staked SPS for better rewards. The staked SPS will serve as a reward points multiplier, alongside existing bonuses. The new system will launch on July 6th, providing more flexibility and potential rewards for players.

Genopets Adds Achievements and Crafting Seasons [Read more]

The latest update for Genopets introduces achievements, including milestones and streaks based on steps taken. Players have the chance to win a Genesis Habitat and limited edition toys for their pets. The update also allows Bitcoin Babies, Gold Genopets minted on the BTC network, to be playable in-game. Genopets announced plans for crafting seasons, with the first season starting on July 21st. It will bring new color combinations, augments, energy boosts, textures, and set bonuses. 70% of current craftables will be retired, and the crafting cost has been temporarily reduced. Players have three weeks to stock up on items.

Aurory's Summer Surprise: Cross-Platform Expansion and Art Upgrades Await Players [Read more]

Aurory, the NFT strategy game, is set to release its Aurory Summer patch with exciting updates. The patch includes cross-platform integration through Syncspace, enhancing accessibility for gamers. The update brings improvements to gameplay, user experience, and progression systems. Art upgrades will revamp character design, aligning it with the immersive lore of the game. Future plans include a rank decay mechanism to incentivize leaderboard activity. These updates showcase Aurory's commitment to delivering an engaging gaming experience. Players can anticipate visually stunning enhancements and new features. Stay tuned for the official release of the Aurory Summer patch.

Sweat Hero: The Move-to-Earn Web3 Game, Launches Open Beta [Read more]

Sweat Economy has launched Sweat Hero, a blockchain-based exercise NFT game that gamifies fitness and rewards players for physical activity. The Solana-based game allows users to earn $SWEAT tokens by engaging in battles and physical activities using their Legs NFTs. Unlike other move-to-earn platforms, Sweat Hero provides free NFT access, eliminating financial barriers for players. The game plans to introduce additional arenas and a dynamic NFT evolution framework in the future. Sweat Hero merges fitness and blockchain technology, offering a unique gaming experience that incentivizes a healthier lifestyle. The open beta phase invites players to embark on an exercise-driven adventure.

My Neighbor Alice Introduces Crafting Feature in Alpha Season 3 [Read more]

My Neighbor Alice introduces a crafting feature in its Alpha Season 3, allowing players to create, personalize, and modify items. Crafting involves using blueprints and resources to bring items to life, enhancing gameplay. Players gather resources through activities like fishing and farming, using a crafting table to create items for their inventory. These items can be placed on their land or worn by their avatars. Trading crafted assets between players will be implemented in Season 4. Crafting offers accessibility and challenges with two tiers, utilizing in-game resources and $ALICE Tokens. The feature enhances customization and creativity in the game.

Ember Sword Announces Alpha Land Sale [Read more]

Ember Sword, the open-world fantasy game, announces an upcoming Alpha Land Sale featuring discounted land plots in the Solarwood region. The sale will be conducted in two phases: an application-based wave with a 25% discount on base prices and a second wave open to all with a 15% discount. Land plot sizes range from Regular to City, with larger plots allowing for buildings and offering special in-game titles. Landowners receive a share of the in-game revenue from item purchases. Ember Sword aims to reward community members interested in contributing to the game's growth.

Guild of Guardians Opens NFT Staking Program [Read more]

Guild of Guardians, a cooperative fantasy action game on the Ethereum blockchain, introduces a new NFT staking program to incentivize NFT holders. Participants can earn GOG tokens by holding their NFTs in an IMX-connected wallet and engaging with the Guild of Guardians ecosystem. The staking program has two epochs, with rewards calculated based on NFT quantity, rarity, and holding duration. Retroactive rewards will also be distributed to long-term GOG NFT holders. Guild of Guardians aims to regain attention after facing delays and lack of updates. The game features dungeon crawling, NFT-based heroes, items, and pets, and partnerships with esports teams.

Gods Unchained Adds New Game Modes [Read more]

Gods Unchained, the Ethereum-based collectible card game, introduces new game modes after four and a half years of offering only the standard mode. The update fulfills the game's 2023 roadmap, opening up a rotating selection of alternate game modes. The first mode, Chaos Constructed, allows players to build decks using any cards, breaking restrictions based on God choice. The team plans to release a dozen game modes, rotating them frequently for player feedback. Additionally, Gods Unchained revamps its deck builder, introducing advanced filtering, color-coded cards, and deck breakdowns. The game offers play and earn opportunities and utilizes the Immutable X layer-2 solution for gas-free trading.

📌 Industry News

Animoca Brands Co-founder Joins Hong Kong Task Force for Web3 Development [Read more]

Yat Siu, CEO and Co-founder of Animoca Brands, has been appointed as a member of Hong Kong's Web3 Task Force, which aims to foster the growth of the web3 ecosystem in the city. Hong Kong has positioned itself as a hub for blockchain and web3 technologies, and the task force will provide recommendations for ecosystem development and talent cultivation. Yat Siu expressed enthusiasm for shaping the adoption of blockchain technologies globally. Animoca Brands, known for its web3 games and advocacy for the open metaverse, is a leader in blockchain gaming. The appointment reflects the growing importance of web3 in Hong Kong's future.

Web3 Gaming Infra Project Twelve Integrates BitKeep Wallet Browser Extension [Read more]

Web3 gaming infrastructure Project Twelve (P12) has partnered with multi-chain wallet BitKeep, allowing users to access P12's website through the BitKeep browser extension. This integration enables game developers and players to engage in game development, immersive gaming experiences, token exchanges, and NFT airdrop collections. With over 10 million BitKeep users globally, P12 aims to provide a convenient and robust GameFi experience. P12 has attracted 1 million verified players holding P12 gamer NFTs and secured an $8 million investment from Primavera, Galxe, CyberConnect, and other investors for accessible game creation and a sustainable game economy.

Sega Pulls Back From Blockchain Gaming as Crypto Winter Persists [Read more]

Sega Corp. is scaling back its involvement in blockchain gaming due to the collapse of the global crypto industry. The company will withhold its major franchises from third-party blockchain projects to protect the value of its content and has shelved plans to develop its own blockchain games. However, Sega does intend to allow external partners to use its lesser-known characters for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The company's move reflects a broader cooling on web3 and blockchain technology in the gaming industry. Sega remains open to future involvement as the technology matures and sees the potential for interconnectivity between games.

Farcana and Animoca Brands Enter into Strategic Agreement to Advance Development of Farcana [Read more]

Farcana, a web3 team arena shooter game, has entered into a strategic agreement with Animoca Brands to advance its development. Animoca Brands, a leader in the web3 industry, will assist Farcana in optimizing its tokenomics and go-to-market strategy, stress testing the game and token economies, and refining the in-game economy and reward systems. Animoca Brands will also provide strategic guidance to ensure Farcana's successful entry into the web3 and decentralized gaming landscape. Farcana aims to revolutionize team shooters by integrating strategic character abilities and an esports-focused Bitcoin prize system. The collaboration promises an immersive and rewarding gaming experience.

Ethlas Launches $ELS Token, Fueling the Future of Blockchain Gaming [Read more]

Ethlas, a Web3 gaming company, has introduced its native token, $ELS, to revolutionize its in-game economy. With strong support from industry leaders and successful seed funding, Ethlas aims to enhance player engagement by offering exclusive benefits to token holders, including tiered subscriptions, limited in-game items, and rewards. The presale of $ELS was sold out on multiple launchpads, and the token has been listed on centralized exchanges, achieving significant trading volume. Ethlas plans to list $ELS on decentralized exchanges, expand utility, and transition to a DAO, empowering token holders to shape the platform's future.