Azra Games, a game developer company from Sacramento, has secured over $42 million to develop blockchain-integrated games. It’s one of the biggest such investments in the world of blockchain-based games, and Azra Games is one of the best companies in the business to venture into such an effort.
The deal was met with great enthusiasm in both the gaming and crypto public, mostly because it’s a sum that will allow the company to put its best talent behind the game. Azra Games is actually most well-known for its development team.
Who’s providing the Funding?
The investment comes from Pantera Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and NFX. They are all key players in the blockchain industry, and the fact that they are funding a blockchain-based game is an important nod to that part of the industry.
The investors have had problems with integrating blockchain with the gaming mechanism, and it took further effort to make the game interesting to players beyond crypto investment circles. However, now that there’s wider crypto adoption and almost everyone knows how to invest in Bitcoin, the circle of potential players is growing.
Building the Game
Azra Games has announced that it will approach game development somewhat differently than most blockchain-based games. They plan to develop the RPG part of the game first so that it has coherent gameplay and an exciting story with relatable characters.
The blockchain-related parts of the game will be added later so that the game has a good foundation and the blockchain parts don’t feel out of place within the gameplay. Digital assets owned within the game will play a part in the gameplay and in the narrative, and they will be based on blockchain and used as currency.
Biggest Assets
Azra has one big asset that sets it apart from most companies working in this field. It’s the fact that the CEO of the company is Mark Otero. Before running Azra Games, Otero worked for an AAA game developer company, Electronic Arts.
Otero worked on Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, one of Electronic Arts’ most successful games. He then moved on to blockchain-based and indie games. Otero plans to make an RPG game that has a wide appeal to gamers but uses the element of blockchain asset transfers. Many believe that it’s the smartest way to make blockchain-related games more accessible.
Plans for the Investment
At this point, Azra Games has come up with a plan on how they’ll use the funds from the investment. The first step is for it to expand its existing team of developers and creators. The company also plans to set up Azra Labs, a research and development initiative.
With these improvements, Azra Games will be able to work on the main RPG game and a few other side projects. These will create and research new and innovative ways to use blockchain-based assets within the gameplay. Many have claimed that this is the future of in-game transactions, but few good games that utilize blockchain have been produced so far.
Changing Attitudes Towards Blockchain
Lately, there’s been a big expansion of blockchain-based initiatives in gaming and tech in general. This is reflective of the changing public attitudes towards crypto and blockchain-based technology. The tech was first seen as a novelty and then as something only used by small sectors of the economy.
Now, when cryptocurrencies are widely used by middle-class investors and accepted by mainstream finance institutions, such as banks and stock markets, there’s also a growing interest in finding new uses for blockchain. Many feel that we’re on the brink of the golden age for blockchain games.
What to Expect?
Little is known about the game Azra Games will produce. However, it’s expected that it will be an RPG that provides the players with a chance to play multiple characters with multiple classes and special abilities.
The players will be able to collect, create, upgrade, and sell items within the game. This can be done with both NPCs and other players within the game. These assets will be based on blockchain technology and, therefore, easy to verify, transfer, and sell. The main challenge was how to do so without the assets being just a gimmick.
To Sum Up
In conclusion, Azra Games’ $42 million investment marks a significant step forward for blockchain-based gaming. With backing from major players like Pantera Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, the company is well-positioned to bring blockchain technology into the mainstream gaming world.
By focusing on creating an exciting RPG first and carefully integrating blockchain features later, Azra aims to build a game that appeals to both traditional gamers and crypto enthusiasts. As blockchain continues to grow in popularity, this game could help bridge the gap between gaming and digital asset ownership, making it more accessible and engaging for everyone.