Sydney-based blockchain specialists Immutable has signed a partnership agreement with Ubisoft to develop a mainstream Web3 gaming experience.
Immutable is responsible for one of the world’s most successful blockchain games – Gods Unchained – a title which has won a plethora of industry awards since it was first launched in 2018.
The team behind the game boast a wealth of experience in the gaming industry having previously worked with Riot Games, EA Games, Wizards of the Coast and many more.
Gods Unchained is a play-to-earn tactical card game and is currently the longest-running gaming project in the evolving non-fungible tokens (NFTs) sector.
The NFTs are digitally owned by players on blockchain platform Ethereum and can be used to earn meaningful currencies and items or traded on marketplaces.
Immutable will now use the expertise they have garnered in recent years to collaborate with Ubisoft’s strategic innovation laboratory to develop a mainstream Web3 gaming experience.
“Partnering with Ubisoft is a defining landmark for Immutable,” said Immutable Chief Executive Officer and co-founder James Ferguson. “We couldn’t be more excited to explore with Ubisoft the benefits of Web3 and digital ownership for players.
“We plan to bring the full weight of our ecosystem to bear to ensure the partnership’s success. We are confident that we will bring to life a fresh new experience that players will love.”
The new partnership with Ubisoft is the latest exciting development for a firm which has quickly become a major player in the Australian gaming industry.
Immutable secured AU$273 funding in Series C raise led by Singaporean investment group Temasek in early 2022 to add to its growing portfolio of global partnerships.
This followed hot on the heels of a strategic partnership with major electronic gaming company GameStop to launch its new NFT marketplace on the Immutable X platform.
Immutable also recently launched the test network of its zero-knowledge (zk) scaling solution on Ethereum. Immutable zkEVM facilitates faster transactions on blockchain while keeping fees low.
This is not only exciting news for the gaming industry, but could have a significant impact on associated sectors such as online gambling, particularly with regards to cryptocurrency payments.
Numerous betting operators have dabbled with blockchain technology in recent years, but many remain wary about fully harnessing its power. Immutable look well placed to change that mindset.
Some of the top 10 betting apps in Australia currently offer cryptocurrency payments to customers, but mass adoption of the blockchain-based technology is yet to happen in the sector.
However, Immutable zkEVM could be a game-changer for the Australian betting industry, especially with its creators forging increasingly strong ties with respected global gaming brands.
The link-up between Immutable and Ubisoft will likely spike plenty of interest in the gambling industry as both companies are heavily linked to the eSports sector.
Betting companies have been expanding their coverage of eSports leagues and tournaments over the past couple of years as they strive to appeal to a different demographic of potential customers.
Ubisoft’s involvement with Immutable in the Web3 project opens up a wealth of possibilities that could help betting operators capitalise on emerging technology, business and societal trends.
The French-headquartered publisher is eager to forge stronger links with other elements of the online gaming universe and views blockchain as a key part of their business development strategy.
Nicolas Pouard, Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab vice-president and head of the blockchain initiative, says the new partnership with Immutable will help both firms expand their horizons over the next few years.
“As the platform of choice for many leaders within the Web3 community, Immutable offers both cutting-edge technology and a unique expertise in seamlessly integrating decentralised technologies into games,” Pouard said.
“We’re excited to partner with them and look forward to bringing that level of fluidness within a full-fledged game, so players only have to focus on the fun of the experience.”