One Championship, the Singapore-based MMA entity, has partnered with Animoca Brands subsidiary Notre Game to create a mixed martial arts mobile game featuring NFTs. The game, called One Fight Arena, is set to debut in early 2024, with testing planned for later this year by a select group of players. The characters will be backed by NFTs, making it easy for players to verify their authenticity and track their history. The game is set to be released as a free-to-play title that will allow any interested individual to enjoy it without the requirement to engage with NFTs.
One game is expected to feature the brand’s roster of top-notch fighters, with the main focus being on “strategic gameplay” via a first-person point of view while also simulating each fighter’s experience right from the beginning of their careers. As for how NFTs fit into the game, they will offer players true ownership, allowing them to trade their fighters or items within the game with other players. This is set to introduce a new level of interactivity within the game and a new level of authenticity for players.
Yat Siu, executive chairman of Animoca Brands, feels that this partnership offers mobile gaming fans an opportunity to experience true digital ownership. In a statement, he notes, “Our partnership with One to create One Fight Arena will enable the fans of the world’s largest martial arts organization to access a novel gaming experience with true digital ownership at its core.”
The partnership comes as Asia positions itself to become the leading light for Web3 games. A recent report by DappRadar indicates that the continent is positioned to dominate the emerging Web3 gaming market. Asia has already established itself as the top region for video gaming, and the proximity to China and Japan, places where blockchain has already gained a foothold, suggest that the region will make further strides in the space.
The integration of NFTs into the gaming industry is not new, but it has gained traction recently. NFTs are unique digital assets that function as something akin to virtual collectibles, offering a level of ownership, scarcity, and interoperability that has not been previously possible. In the gaming industry, NFTs can be used to represent in-game items or assets, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade them as they wish. This added layer of ownership and trading has already proven popular within certain gaming communities, and its expansion into other genres like MMA is an exciting development.
While NFTs have garnered a lot of attention in recent months, they have also been criticized for their high energy consumption and potential negative environmental impact. Despite these concerns, NFTs have gained widespread acceptance across various industries, including art, collectibles, and now gaming.
With the One Fight Arena game set to debut in early 2024, the MMA community will be watching it closely to see how it performs. The gaming industry has already embraced NFTs, and their integration into the sport could open up new opportunities for MMA fans to engage with the sport in a very different way. The potential for NFTs to offer true ownership and trading within games, as well as their potential to revolutionize entire ecosystems, remains to be seen, but it is an exciting time to be following the development of these technologies. As the Web3 gaming market continues to grow, it is likely that more games will incorporate NFTs, offering new opportunities for players and fans alike.