Quick take:
- Zilliqa hopes to onboard more users to its platform with the Web3 game console.
- Players using the console can buy and sell digital assets on Zilliqa’s marketplace and earn rewards.
- The console will be launched early next year with two games developed by Zilliqa.
Blockchain company, Zilliqa, today announced that it is launching a Web3 game console, which will become the company’s gaming hub. The console will feature first-party games by Zilliqa, a Web3 wallet, and crypto asset mining utilities.
The console is being launched with the purpose of onboarding more users to Zilliqa’s platform and allowing users to mine Zilliqa tokens while playing games. Users will find games and apps in the console’s gaming hub, and can earn rewards or buy and sell in-game assets on Zilliqa’s marketplace.
“Upon announcing our first game at Gamescom, we had a great response from the gaming community, and we’re excited to say that it was just the beginning,” says Valentin Cobelea, head of gaming technology at Zilliqa. “Zilliqa’s hardware console and gaming hub will allow non-crypto natives to earn money while playing fun games without the complexity of managing the crypto they earn.”
Zilliqa will launch the console early next year along with two first-party games, followed by other third-party games. The gaming hub and console will go into early access beta testing next month and will be available for pre-order in Q1 2023.
The company has been ramping up its Web3 gaming efforts in recent months. In April, it joined the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) as the blockchain protocol makes a play for the gaming market.
On Aug 23, Zilliqa announced its entry into the blockchain gaming space with its first-person shooter (FPS) game, Web3War. To appeal to the gaming community, Web3War is focusing on gameplay and intuitive design, making it easy to pick up, play, and enjoy from the very beginning.
However, Web3War will be free-to-play at launch, with token-gated seasonal components. It will be available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS. It’s unclear whether it will be playable with the Web3 game console at a later stage.
Others have also attempted to create a Web3 console. In July, Web3 gaming product and infrastructure startup, Polium, announced its Web3 gaming console, Polium One. However, the announcement of the console drew criticism and mixed reviews. Twitter users noticed the similarity between Polium’s logo and Nintendo’s GameCube logo as well as other copyright infringements and unrealistic specs. The startup said it “will illustrate a new logo that’s original.”
Currently, the console only exists as a 3D render and Polium claims that it will have a functioning prototype by November.
When launched, Zilliqa’s game console will be up against major industry giants such as Playstation, Nintendo, and Xbox. According to Statista, video game consoles, generated approximately $107.5 billion worldwide in 2021. According to estimates of the Consumer Market Outlook, revenue from video games is projected to exceed $130 billion for the first time in 2026.
Stay up to date:
