Axie Infinity, the pioneering play-to-earn game, is set for a significant update as its NFT characters, known as Axies, will soon experience a “Stage 2” evolution. This exciting development, shared exclusively with Decrypt, marks a new era for the game’s thriving community.
The Evolution of Axie Infinity
Since its launch in 2018, Axie Infinity has transformed the NFT gaming landscape. With a community of millions and a robust Ronin blockchain ecosystem, the game has navigated challenges, including a $622 million hack, and emerged stronger.
Axie Upgrades: Strength and Aesthetics
Beginning December 14, players can evolve over 250 different Axie parts, enhancing their characters’ battle capabilities and visual appeal. Sky Mavis co-founder Jeffrey “Jiho” Zirlin emphasizes this as a core vision, aiming to make Axies more than digital collectibles.
Introducing Lore through Comics and Animation
To enrich the Axie universe, the team is releasing a 20-page comic and an animated video. These will delve into the lore behind Axie upgrades, featuring characters Ema and Bing on a quest in the world of Lunacia.
Upgrading Mechanism: Materials and Ascension
Players will need to use crafting materials or ‘burn’ other Axies to upgrade one of their choice. Reaching level 10 and ascending is a prerequisite for evolving an Axie part. The process requires radiant spirit shells, mementos, and 36 hours unless expedited with additional materials.
Dynamic NFTs: A New Era of Content
Zirlin highlights the significance of evolving NFTs in providing fresh content without expanding initial collections. This approach could revolutionize how developers engage with communities while maintaining market stability.
Axie Infinity’s Expansive Ecosystem
With over 11.9 million Axie NFTs across 1.9 million wallets, the game offers a wide array of NFTs, from affordable to high-value ones. Artist Masamune’s hand-drawn evolved parts add a personal touch to this expansion.
Future Directions for Axie Infinity and Sky Mavis
Upgraded Axie NFTs will be recognized across all Axie games, linked by a shared system of experience points and progression. Zirlin notes that effective vertical progression in NFTs is yet to be fully realized.
Expanding the Ronin Ecosystem and Axie Brand
Sky Mavis continues to attract game developers to Ronin, expanding the Axie brand. Recent developments like the migration of the Pixels browser game to Ronin have reignited interest in Axie Infinity.
The evolution of Axie NFTs represents a significant stride in play-to-earn gaming, offering an immersive experience that combines strategy, lore, and community. As Axie Infinity continues to evolve, it sets new standards for the NFT gaming industry
