PLUS: Indie game tops Steam charts!

Welcome to Tri-News, a Trikon newsletter covering the latest updates, insights, and conversations in the Web3 gaming & NFT ecosystem. Subscribe if you want to join a fast-growing community of gamers and developers.

You can also check out Trikon’s blog posts and follow us on Twitter.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• New airdrop opportunities 🎁

• Palworld sold 5 million copies in 3 days

• Gamestop terminates NFT marketplace

Let’s get started!

New Airdrop Opportunities 🎁

Exciting play-to-airdrop opportunities are on the horizon in the dynamic world of web3 gaming! 

Nyan Heroes, a team-based shooter featuring agile mechs piloted by cats, is set to launch a playtest in February. During this two-week period, players can participate in the early access playtest through Epic Games, with the game available for free. However, players owning Nyan Heroes or Guardians NFTs from Magic Eden stand a chance to earn additional rewards, making the playtest even more enticing.

Apeiron, the 'god-simulation' game, introduces a Battle Demo where players can explore the complex NFT ownership and interaction system. Engaging in the demo provides players with the opportunity to potentially earn airdrops of ANIMA tokens. 

This play-to-airdrop concept is gaining momentum in web3 gaming, offering players various ways to accumulate airdrop points through social interactions, playing the demo, owning specific NFTs, and achieving top positions on leaderboards.

Mocaverse presents Anichess, a chess-based puzzle game with magical elements, and offers players a chance to earn game NFTs and Realm Points through quests in the early limited release. Participants can log in via their wallet on the Polygon network or through social media logins, completing tutorials and linking their Moca ID for additional rewards.

Palworld Sold 5 Million Copies in 3 Days

Palworld, the highly anticipated game developed by Pocketpair, has taken the gaming world by storm since its release on January 19, 2024. With a unique blend of survival-crafting mechanics and a distinctive twist—described as "Pokémon with guns"—Palworld stands out in the crowded gaming landscape. 

Released on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC with an Early Access price of $29.99, Palworld has garnered attention for its innovative approach. The game's popularity is fueled by its tagline, "Pokémon with guns," a marketing strategy that brilliantly taps into the familiarity of Pokémon while offering a novel and engaging RPG experience.

Palworld's success lies in its multiplayer capabilities, featuring four-player co-op and a 32-player multiplayer realm. Cross-play between Xbox and PC enhances the gaming experience, though Steam players have platform-exclusive multiplayer. The absence of player-versus-player elements at launch aligns with Pocketpair's cooperative vision. 

In the world of web3, Palworld provides a valuable lesson in marketing. Its clear and memorable tagline has propelled it into the spotlight, demonstrating the power of simplicity in capturing an audience's attention. 

As web3 games aim for innovation and decentralization, Palworld's success underscores the importance of crafting accessible narratives to attract broader adoption and understanding. By making products simple and engaging, game developers in the web3 space can draw in a wider audience, following Palworld's example. 

Gamestop Terminates NFT Marketplace 📉

GameStop, once a prominent player in the NFT arena, has decided to exit the space, citing ongoing regulatory uncertainties in the crypto industry. The company had ventured into the world of web3 in May 2022, introducing a digital asset wallet for cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

In July of the same year, GameStop unveiled its NFT marketplace, allowing gamers, creators, and collectors to buy, sell, and trade digital art collectibles securely on the blockchain.

However, facing challenges in the crypto space, GameStop recently announced the winding down of its NFT marketplace effective February 2, 2024. The decision follows a previous move to end support for the digital asset wallet on November 1, 2023, also attributed to regulatory uncertainties.

Despite a surge in NFT volume between October and November 2023, industry-wide sales saw a 63% decline for the year, according to data from CryptoSlam. While GameStop bids farewell to its NFT initiatives, the company is exploring new avenues.

A recent report suggests that the board of directors has approved a revised investment policy, allowing CEO Ryan Cohen and the management team to invest in equity securities and other opportunities, signaling a potential shift in GameStop's investment strategy.

• Bloodloop reveals mint details for S.E.M Capsules that’s happening on the Avalanche chain. 

• Nifty Island announced a play-to-airdrop campaign and here are a few tips to maximise points. 

• $FAR token of Farcana is being listed on ByBit exchange and players can now participate in this event to start earning. 

• Pixelmon’s second game PixelPals announced a $120,000 prize pool for top 100 players. 

• SkyArk Chronicles teased guidelines for their NFT mint and shared the eligibility criteria.

• Cool Cats partnered with Immutable to build on its zkEVM and integrate Immutable passport. 

• Playember announced 25th January as the mint data for their Emby NFTs on Xterio Games. 

• Fableborne revealed another airdrop called Essence for the Primordial NFT holders. 

• HYCHAIN, an L2 by HYTOPIA, shared details on their node sale and pricing. 

• Axie Infinity shared the latest features for the Homeland beta that starts in a few days.

Get Started on Trikon Today 👋

At Trikon, we are pushing the envelope in Web3 gaming with our game distribution platform integrated with unique wallet and marketplace solutions. From onboarding and game discovery to asset management, we can provide a truly uninterrupted gaming experience.

Want to try it out? Register on our website and you’ll be among the first to get early access.

Join our discord community.

If you want more such updates and insights into gaming and NFTs, be sure to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram