Several years ago, Ubisoft, a prominent game publisher known for successful titles such as Assassin’s Creed and Just Dance, ventured into the realm of blockchain technology, marking one of the early instances where a significant player in the traditional gaming industry embraced this innovative approach. Despite encountering resistance from the gaming community, the studio has steadfastly maintained its dedication to this domain and has recently introduced its newest Web3 game.
The recently unveiled game is titled Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. It is a PC-based tactical role-playing game (RPG) that focuses on player-versus-player (PVP) gameplay. While the absence of any released screenshots is notable, a teaser trailer has been made available, offering tantalizing glimpses into the intricately crafted fictional universe. The trailer showcases enigmatic silhouettes of characters, reminiscent of figurines, which appear to be influenced by the visually captivating aesthetic of the physical tabletop game.
According to the official description, Champions Tactics offers players the opportunity to strategically assemble a formidable team comprising renowned Champions. By engaging in thrilling tactical battles against fellow players, they can delve into the enigmatic and ominous realm of Grimoria, unraveling its legendary tales.
Champions Tactics distinguishes itself as Ubisoft’s inaugural game developed on Oasis, a gaming-centric blockchain network. Prominent gaming entities such as Square Enix, Sega, and Bandai Namco have demonstrated keen interest in the Oasis platform. Recently, the game developer known as DoubleJump.Tokyo unveiled its strategic initiative to develop an immersive Oasis game centered around Sega’s renowned Japanese Sangokushi Taisen historical card game intellectual property (IP).
Champions Tactics will be available on PC through a specialized desktop application, rather than solely being accessed through a web-based platform. The official website alludes to the inclusion of “complimentary drops upon release,” indicating the potential incorporation of NFTs or tokens within the gameplay experience. Ubisoft intends to offer these items without charge, at least in the initial stages.
Ubisoft made waves within the gaming industry in the latter part of 2021 by revealing its plans to introduce a collection of exclusive, limited edition items based on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Tezos blockchain. These unique digital assets will be exclusively available for the PC edition of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint. The incorporation of NFTs into a widely embraced mainstream game has faced backlash from players who maintain a skeptical stance towards NFTs, primarily driven by apprehensions surrounding digital asset speculation, fraudulent activities prevalent in the NFT industry, and concerns that game publishers may exploit NFTs as a means to extract additional financial gains from players.
Despite this, Ubisoft remains committed to forming strategic partnerships and further establishing its footprint within the Web3 landscape. The Sandbox has recently introduced its Rabids characters into the Ethereum metaverse game.
In 2020, Ubisoft carried out an experimental initiative involving non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that showcased content inspired by the popular Rabbids franchise, with the aim of providing support to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). In 2021, the company introduced One Shot League, a derivative of the Ethereum NFT fantasy soccer game Sorare.
