Amplifying the Future: Animoca Brands and Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab Join Forces in Web3 Frontier

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Web3, two major players are joining forces to redefine the future of digital interaction and gaming: Animoca Brands and Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab. Announced on November 21, 2023, this collaboration is a significant milestone in the journey towards a more integrated and immersive metaverse.

Ubisoft entering web3 is a Big deal

Animoca Brands, a front-runner in digital property rights for gaming and the open metaverse, is set to enhance Ubisoft’s Web3 initiatives through its Mocaverse project. This partnership centers around the integration of Ubisoft’s latest venture, Champions Tactics Grimoria Chronicles, into the Mocaverse ecosystem. This game, a tactical RPG, offers players an opportunity to dive into the mystical world of Grimoria, engaging in strategic battles and uncovering legends.

The collaboration between Animoca Brands and Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab is particularly significant due to Ubisoft’s established reputation in traditional gaming. Ubisoft, a titan in the gaming industry, is known for its blockbuster titles and innovative gaming experiences, having a profound influence on the evolution of mainstream gaming. Their foray into the Web3 space, in partnership with Animoca Brands, signals a pivotal shift in the gaming industry’s trajectory. This move is not just an adoption of new technology; it’s a blending of Ubisoft’s extensive experience in creating immersive gaming worlds with the cutting-edge, decentralized possibilities offered by blockchain technology. The integration of Web3 elements into Ubisoft’s gaming ecosystems promises to revolutionize player engagement, offering new levels of ownership, interactivity, and immersive experiences. This partnership marks a transformative moment, potentially setting a new standard for the gaming industry and serving as a bridge between traditional gaming and the burgeoning world of Web3, blockchain, and the metaverse.

“We have been following Animoca Brands for a while now, and it is a pleasure for us to take part and support its consumer-facing execution by joining the Mocaverse program from the first season,” said Nicolas Pouard, VP, Strategic Innovation Lab at Ubisoft.

Mocaverse stands out as a unique meta experience layer, connecting over 400 companies within Animoca Brands’ network. It emphasizes Web3 identity, social connectivity, and growth in culture and entertainment sectors. By bringing Ubisoft’s game into this fold, Mocaverse aims to set a new standard for player engagement and rewards through its Web3 Frequent Player Program.

This program is a game-changer, offering Moca ID holders the ability to earn Realm Points through active participation. These points can be redeemed for exclusive benefits and rewards, blurring the lines between digital and real-world experiences.

Yat Siu, Animoca Brands’ co-founder, highlights the company’s commitment to introducing users to Web3 through gaming and entertainment. Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab, under the leadership of Nicolas Pouard, is excited to be part of this consumer-facing execution, recognizing Animoca Brands’ pivotal role in the industry.

As we witness this remarkable collaboration, it’s clear that the future of gaming, digital rights, and online interaction is taking a significant leap forward. The partnership between Animoca Brands and Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab is not just about a game or a platform; it’s about creating a new realm of possibilities in the Web3 universe.

TL;DR: Animoca Brands and Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab are collaborating to integrate Ubisoft’s new game, Champions Tactics Grimoria Chronicles, into Animoca’s Mocaverse. This partnership aims to redefine player engagement in the Web3 space, offering unique rewards and experiences.

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TL;DR: Wreck League, a groundbreaking AAA real-time PVP fighting game, combines crossplay functionality between mobile and PC platforms. Developed by nWay in collaboration with Animoca Brands and Yuga Labs, it features a multi-verse of characters from various web3 projects. Players can digitally own unique Mech parts and build customizable fighting characters for epic battles.

Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of Wreck League, an exciting AAA real-time PVP fighting game that breaks barriers with crossplay functionality between mobile and PC platforms. Developed by the powerhouse collaboration of nWay and Animoca Brands, with contributions from Yuga Labs, Wreck League promises to revolutionize the gaming industry by incorporating characters from various web3 projects into its multi-verse.

Unlike traditional fighting games with limited rosters, Wreck League offers players the creative freedom to generate their own Mech fighters, resulting in over 1.5 quadrillion possible unique combinations to bring into battle. In a groundbreaking licensing agreement with Yuga Labs, the game’s first season will feature four iconic collections: Bored Ape Yacht Club, Mutant Ape Yacht Club, Bored Ape Kennel Club, and Otherside Kodas. Players can collect Mech Parts, which are NFTs, and assemble them to mint full Mech character NFTs, enhancing the element of ownership and exclusivity.

Wreck League brings together creators, owners, and skilled players who can collaborate and compete in the league to maximize their victories. Success in the game events and tournaments relies on players’ ability to design well-crafted Mechs, each composed of 10 Mech Parts NFTs. With endless customization options, Mech owners can disassemble their creations back into Mech Parts, allowing for continuous improvement and uniqueness in each build. The best Mech creators and owners will join forces with skilled players to reach the pinnacle of the league’s various competitions.

For those who prefer a Web2 experience, nWay will also launch a Web2 free-to-play (F2P) version of Wreck League, offering the core gameplay and mechanics without requiring NFT ownership. The F2P version will include engaging features like daily missions, a battle pass, and an in-game store, bridging the gap between the Web3 and Web2 gaming communities.

A symbiotic relationship between the Web3 and Web2 gamer communities is at the heart of Wreck League’s vision. Taehoon Kim, CEO of nWay, expressed the aim of uniting the communities and leveraging the Web3 community’s creative potential to enhance the game continuously. Yat Siu, co-founder, and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, shared his excitement about Wreck League’s groundbreaking approach, revolutionizing how players engage, compete, and truly own their digital assets.

Gameplay Overview

Wreck League’s core gameplay revolves around intense real-time player-versus-player combat. Players have the incredible opportunity to digitally own unique Mech parts and creatively combine them to construct fully customizable fighting characters, each with its distinctive attributes and abilities. This feature adds a layer of strategy and depth to the battles, as players can experiment with various combinations and tactics.

Welcome to Wreck League, an entirely new project that marks the next chapter in the evolution of fighting games, competitive gaming, and esports.

We're building a AAA-quality game we want to showcase the first look on announcement day. pic.twitter.com/j6UOCZng0v

— Wreck League (@WreckLeagueHQ) August 3, 2023

Meet the Developers

nWay, a prominent game developer, publisher, and technology platform based in San Francisco, spearheads the creation of Wreck League. With their extensive experience in crafting top-notch mobile and console games like Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid and ChronoBlade, nWay is at the forefront of the Web3 gaming revolution. Their Web3 games platform, nWayPlay, facilitates seamless game development and operations, making them a driving force behind the industry’s transformation.

Animoca Brands, an esteemed leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification, joins forces with nWay to bring Wreck League to life. Animoca Brands boasts an impressive portfolio of original games and products utilizing popular intellectual properties such as Formula 1®, Disney, WWE, and more. Their dedication to blockchain technology and NFTs has garnered them recognition as a key player in building the open metaverse, making them the perfect partner for Wreck League’s innovative vision.

The Wreck League Universe

Embark on a journey through the expansive Wreck League universe, which draws characters from various web3 projects. The adventure commences with the inclusion of Kodas and Apes from the Yuga Labs ecosystem. As the game evolves, more captivating characters from different projects will join the fray, offering players an ever-expanding roster of fighters to choose from.

For those eager to assemble their ultimate Mech arsenal, nWay will offer a special sale of Mech parts in exclusive boxes to those on the Allowlist in the near future. To register for the Allowlist, learn more about the exciting world of Wreck League, and stay up to date with the latest developments, visit the official website at wreckleague.xyz and join the Wreck League Discord server at https://discord.gg/WreckLeague.

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AKIBA, Animoca Brands Japan, and MADworld Collaborate to Bring Astro Boy to Web3

AKIBA, Animoca Brands Japan, and MADworld have partnered to launch an NFT collection based on Astro Boy, a popular manga series. The ATOM Genesis NFT collection comprises 150 distinct NFTs created by 40 talented Japanese artists with the official support of AKIBA. These artworks are officially licensed by Tezuka as derivatives of the beloved and popular Astro Boy brand.

