China is set to make waves in the gaming industry with the upcoming launch of MetaCene, an innovative blockchain MMORPG. Developed over nearly two years and with an investment of $5 million, MetaCene promises to transform the crypto gaming landscape.
MetaCene immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world where they interact with six distinct types of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to build and redefine civilizations. The game aims to merge the high aspirations of traditional gaming with the revolutionary technologies of Web3, AI, and blockchain.
The development team plans to roll out the second alpha test and launch the mainnet blockchain in Q3 of this year. Following that, they anticipate releasing the commercial version 1.0 in Q4, with version 2.0 scheduled for 2024.
Alan Tan, one of the game’s creators, noted that MetaCene is designed to address criticisms of crypto games being more focused on financial speculation than entertainment. The game seeks to balance engaging gameplay with blockchain elements, offering a robust experience for both gamers and crypto enthusiasts.
Founded in October 2021, MetaCene’s team includes veterans from Shanda Games, Blizzard, and Perfect World. The development team, led by Alan Tan, Cary Chen, Lion Cheung, Owen Fung, and Last Chan, is currently raising an additional $8 million from venture capitalists to further support the project.
In August, MetaCene launched an alpha test, allowing 2,961 players to explore the game’s world, engage in Player vs Player (PVP) combat, and participate in various quests. The test resulted in significant player engagement, with users spending a combined 461,916 minutes in-game, generating USDT 6,166 in transactions, and creating 1,225 new addresses.
The game will be free-to-play, with revenue generated from transaction fees and potential in-game purchases. Additionally, MetaCene is actively seeking game ambassadors and has introduced the Metropolis Sentry, an interactive user engagement system that rewards players with in-game equipment and NFTs.
MetaCene aims to offer a fresh perspective on crypto gaming by integrating solid gameplay with blockchain technology, setting itself apart from existing projects that focus solely on financial elements. The game’s innovative approach could pave the way for the next generation of blockchain-based entertainment.