Animoca Brands, a prominent Web3-focused company based in Hong Kong, has formed a strategic alliance with Cross the Ages, a blockchain-powered fantasy and sci-fi transmedia universe. The collaboration, revealed at the end of the week, centers on supporting the upcoming release of Arise, a multiplayer action role-playing game (RPG) developed within the Cross the Ages ecosystem.
As outlined in the agreement, Animoca Brands is set to assist with the official launch of Arise, which has reportedly been under development for more than two years. The game is scheduled to debut on Windows PC in the fourth quarter of 2025, with subsequent versions for macOS and additional platforms in the pipeline. Built using Unreal Engine 5, Arise is being positioned as a flagship AAA title in the Web3 gaming space, promising high-end graphics, immersive gameplay, and deep economic interactions.
Players in Arise will be able to assume various roles, including that of a farmer, crafter, dungeon crawler, or fighter. Gameplay modes will include both player-versus-environment (PvE) and player-versus-player (PvP) elements. Participants can collect resources, contribute to a player-driven economy, and engage in strategic base-building, which involves managing energy levels, upgrading infrastructure, and extracting in-game resources.
Four characters from the game have already been unveiled: Malik, who is endowed with magical abilities; Ellie, a skilled sorcerer; Takeshi, trained in combat; and Samia, an Arcane Scholar. These protagonists are expected to play significant roles in both the narrative and gameplay.
In addition to supporting the launch of Arise, Animoca Brands has begun acquiring CTA tokens on the open market. These tokens function as both utility and governance assets within the Cross the Ages platform, facilitating in-game interactions, NFT ownership, and ecosystem-wide participation. The token is central to virtual activities and real-world applications within Arise and the broader Cross the Ages universe.
We are entering into a strategic partnership with @CrossTheAges, a fantasy and sci-fi based transmedia ecosystem leveraging blockchain technology.
Through this partnership, we will support Cross the Ages' ecosystem and its upcoming official launch of Arise, a free-to-play… pic.twitter.com/uZtoaqTTEU
— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) June 20, 2025
Animoca is also playing a key role in refining the go-to-market strategy for Blast, an enhanced version of Cross the Ages’ original trading card game. This includes strategic input on tokenomics, marketing initiatives, and liquidity provisioning for the CTA token.
In a public update regarding the collaboration, Animoca Brands’ leadership commended the ongoing commitment of the Cross the Ages team to producing high-quality Web3 games. They suggested that the broader market may be underestimating the long-term value of the franchise, especially given the technological foundation provided by Unreal Engine 5, which highlights the AAA potential of blockchain-based gaming.
Cross the Ages’ co-founder and CEO noted that Animoca’s support dates back to 2021. He referenced past collaborations, including the launch of the CTA token and a successful equity funding round in 2024. The company considers this new phase a significant step forward in its journey toward building a comprehensive Web3 gaming ecosystem.