The NFT collection will be launched for pre-mint on April 7, 2023, Astro Boy’s birthday, at https://premint.madworld.io/akibaeden. The project aims to bring Astro Boy to the world of Web3 through generative art and immersive experiences. Further details and utilities of Project ATOM Genesis will be unveiled in phases over the next three months.

The ATOM Genesis project has received a certification from OPEN POST, officially recognizing derivative artworks of Astro Boy and distinguishing them from pirated editions and unlicensed fan artworks. OPEN POST has developed an official marketplace for the Association of Japanese Animations called “OPEN POST” which will issue on-chain certifications for official derivative artworks based on Astro Boy. The certification from OPEN POST adds value to the NFT collection as it distinguishes it as authentic and licensed.

AKIBA is a tourism organization dedicated to promoting the enhancement and revitalization of Akihabara as a region. In July 2016, the Akihabara area in Chiyoda Ward was selected by the Japan Tourism Agency as a support area for the “Project to Create Attractive Tourist Areas Utilizing Regional Resources” to improve tourist management, revitalize Akihabara, and enhance visitor satisfaction. AKIBA EDEN is the creator community of AKIBA that created derivative artworks of Astro Boy for the ATOM Genesis NFT collection.

Animoca Brands Japan is a strategic subsidiary of Animoca Brands, a leading global Web3 company. Animoca Brands Japan was established in 2021 to support the global Web3 strategies of Japanese intellectual property and content holders such as major publishers, brands, education, sports teams, athletes, artists, and game companies. Animoca Brands Japan provides a platform that combines IPs with blockchain technology and supports IP holders to build their own ecosystem through a full stack of Web3 services. It provides a bridge between Japanese IPs and global fans.

MADworld is an innovative Web3 and digital asset ecosystem backed by Animoca Brands that collides global culture, community, and creativity on the blockchain. As the Multiverse Artist Defender, MADworld provides value, security, and provenance to creators, artists, and fans alike across a number of niche communities like anime/manga, fashion, action sports, and music. MADworld seeks to elevate fans’ experience, support creators’ economy, and push the bounds of Web3 technology to reduce the onboarding barriers for traditional Web2 audiences into Web3.

The collaboration between AKIBA, Animoca Brands Japan, and MADworld brings together the creator community of AKIBA and the licensing of Tezuka to produce an NFT collection that celebrates the beloved and popular Astro Boy brand. The certification from OPEN POST adds value to the NFT collection, distinguishing it as authentic and licensed, and provides security and provenance to creators, artists, and fans. The NFT collection will be launched on April 7, 2023, on the occasion of Astro Boy’s birthday, and will be available for pre-mint on MADworld’s website. The project aims to bring Astro Boy to the world of Web3 through generative art and immersive experiences. Further details and utilities of Project ATOM Genesis will be unveiled in phases over the next three months.

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Grease Monkey Games, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has announced its partnership with Konig to introduce the first-ever interoperable wheel NFTs to Torque Drift 2 and other games in the Torque Motorsport games franchise in the second half of 2023. Torque Drift 2 is a blockchain-based racing game that offers an immersive and authentic drifting experience based on true digital ownership. Konig has become one of the most recognizable wheel brands globally, and it produces both cast and forged wheels, and is a leader in flow-formed wheels.

The Konig-licensed NFTs will be interoperable in Torque Burnout and Torque Drift, the previous mobile titles developed by Grease Monkey Games under the Torque Motorsport portfolio. This is an important feature of blockchain gaming, as it allows players to have true ownership of their assets, giving them more flexibility and freedom in how they use their assets.

The first Konig-licensed NFT drop will feature eight of the company’s most sought-after alloys, including the Hypergram, Dekagram, and Ampliform, among others. The collection is aimed at existing motorsport fans as well as people interested in the NFT market.

The games are built on the Polygon blockchain, which has committed to eliminating all of the network’s carbon debt since inception and making the chain climate-positive. The games will introduce a weekly challenge mode later this year in addition to accepting Konig NFTs in-game, rewarding players while they enjoy the game they already know and love.

