In this week’s newsletter, read about how Pixelverse will integrate a character representing popular nonfungible-token (NFT) collection Pudgy Penguins into its Telegram minigame. Check out how Portal aims to lower entry barriers to blockchain gaming with a new service and how Japanese gaming giant Square Enix is backing a soccer-based blockchain game. In other news, find out how Pudgy Penguin domain owners can log into Pudgy World using their domains.
Pixelverse to put Pudgy Penguins character in Telegram minigame
A character representing the NFT collection Pudgy Penguins will be integrated into Pixelverse’s minigame on Telegram. Pixelverse said it would introduce “Pudgy,” the face of the Pudgy Penguins collection, into the game, joining other characters like Doge and Mew.
This development lets users play the character in Pixelverse’s game before the release of an official Pudgy Penguins game in 2025.
Portal introduces PortalPay interoperability for blockchain gaming
Gaming platform Portal has introduced a service that aims to lower the barriers to entry for blockchain gaming. The company announced PortalPay, a way to pay for in-game assets and cash out using supported cryptocurrencies.
Ezra Strauss, head of partnerships at Portal, said that one of the main issues in blockchain gaming is the fragmentation within the ecosystem. “I think the big problems that we’ve seen are that there are all these different chains, different wallets, and sort of like separate ecosystems that have sprung up,” Strauss said.
The executive highlighted that the company aims to solidify user retention by solving this issue.
Square Enix backs blockchain-based football MMO Soccerverse
Japanese gaming giant Square Enix led a $3.1 million fundraising round for Soccerverse. The game simulates the workings of soccer, allowing gamers to take on various roles, such as coaching a team or representing a player. The project runs on the Polygon blockchain and features various Web3 functionalities.
Square Enix executive Hideaki Uehara believes that the game stands out as the “most innovative” game using blockchain features within its genre. The executive said the company is eager to continue its journey with the game.
Pudgy Penguins enables access to its virtual world with Web3 domains
Pudgy Penguins partnered with Web3 domain provider Unstoppable Domains to allow its users to access Pudgy World using their .pudgy domains. The two companies announced on July 10 that domain holders could log into the virtual world using only their domains.
The new integration eliminates the need to sign in using Web2-based credentials like Google or Apple accounts and traditional passwords. Sandy Carter, Unstoppable Domains’ chief operating officer, said the latest integration “empowers users to truly own their identities and control their virtual experience.”
Thanks for reading this digest of the week’s most notable developments in the NFT space. Come again next Wednesday for more reports and insights into this actively evolving space.