A new NFL-themed mobile game reimagines how blockchain can be used in mobile gaming.
The National Football League and NFL Players Association launched its first blockchain-based game on the App Store and Google Play stores on Wednesday in collaboration with game studio Mythical Games.
In the game called NFL rivalsPlayers can run their own teams as a general manager and play as their favorite players in arcade-style gameplay. Thanks to the blockchain, users can also buy, collect and trade digital NFT items which unlock access to special events and in-game rewards.
Collaborating with Mythical Games and the NFLPA to produce an innovative gaming experience like NFL rivals “It’s a testament to the NFL’s success in the world of Web3 gaming,” Ed Keang, NFL Vice President of Video Games, said in a statement.
For the NFL Draft, which runs Thursday through Saturday, players can participate in draft-themed in-game events and purchase player packs that will transform into players in the game when they are drafted.
The new game, available for download on mobile from Wednesday, will feature a simple yet interactive experience aimed at casual fans, according to John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games.
“It’s very easy to pick up. I can play it for a few minutes. I can set it down and pick it up again an hour later and play another game.” “What we’re trying to reach is a larger audience.”
As part of this push for mainstream appeal, Linden said the company does not advertise the fact that NFTs or blockchains are being used.
“If you’ve used the words ‘crypto’ and ‘NFT’, you’re kind of a crypto or NFT type of project, right? If you’re using technology for consumers, you probably don’t even need to mention it, just provide the cool functionality.”
However, by using the blockchain, Linden said the game will have capabilities that would not be possible with typical gaming technology.
Enabling these Web3 capabilities is Mythical Games’ move of its Legendary Chain from Ethereum to Parachain on the Polkadot ecosystem, which Linden said will help with scalability. Linden noted that Mythical Chain recorded about 3.2 million on-chain game transactions over the past 30 days.
“We play on a large scale, with huge audiences,” he added.
Bjorn Wagner, CEO of Parity Technologies, a major contributor to the Polkadot network, said that because of the way Polkadot is structured, with project-specific parachins but still integrated into the Polkadot ecosystem, Mythical will have more flexibility. The company will also have more control over gas fees and be able to have faster transaction times, which is important for gaming.
He added, “We’re going to see that change drastically – how much you’ve heard about Polkadot, especially with those Polkadot-backed projects that are more consumer-oriented.”