Holders of Premium Keychain NFTs will have access to an exclusive early experience to Torque Drift 2 in the first half of 2023, before the open beta releases for the public.

Arran Potter, Founder and CEO of Grease Monkey Games, stated, “We are honored to partner with Konig to launch NFTs for Torque Drift 2 based on some of the best available wheels in the world of racing. The NFTs will offer our players a new way to engage with our games, and the interoperability across all our titles will allow players to own and use their NFTs in a variety of ways.”

Animoca Brands is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products, including the REVV token and SAND token, original games, and products utilizing popular intellectual properties. The company has multiple subsidiaries, including Grease Monkey Games, The Sandbox, and Quidd.

This partnership between Grease Monkey Games and Konig will offer a unique gaming experience to the players, where they can experience owning true digital assets and have complete ownership of their assets, giving them more flexibility and freedom in how they use their assets. The introduction of interoperable wheel NFTs is a significant milestone for the gaming industry, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the future.

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PIXELYNXX is a Los Angeles-based music and gaming company operating across five countries. They are creating a physical and digital environment for musicians and fans by building products designed to blur the lines between music and gaming, and Web 3.0 (decentralized ecosystems built on blockchain technologies). Their ecosystem will give artists control over how they interact with fans, partners, platforms, and each other to create new ways for people to consume music.

6 December 2022 — Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (“Animoca Brands”), the company advancing digital property rights for gaming and the open metaverse, has taken a majority stake in Pixelynx, Inc. (“PIXELYNX”) through its controlled subsidiary. PIXELYNX is a music metaverse gaming platform founded by musicians and technologists deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) and Richie Hawtin (Plastikman) along with music and gaming industry veterans Ben Turner, Dean Wilson, and Inder Phull. 

PIXELYNX is a Los-Angeles-based music and gaming entity operating across five countries. It is creating a physical and digital ecosystem for artists and fans by building products that blur the lines between music, gaming, and Web3 (a decentralized ecosystem based on blockchain technologies). PIXELYNX’s ecosystem will provide artists control over how they build experiences with fans, partners, and platforms to create new ways for music lovers to develop, share, and monetise music. 

Animoca Brands has acquired a majority stake in PIXELYNX to build, invest in, and acquire studios, infrastructure, and technologies that will power the future of the music industry through integration with gaming and Web3 technologies and communities. 

PIXELYNX operates LynxLabs, a new investment program to develop the next wave of music and entertainment ventures by offering them access to funding, artists, celebrities, token design, and technical support. LynxLabs has already invested into Volta XR and Oorbit. 

PIXELYNX’s upcoming debut game ELYNXIR is a next-generation mobile gaming platform that will bring fans closer to their favorite artists through exclusive music content, in-game collectibles, and playable immersive experiences. 

Powered by Niantic Lightship AR technology, ELYNXIR leverages advanced augmented reality and geolocation for players to discover games, music, artists, collectibles, and community-made content. As an entirely new level of creative immersion and gameplay in the music metaverse, ELYNXIR aims to facilitate a new type of artist-to-fan collaboration that will transform how the music industry engages communities and monetizes content, giving fans the opportunity to be collectors, collaborators, influencers, and investors. 

The global music revenue is expected to reach US$131 billion by 2030 (source: Goldman Sachs, 2022). From a strategic fit perspective, Animoca Brands and PIXELYNX will focus on developing new formats of music consumption that can be scaled across the metaverse to unlock new revenue opportunities through the access that both companies have to a global network of platforms, infrastructure, and rights-holders in the field of entertainment. 

PIXELYNX’s ELYNXIR will be integrated into the Animoca Brands ecosystem with an emphasis on interoperability, open standards, and new interactive audio-visual formats. 

Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, commented: “PIXELYNX is one of the new wave of companies that are paving novel pathways for the music industry amid a major technological shift from centralized to decentralized ownership. We are thrilled to welcome PIXELYNX to the growing family of Animoca Brands and we look forward to helping to shape the forefront of the music industry while building new and innovative experiences for people around the world.” 

