Ubisoft, the gaming giant behind popular franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Just Dance, has made a successful entry into the NFT gaming space with its latest title, Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. The game, which is set to launch on the Oasys blockchain in early 2024, features a player-versus-player tactical RPG gameplay with a dark fantasy theme.
As a way of promoting the game and rewarding its loyal fans, Ubisoft announced a free NFT mint for a series of profile pictures (PFPs) called Warlords, which are tied to the game’s lore and factions. Warlords are pixel-style heroes with weapons that can be used as in-game avatars and grant access to exclusive perks and benefits.
The free NFT mint took place on December 18, 2023, on the Ethereum blockchain. Ubisoft offered 8,000 Warlords NFTs to the public, while reserving 1,000 for the Oasys community and 999 for future marketing and giveaways. To mint a Warlord NFT, users only had to pay the Ethereum network gas fees, which vary depending on the network congestion and the complexity of the smart contract.
The mint was open to anyone who had a Ubisoft account, an Ethereum-compatible wallet, and enough ETH to cover the gas fees. Users also had to be over 18 years old and live in an eligible country, as some regions were restricted due to legal or regulatory reasons.
Warlords NFTs Sell Out in Minutes, Generating Millions in Sales
The demand for the Warlords NFTs was overwhelming, as the mint sold out in less than 15 minutes. According to data from OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, the Warlords NFTs generated over $3.6 million in sales volume on the first day of trading, with an average price of $450 per NFT. The highest sale recorded was $15,000 for a Warlord NFT with a rare trait.
The Warlords NFTs also ranked among the top 10 most popular collections on OpenSea, with over 4,000 owners and 7,000 transactions. The secondary market activity was fueled by the scarcity and the utility of the Warlords NFTs, as well as the anticipation for the Champions Tactics game.
Warlords NFT Holders to Receive More Benefits in the Future
Ubisoft has promised that the Warlords NFT holders will receive more benefits in the future, as they will be able to mint up to five playable NFT characters called Champions for free at a later date. Champions are the core of the Champions Tactics game, as they are the figurine-like characters that players use to battle each other in a strategic and tactical manner.
The Champions NFTs will also have different traits, abilities, and rarities, and will be deployed on the Oasys blockchain, which is a gaming-centric chain that is compatible with Ethereum. The Oasys blockchain aims to provide a fast, scalable, and low-cost solution for NFT gaming, while also offering cross-chain interoperability and user-friendly tools.
Ubisoft has not yet revealed the exact date for the Champions NFT mint, but it has hinted that it will be sometime in early 2024, before the launch of the game. The game itself will be available on PC, and will feature an online multiplayer mode, a single-player campaign, and a rich and immersive world of Grimoria.
Ubisoft Continues to Explore NFT Gaming and Blockchain Technology
Ubisoft is not new to the NFT gaming and blockchain technology space, as it has been experimenting with various projects and initiatives since 2018. The company has been part of the Blockchain Game Alliance, a consortium of gaming and blockchain companies that aims to promote the adoption and innovation of blockchain technology in the gaming industry.
Ubisoft has also launched several NFT projects based on its existing IPs, such as Ghost Recon, Rabbids, and Assassin’s Creed. However, Champions Tactics is the first original game that Ubisoft has developed from scratch with NFTs and blockchain technology at its core.
Ubisoft has stated that it believes in the potential of NFT gaming and blockchain technology to create new and exciting experiences for gamers, as well as to empower them with more ownership, control, and value over their digital assets. The company has also expressed its commitment to support and collaborate with the NFT gaming and blockchain community, and to explore more opportunities and innovations in the future.
