Illuvium Takes Blockchain Gaming Mainstream with Epic Games Store Debut
Summary:
Blockchain-based game Illuvium is set to launch on the Epic Games Store, reaching millions of gamers worldwide. The game, developed by Illuvium Labs, will debut on November 28 and will introduce three unique genres set within the Illuvium universe. Co-founder Kieran Warwick aims to attract a wider audience by eliminating the need for wallets and making the game free to play. Despite hurdles, such as regulatory challenges and market volatility related to blockchain technology and NFTs, the move is viewed as a significant advancement for the blockchain gaming industry.
The blockchain-based game Illuvium is ready to reach millions of PC and mobile gamers as it prepares for its upcoming listing on the Epic Games Store, known for hosting popular games like Fortnite. Created by Illuvium Labs, the interoperable blockchain game will be available on Epic's store from November 28, after months of preparation to meet Epic's quality standards. In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph before the Epic debut, Illuvium co-founder Kieran Warwick shared the game's growth process to satisfy mainstream gamers and to meet the platform's legal and compatibility conditions. This resulted in not only securing a spot on a major gaming platform but also improving their product. The game, developed on Unreal Engine 5 via the Immutable X network, will have its beta launch on Epic Games and will introduce three unique games set in the Illuvium universe. This includes Overworld, an exploration game, Arena, a strategic autobattler game, and Zero, a mobile and desktop-based city-builder game. Their aim in creating separate genres and game modes is to attract a broader gaming audience. Blockchain games incorporating nonfungible token (NFT) elements have found it challenging to enter the mainstream market, leading Warwick's team to tweak its strategy by focusing on bringing in more users. The perceived high entry barrier for non-Web3 native gamers has been identified as a major factor for the slow uptake of blockchain games. Illuvium addressed this by eliminating the requirement for wallets while also making it free to play, seeing this as necessary for widespread adoption. Web3 venture capital firms like Animoca Brands have previously voiced their concerns about mainstream game publishers' reluctance to list games using Web3 infrastructure, mainly due to a lack of confidence in the inherent implications and fear that Web3 integration would sidestep existing fee-based distribution business models. Regulatory challenges and market volatility related to blockchain technology and NFTs have also caused reservations among mainstream publishers. However, Illuvium’s impending listing is encouraging for the broader blockchain gaming community, with Warwick referring to this as a significant advancement, bringing their game to the same platform as some of the most popular mainstream games of recent years. Amidst this, investors in Web3 gaming have been more cautious when investing in early-stage studios developing blockchain games due to the impact of an extended cryptocurrency bear market. This has necessitated a more thorough approach from venture capitalists in the industry.
Published At
11/8/2023 12:50:35 PM
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