 “Animoca Brands has established itself as a dominant player in building the shared vision of an open metaverse. This deal marks the beginning of a new era in the music industry in which Web3, gaming, and transmedia content will unlock new formats, revenue streams, and business models that support artists, fans, and labels.” Inder Phull, CEO of PIXELYNX

Animoca Brands had previously led a seed funding round of funding for PIXELYNX in December 2021 with participation from Solana Ventures, Alumni Ventures Blockchain Fund, Hyperedge Capital, Republic Realm, Sfermion, and others (see announcement of 6 December 2021). 

About PIXELYNX 

PIXELYNX was founded in 2020 by iconic musicians and technologists Joel Zimmerman aka deadmau5, Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman, and music industry visionaries Ben Turner 

(Graphite; IMS: International Music Summit; AFEM: Association for Electronic Music), Dean Wilson (Seven20 Entertainment; mau5trap), and Inder Phull, a music metaverse futurist. The company, based in London and Los Angeles, is focused on building a music metaverse ecosystem that will transform the way artists connect and engage with their fans through gaming experiences. Its debut mobile game, ELYNXIR, began limited access tests in October 2022, with new features to be revealed and tested with iconic partners and community members. The full beta of ELYNXIR will be available in the first half of 2023. For more information visit https://pixelynx.io or https://elynxir.game. 

About Animoca Brands 

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, Be Media, and PIXELYNX. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook. 

Media Contacts 

PIXELYNX: pixelynx@wachsman.com 

Animoca Brands: press@animocabrands.com 

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MELBOURNE – 13 October 2022: Grease Monkey Games, an Australia-based multi-platform video game studio and subsidiary of Animoca Brands, announced today that it has secured the exclusive rights to release licensed NFTs for Torque Drift 2 from aftermarket auto part brand Liberty Walk. After the 2-year exclusivity window, Grease Monkey Games will continue working with Liberty Walk to create true-to-life utility based NFTs for its games.

Torque Drift 2, the latest addition to Grease Monkey Games’ Torque franchise is a skill-based motorsport game that offers a virtual experience as diverse and dynamic as the sport of drifting itself. Currently in development, the game will have both linear and open-world environments, supporting both single and multiplayer experiences.

The first release of Liberty Walk body kits are expected to be launched later this year, featuring multiple famous Liberty Walk wide body kits for players to customize their cars with as well as one- of- a- kind exclusive cars like the LB-Super Silhouette S15 SILVIA.

The first hands-on experience of Torque Drift 2 will be available in the early access demo coming later this year, allowing players to get a sneak peek at two key areas of the game – the Garage and the Photobooth. These allow players to customize their cars with NFTs and showcase them in several unique environments.

Additional features and areas of the game such as crew creation, paint booth, dyno tuning, multiplayer lobbies, tournament esport creation and more will be released through 2023 and 2024, with the full game launch staged for 2025.

About Grease Monkey Games
Grease Monkey Games, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is an Australian video game studio established in 2013 in Melbourne. The company was formerly known as League of Monkeys. Founder and CEO Arran Potter has a wealth of experience in creating visual effects and video games, and has worked on high-profile commercials and films since the early 2000s. Originally a contract-based company, Grease Monkey Games began developing and publishing its own original IP games in 2014. Since then, the growing team of game makers and motorsport enthusiasts has published the successful motorsport titles Torque Burnout and Torque Drift, which have more than 45 million downloads globally, and is developing the new title Torque Drift 2. For more information visit www.greasemonkeygames.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise, Notre Game, TinyTap, and Be Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

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Cool Cats and Animoca Brands to expand strategic partnership to accelerate Cool Cats’ global expansion

AUSTIN, TX, 5 October 2022 – Cool Cats Group LLC, the web3 company behind the iconic blue-chip NFT collection Cool Cats, announced today that it has received a strategic investment from Animoca Brands, the company advancing digital property rights for gaming and the open metaverse. The partnership will drive Cool Cats’ mission to become the largest global NFT brand and a robust media and content company, including through expansion of its gaming offerings.

