Cryptocurrencies and Gaming: New Experiences for Gamers

I recently stumbled upon some side-by-side images comparing remakes of games like Dead Space, Resident Evil 4, and Final Fantasy for current-generation consoles with their original releases from years ago… The difference is truly astounding. It’s remarkable to see how much video games have evolved. Gaming has transformed from a simple pastime for a few minutes of distraction into something much more significant for millions of people. Just a few months ago, I had the opportunity to play on a PlayStation VR, and the experience was mind-blowing.

Although the progress in gaming is undeniable, there’s a prevalent debate on social media about the decreasing appeal of large AAA productions among certain segments of the gaming community. The market is flooded with AAA titles each month, overshadowing many equally competent but smaller-scale games. Let’s be clear, I’m not opposing market logic; the continued demand for AAA titles speaks for itself. However, it’s becoming evident that a segment of the audience, while not entirely abandoning AAA games, is seeking refuge in simpler gaming experiences. In today’s fast-paced world, finding ample time to immerse oneself in games with complex narratives and mechanics is a challenge. Sometimes, all you crave is to boot up the PC, dive into an arena, and command virtual creatures to launch attacks – nothing more, nothing less

Today we’re reaching out to gamers craving different gaming experiences, to let them know that the gaming world has already embraced Blockchain to offer some unique titles. More and more industry giants are exploring what Blockchain can offer. For instance, in December 2023, it was revealed that the Epic Games Store had started allowing Blockchain-powered games. Previously, these titles, rated “adults only” (AO) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, were banned from the store. With the ban lifted, Epic gave the green light to games that had been removed previously, like ‘Gods Unchained’ and ‘Striker Manager 3’.

If you’re a gamer always eager to explore new horizons, I believe you’ll be intrigued by what’s coming up next: a list of highly popular Blockchain-based games.

‘Gods Unchained’, by Immutable

It’s a tactical collectible card game reminiscent of ‘Magic,’ allowing users to construct their decks using cards representing creatures, spells, warriors, and other fantasy elements. The game system involves strategic one-on-one duels, and players can buy, sell, and exchange cards in a decentralized manner—each card serving as a non-fungible token—retaining these properties even beyond the title’s ecosystem. Since its 2019 release, developers have diligently worked on updates, expansions, and even organized tournaments.

‘Striker Manager 3’, by UPLAY Online

It’s a Football Manager game where you can manage NFT assets and earn income. The concept involves creating a fictional football club and embarking on a career mode. Players have control over all aspects, from the visual identity of their team to recruiting both promising athletes and infrastructure specialists. Essentially, users become the owners of their own sports city.

According to its creators, 80% of ‘Striker Manager 3’ can be played completely free. Players can take their time to explore all the options. Only when they feel ready can they link an external wallet and unlock the game’s full potential.

‘Illuvium’, by Illuvium Labs

Although Epic’s lifting of the ban on Blockchain games was announced last December, the winds of change were already felt in November with the inclusion of ‘Illuvium’ in the Epic Games Store. Developed by Illuvium Labs using Unreal Engine 5, ’Illuvium’ is a science fiction fantasy IP that spans several modes, which we’ll discuss below.

In ‘Illuvium Overworld’, players delve into an open-world RPG experience, exploring diverse regions, gathering resources, and capturing Illuvials, the game’s unique creatures. Meanwhile, ‘Illuvium Arena’ offers a turn-based battle format, where users engage their Illuvials on a grid-shaped battlefield. ‘Arena’ includes various gameplay options: ‘Survival’, a PvE (Player vs. Environment) pitting players against AI opponents; ‘Ascendant’, a PvP (Player vs. Player) competing for in-game rankings; and ‘Leviathan’, a PvP allowing unrestricted battles between users.

The remaining modes are ‘Illuvium Zero’ and ‘Illuvium Beyond’. The former offers a real-time strategy (RTS) experience, allowing players to invest mined fuel in ‘Illuvium Overworld’ and construct their industrial complex. Users can also sell this fuel in Illuvidex, the game’s marketplace. On the other hand, ‘Illuvium Beyond’ introduces Illuvitars NFT collectibles, which are cards featuring Illuvials with different backgrounds, accessory slots, and attributes. The goal here is to strategically combine accessories and features to maximize the power of each Illuvitar and climb the six-level leaderboard. While players can compete against each other, it’s solely based on achieving the highest score.

‘Illuvium’ is available for trial on the Epic Game Store. The beta version of ‘Illuvium Overworld’ is accessible privately, while ‘Illuvium Zero’ has an alpha version available to those who have acquired land plots in Illuvidex. ‘Illuvium Arena’ offers early access, and ‘Illuvium Beyond’, can be enjoyed without restrictions. ‘Illuvium’ employs the ILV token as a reward mechanism for players.

Sorare, by Sorare SAS

In contrast to the approach taken in Striker Manager, ‘Sorare’ considers real-world footballers, allowing players to collect cards featuring their favorite athletes, such as Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Müller, Nacho Fernández, Julián Álvarez, Kylian Mbappé, among others. These cards come with attributes based on the footballers’ performances in real competitions, including club leagues and the UEFA Champions League.

‘Sorare’ enables users to assemble teams of players and compete in tournaments, providing opportunities to earn token rewards and acquire unique cards each week. These cards are backed by NFTs and can be bought, sold, and traded within the in-game marketplace.

‘Axie Infinity’, by Sky Mavis

Created by Sky Mavis, this title exemplifies the enduring popularity of Pokémon-style digital creatures. Enter the Axies: small digital beings -represented by NFTs- each with unique characteristics and abilities. Players can purchase, raise, train, and engage them in turn-based battles.

‘Axie Infinity’ introduces two tokens: SLP (Smooth Love Potion), which serves as a reward for users winning battles and engaging in tasks related to Axies’ reproduction, and AXS (Axie Infinity Shards), a token for governance and voting.

In December, spurred by anticipation for an upgrade, the AXS token surged by over 30%. With this upgrade, the game’s developers sought to diminish the number of Axies to enhance their value and instigate a deflationary effect. This was facilitated by enabling creatures to evolve and modify their physical attributes.

(In development) Star Atlas, by ATMTA

It’s a science fiction MMORPG that stands out for its high-quality graphics, among other aspects. The game, still in development, leverages SOLANA for its tokens and NFTs. The creators aim to immerse players in a world filled with futuristic structures, dynamic gunplay, diverse characters, and various types of vehicles.

In January, a test was conducted online involving 1,000 players. The purpose was to evaluate elements like frame rate performance (FPS) and latency across different time zones.

According to Michael Wagner, co-founder and CEO of ATMTA, the team’s plans for ‘Star Atlas’ include character progression on the Blockchain, inventory management, ship mastery, hovercraft racing, and even multiplayer support with classic modes like “Capture the Flag” and “Team Deathmatch”.

There’s no excuse not to broaden your gaming horizons, especially if you’re feeling a bit fatigued with the current market offerings and are eager to earn some cryptocurrency along the way. While our team isn’t focused on game development, we can provide you with a platform where you can purchase gaming-related products. We recently launched Hamza.biz, the first decentralized e-commerce platform based on the LOAD protocol. With this platform, we aim to deliver a decentralized, secure, and transparent experience, allowing both buyers and sellers to access multiple cryptocurrencies. Our priority is to establish a prominent position in the new generation of the Internet, and we believe that achieving this goal involves building a structure where users play a significant role in governance and decision-making. Hamza and LOAD represent just the beginning of a new chapter for us. Stay tuned to our information channels for all the latest updates.