Event of the Week

GM Vietnam 2023, co-hosted by Kyros Ventures, Ancient8 and Coin98 is a leading event in the blockchain industry, bringing together enthusiasts, developers, investors, and innovators from around the world. GM Vietnam, held over two days, exceeded expectations with over 5,000 attendees, 200+ projects, and 40+ side events. This impressive turnout highlights the thriving cryptocurrency market in Vietnam and the strong engagement of the community.

News Highlights

• Ubisoft is developing a new web3 game called Champions Tactics, marking their return to the genre. The game's details are limited, but it has generated excitement as a potential savior for blockchain gaming. This follows Ubisoft's previous unsuccessful attempt to incorporate NFTs into Ghost Recon in 2021. Champions Tactics is their latest venture into web3 gaming.
• Ember Sword is holding an alpha land sale in two phases, offering discounted land plots in the Solarwood region. Different plot sizes are available, and landowners receive special in-game titles. IMX is used for the NFTs associated with the purchased plots.
• Guild of Guardians, a once-prominent web3 gaming project, has launched an NFT staking program. NFT owners can earn GOG tokens by holding their NFTs and engaging with the Guild of Guardians ecosystem. The project aims to distribute two million GOG tokens among three groups of token holders.
• Gods Unchained has finally introduced new game modes after over four years. Players can now enjoy a rotating selection of alternate modes, offering fresh experiences beyond the standard gameplay. Although the addition of these modes slightly missed the Q2 goal from the 2023 roadmap, it has fulfilled players' expectations by diversifying the gameplay options.

Project Spotlight

Endless Clouds, the company behind the MMO Treeverse, has unveiled Capsule Heroes, a new mobile PvP game that incorporates NFT interactions from their other projects. Capsule Heroes, initially a game jam experiment, has now evolved into a full-fledged free-to-play PvP brawler.

The game will feature diverse game modes, including Team Deathmatch and Survival, allowing players to team up with friends or play solo. With a focus on casual and competitive gaming, Capsule Heroes offers a range of character skins for customization. The company plans to release an alpha version later this year, accompanied by limited playtests for community members.

NFTs Buzz

• The NFT market has experienced a significant downturn, with prices of popular collections such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) reaching a two-year low. The floor price for Bored Ape NFTs has dropped by 88% since its peak in April 2022. Royalties earned by NFT projects have also hit a two-year low.

BAYC floor price (OpenSea)

• Blur v2 is now live with two major updates: trades use 50% less gas, and trait bidding is introduced. Gas optimizations result in cost savings, and trait bidding points can be earned on select collections. The team highlights ongoing developments for Season 2, including lending, BNPL, mobile support, and a gas-optimized marketplace. Loyalty and listing points remain valuable in Season 2.

• Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, praises Bitcoin Ordinals as a return of builder culture to Bitcoin. He suggests implementing layer-2 solutions like rollups and commends the BRC-20 token standard. Buterin hopes these changes will counterbalance the Bitcoin-centric "laser-eye movement" and encourage a more inclusive approach in the blockchain community.
• Coca-Cola Serbia collaborates with SolSea to introduce branded NFTs at the Exit Festival. Through the Magic Mirror activation, attendees can virtually try on Coca-Cola merchandise and create shareable mementos. The partnership includes an exclusive collection of Coca-Cola-branded merchandise paired with NFTs.

Thought-provoking Tweets

NFT Marketplaces and the Race to the Lowest Floor: A Warning