Animoca Brands Japan, a strategic subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has announced a collaboration with XANA LLC, the company behind the Web3 metaverse XANA. This partnership focuses on supporting the worldwide expansion of XANA BreakingDown, a Web3 game currently in closed alpha, inspired by the renowned martial arts event BreakingDown.
BreakingDown, a mixed martial arts competition in Japan, features fighters from varied backgrounds who compete in intense one-minute bouts. Established in 2021 by Asakura Mirai, a professional mixed martial artist, entrepreneur, and YouTube content creator with a substantial following exceeding 3.4 million subscribers, the event has garnered significant popularity due to its engaging format. The competition broadcasts various forms of content, including auditions, pre-fight press conferences, live match streams, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. The official BreakingDown Japanese YouTube channel has accumulated over 206,000 subscribers, with its videos collectively surpassing 110 million views.
XANA has played a key role in supporting BreakingDown, having served as the primary sponsor for BreakingDown events 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5. Additionally, XANA collaborated with BreakingDown to launch the exclusive “XANA x BreakingDown Avatar NFT” collection. The initial sale witnessed 5,000 NFTs being sold out within ten minutes, while the second sale saw 100 NFTs purchased in just one minute.
In January 2024, XANA introduced the closed alpha version of the XANA BreakingDown Web3 game, which is currently accessible only to holders of the XANA x BreakingDown Avatar NFTs. This initiative represents a fusion of the entertainment value of BreakingDown with XANA’s advancements in Web3 technology, aiming to elevate the unique appeal of fighting entertainment within the Web3 ecosystem.
Animoca Brands Japan’s Role in Web3 Expansion
Animoca Brands Japan plays a pivotal role in bridging Japan’s intellectual property (IP) with global markets while promoting the adoption of Web3. The company facilitates the international expansion of Japanese IP and Web3 content while also aiding overseas Web3 projects in entering the Japanese market. Leveraging its affiliation with Animoca Brands, which boasts a portfolio of over 540 companies, the firm aims to enhance the global marketing efforts of XANA BreakingDown.
Executives involved in the collaboration have expressed confidence in the project’s potential. A senior representative from BreakingDown and XANA JAPAN noted that this partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the evolution of fighting games within the Web3 space. It was emphasized that Animoca Brands Japan’s involvement would act as a crucial catalyst for accelerating BreakingDown’s international reach.
Similarly, XANA’s Chief Executive Officer highlighted the extensive development efforts that have gone into making XANA BreakingDown available to the public. He underscored the honor of collaborating with Animoca Brands Japan to support the Web3 expansion of a major Japanese IP that transcends traditional martial arts boundaries. He also acknowledged Animoca Brands’ strong global network and its potential to drive the project’s worldwide success while expanding Web3’s possibilities.
The Chief Executive Officer of Animoca Brands Japan expressed enthusiasm about supporting the Web3 expansion of BreakingDown, emphasizing its prominence as one of Japan’s most notable martial arts events. He reiterated the company’s commitment to facilitating the global expansion of Japanese IPs in the Web3 space, highlighting BreakingDown’s widespread popularity and dedicated fanbase as key factors in accelerating Web3 adoption.
XANA’s Influence in the Metaverse and Web3
XANA functions as a global AI-driven Layer-1 infrastructure designed for the metaverse, enabling large-scale engagement within a seamless Web3 cross-reality economy. The platform is utilized by over 100 leading institutions, local governments, global brands, and major IP holders.
Animoca Brands Japan, founded in 2021, operates as a Web3-focused global enterprise dedicated to advancing the Web3 strategies of Japanese intellectual property holders. The company collaborates with publishers, brands, educational institutions, sports teams, athletes, artists, and gaming firms to drive Web3 innovations and expansion on a global scale.
