Blowfish Studios, Animoca Brands’ flagship game studio, is developing an exciting new medieval-themed multiplayer PvP game called DarkTimes, and it’s making impressive inroads by integrating the Sui blockchain, thanks to help from Mysten Labs.
Taking inspiration from Nordic mythology, DARKTIMES is set in a dark and fantastical world that combines fast-paced and immersive combat with RPG elements. From what we’ve seen so far, it promises to be a unique PvP gaming experience.
Leveraging Blockchain for Player Ownership
The team began developing DARKTIMES in 2021 and set itself the challenge of taking fast-paced multiplayer gaming to the next level. Rather than opting for the standard battle royale format, the team chose to work on what it collectively called a brawler royale.
In DARKTIMES, players start as simple peasants and, over the course of a brawl, transform themselves into champions. The game’s structure allows for RPG-like elements of progression and connects players powerfully to the characters they embody during a fight.
DARKTIMES has an innovative feature that allows players to own non-fungible tokens. This is possible through the Sui blockchain, which enables players not only to own but also to customize and trade the digital assets that they acquire in the game, such as character cosmetics and gear.
These NFTs are not just static collectibles; they allow players to personalize their in-game experience and evolve their items, reflecting their progress and style within the game. This approach gives players more control over their in-game assets, creating a more engaging and dynamic gameplay experience.
Rune Run Airdrop and Community Partnerships
Before it officially launches, DARKTIMES has a few tricks up its sleeve to gather the attention of the gaming community. On September 2nd, the game will start its “Rune Run” campaign. This “play-to-play” event invites the community to participate for the chance to win Genesis DARKTIMES NFTs.
Winning these NFTs will grant lucky players early access to the game in late 2024 and the opportunity to unlock some of its most challenging levels, with even bigger prizes and rewards than those promised in the game’s initial teaser.
The Rune Run campaign is a collaborative effort involving several significant communities within the Web3 gaming and crypto space, including Mocaverse and MON Protocol. By working with these communities, the DARKTIMES team hopes to achieve two objectives: first, to build a strong community around DARKTIMES and, second, to substantially grow the game’s reach in the Web3 ecosystem.
First Playtest and Alpha Launch
DARKTIMES will hold its first-ever playtest during Korea Blockchain Week, which runs from September 1–7. This will give players a chance to experience the game’s remarkably fresh and unique mechanics and features. Select players will get another chance to try out the game during an alpha launch set for later this year.
In these initial phases, players will also come across the $TIMES token, which will act as the in-game money. This token will be crucial for undertaking high-stakes challenges and for trading items, weaving an economic dimension into the game that undergirds its NFT-based avatar personalization.
Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.
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