NFT game MechaFightClub is shutting down due to the regulatory uncertainty in the U.S., while Yuga Lab’s new CEO has snapped up a BAYC NFT well over the floor price.
Assassin’s Creed, one of Ubisoft’s most popular gaming franchises, has announced a series of customizable “smart collectibles” featuring both digital and physical components.
The collectibles are set to drop on May 16 and consist of a transparent 3D-printed cube with a character figure inside, along with a Polygon-based NFT called a “Digital Soul” which provides proof of ownership.
End/ . . . It's that simple!
Our goal is to add new layers of collecting to allow fans to truly showcase their personality and rarity tastes. Digital identifiers pairing with physical identifiers will allow for this ✔️
Make sure you get involved with our project!
— Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles (@ACSmartCollect) May 11, 2023
Fans of the series will need to purchase a Digital Soul NFT, which comes in two tiers of rarity. From there, they can then customize their character with different poses, outfits and weapons and have the final product shipped to their door.
The amount of available customizations is of course tied to the level or rarity the person buys.
The “smart” aspect of the collectibles comes via an embedded near-field communication (NFC) chip placed on the 3D cube, and an IRL companion app.
Upon scanning or tapping the physical collectibles, users can access the app to complete achievements and earn various “items, recipes, loot boxes” and other utilities.
The collection is part of a broader project in partnership with Integral Reality Labs which the Assassin’s Creed team describes as a “co-reality platform.”
The platform will soon have a marketplace to trade Assassin’s Creed collectibles, and it is also set to host the sale of the “Pieces of Eden Pass” NFTs.
The collection consists of 1,500 tokens that offer access to exclusive perks and experiences, along with a “unique limited edition” Digital Soul NFT.
". . no greater glory than fighting to find the truth.”
Discover iconic gear sets, personalities, and challenges that will test your mind more than the blade. Are you ready to explore deeper ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/TTtBmiQqhG
— Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles (@ACSmartCollect) May 12, 2023
MechaFightClub ‘indefinitely pausing’ operations
Irreverent Labs’ Solana-based NFT game MechaFightClub announced on May 12 that it will be ‘indefinitely pausing’ due to the lack of regulatory clarity in the U.S.
It’s time for Sol 4 Cocks: we’re repurchasing your Mechabots and putting MFC into indefinite hibernation. This was a tough decision.
For more details, visit our official announcement here: https://t.co/TPfb1VP2C7 pic.twitter.com/6YnO4g50T4
— MechaFightClub (@mechafightclub) May 11, 2023
The game was intended to revolve around NFT and artificial intelligence-based fighting robot chickens, however the project has cited concerns with launching a blockchain-based in-game economy in the current regulatory climate.
As part of the shutting down process, from May 15 MechaFightClub will start buying back the NFTs it sold to the community for 18 Solana (SOL).
“We are an American company, and a lack of clarity is making it difficult for blockchain companies to operate here. In the current regulatory confusion, we simply couldn’t create an in-game economy without concern about the regulatory ramifications,” the firm stated in an announcement.
New Yuga Labs CEO buys BAYC NFT well above floor price
Yuga Labs’ new CEO Daniel Alegre has splashed 50 Ether (ETH) on Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT #3575.
Th purchase on May 10 equated to $90,000, well above the floor price at the time of $78,000 or 44 ETH. The move indicates a strong show of faith from the CEO in Yuga Lab’s major project, considering the BAYC floor price has declined from 75 ETH to 44.5 ETH over the past 90 days.
To my kids: meet a new member of the family. Proud to Ape into BAYC #3575.
Does #ApeFollowApe still work? pic.twitter.com/OSH8jsVDXS— Daniel Alegre (@dalegre) May 10, 2023
Alegre joined Yuga Labs on April 1 and he is the former president and chief operating officer of gaming firm Activision Blizzard.
As part of the announcement in April, the CEO stated that “the company’s pipeline of products, partnerships, and IP represents a massive opportunity to define the metaverse.“
Pudgy Penguins raises $9M
Just a few days after signing a Hollywood representation deal with WME, Blue chip NFT project Pudgy Penguins has closed a $9 million seed funding round.
The round was led by early-stage investment firm 1kx, with participation from Big Brain Holdings, Kronos Research and the Founders of LayerZero Labs to name a few.
The funds will be used to scale the project’s intellectual property and expand its offerings within its community and ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue the strong momentum we’ve built over the last year, even in a bear market,” noted Pudgy Penguins head of investor relations Vi Powils, as part of a May 9 announcement.
We’re not waiting for mass adoption…
We’re creating it. May 18th. pic.twitter.com/FjCS0WgTtd
— Pudgy Penguins (@pudgypenguins) May 7, 2023
Related: Web3 community-building meets music technology at Wavelengths Summit 2023
Other Nifty News
South Korean tech company LG Electronics has filed a patent application for its blockchain-based Smart TV that allows users to trade NFTs.
On May 10, American business magnate Elon Musk tweeted a meme created using imagery from the Milady NFT collection. Shortly thereafter, the floor price of Milady NFTs spiked from 3.8 Ether (ETH) to as high as 7.3 ETH before falling to 5.69 ETH apiece at the time of publication.
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