This strategic partnership is the culmination of a longstanding relationship between Ken Cron, Executive Chairman of Cool Cats Group, and Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands. “Yat is one of web3’s foremost thought leaders and he has built one of the most important companies in the industry,” said Cron. “Working more closely with Animoca Brands will bring tremendous value to Cool Cats and its community. Our new CEO, Stephen Teglas, and the entire Cool Cats team, couldn’t be more excited to get started.”

On September 1, Cool Cats announced it was partnering with GAMEE, one of Animoca Brands’ subsidiaries that built a virtual casual gaming space connecting players, brands, and game creators. As part of the GAMEE partnership, Cool Cats holders have been able to access exclusive NFT claims, raffles, and community giveaways.

“Cool Cats is a leading example of metaverse native IP based on the principle of decentralized ownership,” said Siu. “Ken is one of the most experienced gaming and media executives in the world, and it has been my pleasure to have him as an Advisor to Animoca Brands’ Board of Directors for the past two years. Our belief in what the Cool Cats team has built, along with our commitment to the NFT space – which we believe will unlock the next frontier of gaming – could not be stronger.”

Animoca Brands, which recently closed a strategic funding round of US$110 million from a consortium of new investors, has been consistently working to deliver true digital ownership of users’ virtual assets and to advance the open metaverse – with a particular focus on GameFi opportunities, including play-and-earn. The combination of Cool Cats and Animoca Brands will enable both companies to deliver unique and compelling gaming experiences to their respective communities and the broader gaming audience.

“We’re thrilled to work more closely with Animoca Brands and tap into their deep gaming expertise to open up new immersive experiences for the Cool Cats community,” said Teglas. “Many within our community already enjoy Animoca Brands’ properties and we can’t wait for Cool Cats holders to realize the value of our deepened relationship with Animoca Brands. We look forward to sharing announcements over the coming weeks and months as we roll out our partnership.”

For more details on this partnership and upcoming launches at Cool Cats, please visit https://www.coolcatsnft.com/ and follow https://twitter.com/coolcatsnft.

About Cool Cats Group LLC
Cool Cats is a collection of 9,999 randomly generated and stylistically curated NFTs that exist on the Ethereum Blockchain. Though Cool Cats exploded in the web3 space on its July 1, 2021 launch day, the NFT brand comes from humble origins: it originates from the beloved comic character “Blue Cat,” as brought to life by artist Colin Egan in 2013. Now “Blue Cat” is immortalized on the blockchain forever as the face of the Cool Cats origin collection, and his fellow anthropomorphic friends will join him in future NFT collections under the “Cool” umbrella. Beyond characters, comics, games, apps, merchandise, and animations, Cool Cats delivers inclusive, impactful, community-driven content through immersive storytelling. Beloved by many — including celebrity collectors Reese Witherspoon, Bill Murray, Mario Bautista, Alexis Ohanian, Marc Benioff, Josh Hart, and Mike Shinoda — the Cool Cats brand resonates widely. Cool Cats not only defines but also celebrates what it means to be cool.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise, Notre Game, TinyTap, and Be Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

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SYDNEY – 18 August 2022: Grease Monkey Games, an Australia-based multi-platform video game studio and subsidiary of Animoca Brands, announced today that it is the recipient of an Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games, which will be used to support for Torque Drift 2, its latest motorsport game, currently in development.

LINK TO TRAILER

Launched in 2019, Epic MegaGrants is a program that helps accelerate creative, noteworthy and innovative projects built in and around Unreal Engine, as well as those that enhance the open source 3D graphics ecosystem.

Grease Monkey Games joins a line-up of Epic MegaGrant recipients spanning more than 89 countries. The MegaGrant will be utilized to help fund the development of new drift physics in Torque Drift 2, which will enable the company to produce its most immersive and true-to-life motorsport game yet.

