Worldspark Studios, a game production business, has just announced the closing of a $3 million seed investment.
Animoca Brands and Shima Capital led the round, which also included Alameda Ventures, Jump Capital, AAG Ventures, Sfermion, and YGGSEA, the sub-DAO of Yield Guild Games, a crypto gaming guild.
The studio wants to use the funds to incorporate NFT elements into Edenbrawl, its first game. It’s a combat-focused online multiplayer battle arena game comparable to League of Legends and Dota 2.
Chandler Thomlison, the creator and CEO of Worldspark, claimed the game was developed over a few years by an army of 240 contractors who built out the basic playable game.
Former Riot Games developers, as well as Bungie and Blizzard employees, make up the startup’s core crew.
With the new investment, Thomlison has enlisted the help of industry veterans to improve the gaming experience and incorporate NFT features in order to create a tokenized economy around Edenbrawl and its companion games. The game development team will also be working on games that utilize blockchain networks.
Edenbrawl will not include any play-to-earn aspects, unlike other blockchain games. The NFTs in the game are simply decorative. Character and weapon skins, as well as unique character animations and monster mounts, will be available for purchase and can be resold or traded.
“Most MOBAs in the blockchain space right now—for lack of a better term, they’re a little ‘pay-to-win,’ and that kind of ruins the competitiveness of it, – We absolutely cannot do that if we want to be in this long-term, sustainable, competitive game. The only thing NFTs can be in Edenbrawl is cosmetics.” Thomlison stated.
The NFTs, on the other hand, will enable actual player ownership of in-game things as well as the possibility of interoperability with other games.
Beyond Edenbrawl, Worldspark Studios wants to grow its presence in the blockchain gaming space. The company intends to construct an NFT-driven hub world where users can purchase and customize NFT land for use as dwellings, guild halls, social clubs, and other purposes.
While traditional game publishers are receiving blowback for entering the blockchain gaming industry, Thomlison noted that blockchain is a minor priority for Worldspark in comparison to the studio’s requirement to create an enjoyable game.