Blockchain-based game Illuvium is set to reach an audience of millions of PC and mobile gamers with its upcoming listing on the Epic Games Store, which is home to hugely popular titles like Fortnite.
Illuvium, an interoperable blockchain game developed by Illuvium Labs, will appear in the Epic store starting November 28, after several months of in-depth work to bring the title up to Epic standards.
Speaking exclusively to Cointelegraph ahead of Epic’s launch, Illuvium co-founder Kieran Warwick describes the game’s evolution to serve a mainstream audience and meet platform compatibility and legal requirements:
“The result of these efforts has not only earned Illuvium a place on a leading gaming platform, but has also evolved our product.”
The game was developed using Unreal Engine 5 on the Immutable X network. Its beta release on Epic Games will include three different game genres set in the Illuvium universe.
This includes Overworld, an open-world exploration and “creature-capturer” game reminiscent of beloved classics, an auto-combat strategy game called Arena and Zero, a city builder for mobile and desktop that ties into the other titles. Warwick says his approach of creating separate genres and game modes is intended to appeal to a broader audience of gamers.
“By releasing three different games in three different genres, we have significantly increased our target market. The only problem is that it has taken much longer to get to this point,” adds Warwick.
As blockchain games featuring non-fungible token (nft) elements have struggled to break into the mainstream, the Warwick team has adapted its approach in an effort to onboard users. Highlights the barrier to entry for native, non-Web3 players as a key reason for the slow adoption of blockchain games:
“One of the most frustrating things about nft games is the notion that you need a wallet and a ton of money just to try out the game. We’ve eliminated the need for wallets and it’s free to play. “We believe this is the only way to achieve widespread adoption.”
As Cointelegraph recently reported, Web3 venture capital firms like Animoca Brands have highlighted the hesitancy of major game publishers to include games that incorporate Web3 infrastructure.
Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands, previously suggested that major players remain unsure of the inherent implications, fearing that Web3 integration will circumvent existing business models that rely on distribution fees.
Related: ‘The social benefits are huge’: Web3 games to change digital ownership
Warwick echoes these sentiments and says this prevailing attitude is influenced by a variety of factors. One factor is the integrity of the game design, with some critics suggesting that including NFTs could lead to pay-to-win mechanics or negatively affect the game design by prioritizing monetization over the player experience.
Regulatory concerns are another consideration, and Warwick highlighted that blockchain technology and NFTs remain “in a gray area in many regions.”
“Games with nft functionality could run into issues with regulators that could affect their viability and legality.”
The volatility of the cryptocurrency and nft markets is another obstacle that worries major publishers, as well as the perceived prevalence of fraud.
However, Illuvium’s upcoming listing bodes well for the blockchain gaming industry as a whole. Warwick describes it as an important milestone, as his title arrives on the same platform as some of the most popular games of recent years.
“This is a big step forward. “People have been saying for years that web3 games are the next big thing in the crypto space,” Warwick concludes.
Investors in Web3 games have taken a more measured approach to backing early-stage studios creating blockchain games over the past year. This has been necessitated by the effects of a long cryptocurrency bear market, which has demanded greater due diligence from the industry’s venture capitalists.
Magazine: Blockchain games become popular – here’s how you can win