Torque Drift 2 is the newest addition to Grease Monkey Games’ popular motorsport game portfolio and the REVV Motorsport ecosystem. The game represents the next generation of motorsports products leveraging blockchain technology, where fully functional and playable NFTs are a core feature used to deliver true digital ownership of game assets to players.

About Grease Monkey Games
Grease Monkey Games, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is an Australian video game studio established in 2013 in Melbourne. The company was formerly known as League of Monkeys. Founder and CEO Arran Potter has a wealth of experience in creating visual effects and video games, and has worked on high-profile commercials and films since the early 2000s. Originally a contract-based company, Grease Monkey Games began developing and publishing its own original IP games in 2014. Since then, the growing team of game makers and motorsport enthusiasts has published the successful motorsport titles Torque Burnout and Torque Drift, which have more than 45 million downloads globally, and is developing the new title Torque Drift 2. For more information visit www.greasemonkeygames.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
About Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise, Notre Game, TinyTap, and Be Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 340 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

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VANCOUVER, AUGUST 1, 2022 — Highstreet World, the leading retail-focused metaverse being built as an MMORPG, is partnering with Animoca Brands for an “Initial Home Offering” (IHO) of 5,000 futuristic All-Terrain Trailers. These homes will be available for purchase by Highstreet users, marking the next step in Highstreet World’s creation of its metaverse, carrying forward the vision of bringing together the stories and adventures of traditional brands and Web3 ecosystems forming the foundation for the future of commerce.

The IHO also marks the unveiling of the Animoca Archipelago, a region in Highstreet World that features deep integrations with games from Animoca Brands’ ecosystem as well as an esports league, introducing new ways to be part of a vast, connected gamer community. Additionally, this strategic partnership opens up new possibilities to significantly augment Highstreet World by integrating with Animoca Brands’ portfolio companies. This will encourage adoption and participation in the metaverse of Highstreet World as more features are developed.

• The residences will exist in the Highstreet World metaverse’s Animoca Archipelago, where Animoca Brands’ IP will take center stage, turning the island chain into an immersive theme park.
• This strategic partnership leads to diverse possibilities for adoption and integration involving Animoca Brands’ various portfolio companies.
• Other Web3 regions in Highstreet World include Binance Beach, AVAX Alps, and Everyrealm, with additional regions powered by traditional brands to be announced soon.

Whitelisting for the upcoming IHO will begin in August 2022. The official minting process will take place through Highstreet’s own marketplace. Participation details will be announced via Highstreet’s social media feeds on Twitter, Telegram, and Discord. Highstreet World is well ahead in developing user elements for meta-living, where anyone anywhere can become part of a diverse, creative metaverse community in Highstreet’s shared virtual environment.

“We are committed to a metaverse that is open and interoperable,” said Yat Siu, the co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands. “Highstreet is an exciting investment for us because it brings together brands from both the Web3 and traditional online worlds, allowing assets to flow between them. We look forward to making the Animoca Archipelago in Highstreet World a virtual destination where our many different communities and many others can come together in one place.”

This IHO with Animoca Brands follows a previous sale hosted on the Binance NFT marketplace, where total trading volume surpassed US$10 million, with the floor currently at 250% of the mint price. The homes for sale will be part of the Highstreet World metaverse, which is composed of regions with unique characteristics. One of those regions is the Animoca Archipelago, an island chain off the coast of Highstreet World’s main continent of Solera. Animoca Archipelago comprises a network of islands that each represent a brand or game that is part of Animoca Brands or that Animoca brands has invested in. These include REVV Motorsport, LayerZero, ApeCoin, PSG Talon, and various other projects.

“Animoca Archipelago is a place where many universes shaped by games, brands, and IP coexist in harmony,” said Travis Wu, CEO of Highstreet. “Models and assets from other projects will function within this enormous space, where users can interact with each other in novel ways. Just as importantly, Highstreet World participants will be able to farm experience points by defeating monsters in the archipelago, eventually opening up new options in their gameplay as they level up.”

