GAME UPDATES

• Valhalla, the open-world metaverse developed by FLOKI, underwent its latest patch on December 28, enhancing the gaming experience with several key updates. The patch introduces expansions to the open world, a temporary disablement of PvP for bug fixes and improved combat, a wave emote update, and the merging of the Intro and Combat Hub for a more streamlined experience in the evolving world of Valhalla.

• Sidus Heroes, a metaverse-gaming platform with various game studios, has updated a feature called The Catalog, which is a directory of all NFTs for sale in the metaverse. It also offers players a way to monitor the availability, time left, and prices of items on their wishlist. This eliminates the need for players to search through multiple platforms.

• The Mythical Marketplace has introduced a major update called Quick Trades, streamlining the trading process on the platform. This new function enables users to swap their items directly for other assets, bypassing the need to use MYTH tokens for buying and selling when trading with another player. This update greatly enhances the user experience, eliminating the need for two separate transactions during a trade. It allows for more efficient trading, as users can now simply select items from their inventory and offer items of comparable value in exchange.

• Cornucopias, a MMO, has released a new update accessible to testers via the game's launcher. Key improvements include a revamped Sky System for more realistic atmospheric effects and updates to post-processing and lighting, enhancing the game's visual appeal. The game's Time of Day System now operates on eight-hour cycles, meaning a full day in the game equates to eight real-life hours. Additionally, this update brings a range of new avatar presets, increasing the total to 29. Players can also experience the 2024 Valkyrie F9R Vehicle, an S-class model, in the Calido Pavilion. This update includes other new elements like ZeroG Hoverboards.

• Stella Fantasy, an anime-inspired AAA action RPG, has entered its new season. In this Abyss Invader Season, players can challenge the formidable Blade Panther, facing stronger foes than ever before, and have the opportunity to enhance their character stats and acquire valuable loot.

EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS

• Illuvium held a tournament on December 30 with a $1,000 prize pool. The event featured Ascendant PvP, a gameplay mode where players engage in card battles similar to Hearthstone. The tournament adopted a Swiss-style format, evaluating players based on their ranking and performance statistics, departing from a single-elimination style.

• Axie Infinity hosted a festive event, the "Holiday Bash," from December 28 to December 29. The community participated in various activities, including singing carols, showcasing their Axies, competing in Axie games, and more and had the chance to win collectible and non-collectible Axies during the event.

• BetFury, a prominent crypto casino, launched a giveaway for its players on December 28. To enter the draw, players were required to like, share, and comment with their game username, as well as open a lootbox. The winner received a Pudgy Penguin valued at 0.88 ETH, while three additional winners each received $100.

• Gala Games kicked off the Snowfall Tournament for Dragon Strike: Puzzle RPG on December 21, running simultaneously for a week with the regular Sub-Zero Tournament. The Snowfall Tournament included both beginner and expert levels, and players' scores will contribute to the Gala Games leaderboard, as per the announcement.

• BinaryX’s AI Hero Leaderboard competition will conclude on January 5. The competition boasts a substantial prize pool of 55,000 BNX for the leaderboard prizes. Players who rank from 1st to 5th will share a pool of 4,000 BNX, while those ranked 6th to 10th will split 3,000 BNX. Participants ranked between 151st and 250th will divide a larger pool of 7,500 BNX. Moreover, the team has set aside a consolation prize pool of 5,000 BNX for players who engaged in at least 10 matches but did not make it into the top 250 rankings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SNEAK PEEKS

• Ambrus Studio, the creators of the mobile blockchain MOBA game E4C: Final Salvation, has announced the utility of owning E4C Rangers NFTs. Owners of these NFTs get to enjoy three main perks: receiving $E4C token airdrops, participating in governance, and getting in-game asset airdrops. The type of NFT edition you hold determines your eligibility for the initial $E4C token airdrop. Additionally, NFT holders can influence the game's development through governance activities before its official release, earning rewards for their involvement. To appreciate early supporters, the developers are also offering exclusive in-game rewards, including airdrops of uniquely rare assets like skins tailored for the player's NFT.

• DragonverseNeo, an anime-style RPG, showcased its gameplay in a short 14-second video, which provides viewers with a glimpse of the game's features, including battles, quests, and a world filled with wonder.

• The AIA Carnival, a major outdoor event in Hong Kong, has collaborated with The Sandbox (TSB), a leading name in metaverse gaming, to blend real-life and virtual experiences in a unique way. This year, they’ve created a special single-player game, "Path of the Legend". Set within The Sandbox universe, the game captures the celebratory spirit of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon. Running until February 26, the game not only provides an engaging storyline but also offers rewards such as SAND tokens, NFT passes, and actual tickets to the AIA Carnival.

• Karnak Legacy, a mobile extraction royale shooter (ERS) game set in Steampunk Egypt, is now sharing sneak peeks and development updates with the community. The game is teasing its access release in early 2024.

• Minecraft, the popular sandbox game developed by Mojang and owned by Microsoft, has taken a surprising turn by adopting Worldcoin's authentication system. This decision represents a significant change in attitude towards blockchain technology, moving away from the studio's earlier skepticism about cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

• Following the release of the gameplay trailer for WarEden, a free-to-play MMORPG, the closed alpha date has been announced. While the closed alpha date is yet to be confirmed, the project is inviting interested individuals to acquire access. To gain entry, participants can join the project's Discord and participate in the Royal Rumble competition or answer quizzes correctly.

• Revolving Games has revealed its plans to launch a new token, which will be airdropped to NFT holders from its Web3 MMORPG, Skyborne Legacy. The studio intends to provide an incentive to those owning Nexian Gem NFTs by offering them a 20% bonus on Airdrop Points, valid for holders as of December 25, until 11:59 PM PST. It is essential for these Nexian Gems to be retained until January 31st, 11:59 PM PST, to qualify for the increased reward. Additionally, the studio's official announcement highlights that possessing over 50, 75, or 100 Nexian Gems could potentially increase the multiplier to as much as 30%.

• The trailer for Forgotten Playland offers a sneak peek into a magical attic where players can engage in a variety of mini-games. This space serves as a social hub, where players can also customize their miniature toy characters. Set for release in the first quarter of 2024, this free-to-play social party game will initially feature two mini-games, with plans to expand the selection over time.

COLLABORATIONS

• PlayEmber, the mobile game studio boasting over 120 million downloads, has exciting news on the horizon with the announcement of a free mint coming soon. Notably, PlayEmber is now extending an invitation for collaboration, and interested parties are encouraged to fill out the provided form to explore potential partnerships and opportunities.

• MOBOX, the co-created and co-governed open world, has formed a strategic partnership with Bitmap Tech. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, paving the way for the enhanced performance of Dragonverse Neo on their advanced Bitcoin (BTC) Layer 2 solution. The objective of this partnership is to streamline and reduce transaction costs, promising a game-changing experience for users within the MOBOX ecosystem.

• Monsterra, the free-to-play monster game, has joined forces with Aqua Network to launch an exciting competition starting December 27. This unique trading competition is designed to reward participants for engaging with the Monsterra marketplace using Aqua Network. The more active and successful your trades, the greater your chances of securing a share in the impressive prize pool totaling $2000.

• Wemade, a Korean gaming company, and Whampoa, a Singaporean investment arm, have entered into a partnership to enhance the web3 gaming space. As part of this collaboration, the two entities plan to invest $100 million in web3 game startups and establish a shared office space to actively engage in collaborative efforts within the industry.