CAPTION: Several variations of the Solar Model All-Terrain Trailer.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, and TinyTap. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 340 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

About Highstreet

Highstreet World is an MMORPG built with brand integration and on-chain features. Throughout 2022, Highstreet will be delivering the game to players in four phases. As part of the first phase, where the focus is on real estate, Highstreet will allow players to purchase homes in the core regions of Binance Beach, AVAX Alps, Everyrealm, Animoca Archipelago, and Highstreet City. The first move-in day for Highstreet’s Solarium was organized in April 2022.

Website: www.highstreet.market
Twitter: twitter.com/highstreetworld
Telegram: t.me/highstreetworld
Discord: discord.gg/highstreet
Medium: medium.com/highstreet-market

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Planet NFTs serve as optional real estate in the highly anticipated AAA science fiction third-person mech shooter

SYDNEY – 26 May 2022: Animoca Brands and its subsidiary Blowfish Studios announce the Planet Genesis Public Sale, a chance for players to own a piece of Phantom Galaxies in the form of unique Planet NFTs. The Public Planet Sale starts 26 May on Forj Launchpad, and on 27 May at 12 a.m. (UTC) on the game’s website and OpenSea. Phantom Galaxies’ recent Private Planet Sale generated US$19.3 million, indicating strong demand for real estate in the open-world mech combat game.

Watch the Phantom Galaxies trailer at https://youtu.be/5zOMWlUxR7A

Phantom Galaxies is an open-world mech combat game, currently in public Alpha release. As one of the first blockchain-based game titles with AAA scope and quality, Phantom Galaxies is drawing in both traditional gaming enthusiasts as well as Web3 natives. Three of the four episodes of the Alpha version are available now, and early access to the Beta launch is expected to occur in Q3 2022.

The Planet Genesis Public Sale will allow buyers to purchase Asteroids and Planets (referred to collectively as “Planets”) in a range of sizes. A full guide to Planet sizes and prices is available here, and step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for the Planet Sale can be found here. Ownership of a Planet is not required to play Phantom Galaxies. 

Players will be able to purchase Planets during the sale via any of three channels: the Forj Launchpad starting on 26 May 2022; directly from the official Phantom Galaxies website on 27 May 2022; and via OpenSea auctions starting on 27 May 2022 (eight Planets will be available via auctions on OpenSea).

Each Planet will have its own coordinates within the Phantom Galaxies universe and randomized traits that will make it unique. Planets confer a number of benefits to owners: each Planet generates a regular emission of the Phantom Galaxies governance and utility token based on its size, and also offers various in-game opportunities, allowing players to govern their Planets as they wish and build a range of structures including marketplaces, hangars, refineries, and more.

Each Planet will emit a minimum amount of the Phantom Galaxies token by default. Gameplay factors such as visits to a Planet, development and construction, and completion of missions will enable players to gain a multiplier that significantly increases the amount of tokens generated by their Planets. This approach incentivises play and is part of the ‘gameplay first’ core values of Phantom Galaxies. 

The Phantom Galaxies token will be the main governance, utility, and currency token in the game, used for upgrading mechas, developing planets, exercising voting rights in guilds and organizations, and much more. The first opportunity that players will have to earn Phantom Galaxies tokens is the upcoming Astrafite Rush event, which will offer massive token rewards for Planet owners.

There are currently over 125,000 users playing the Alpha version of Phantom Galaxies and over 500,000 owners of the NFTs granting access to the Alpha game. These NFTs have generated a trading volume on OpenSea of more than 1,700 ETH (equivalent to over US$3 million based on current exchange rate).

About Blowfish Studios

Blowfish Studios, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is an award-winning Sydney-based developer and publisher of high-quality multi-platform games, including Winter Ember, Blackwind, Siegecraft, Morphite, Projection: First Light, and Storm Boy. It is currently developing Phantom Galaxies, MotoGP Ignition, and Aradena Battlegrounds. For more information visit www.blowfishstudios.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights. It develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP, and Formula E. The company has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, and Eden Games. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 200 investments in NFT-related companies and decentralized projects that are contributing to building the open metaverse, including Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

Contacts

Blowfish Studios: press@blowfishstudios.com

Animoca Brands: press@animocabrands.com

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