Photo credit: Cottonbro Studios/Pexels

How close are we to a future where Web3 games would be played by everyone, allowing everyone to hold on to their gaming assets and trade with each other without sacrificing on the unique gamestyles similar to the current top-ranking traditional games? 

As I was walking through the Future Blockchain Summit, looking at all the innovations and projects, one gaming project caught my eye. While there are still many Web3 games out there built for the crypto community, there are hardly any that are developed for the gamer community. That was until I saw the Phantom Galaxy — a sci-fi mech shooter gamer.

This gaming project, supported by the famous Animoca Brands, aims to bring traditional gamers into an evolving Web3 game through its stunning visuals and unique gamestyle that allows players to transform into a starship and a mech shooter based on the scenario. 

The Byteline had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Simon Lee from Blowfish Studios, diving into Phantom Galaxies’ ambitious plans to bridge the worlds of Web2 and Web3 gaming. Lee shared insights on how the studio aims to invite traditional gamers into the Web3 space, paving the way for a new era of digital ownership and immersive gameplay.

What inspired the development of Phantom Galaxies, and what are the core themes you wanted to explore in this game? 

Everybody at Blowfish Studios are huge fans of the space mecha genre, and we thought it would be a really good opportunity to make a game like that, built on the blockchain. But also, in a way, tell a story about you as a pilot and why you joined the space rangers, and also tell a little bit about the space pirates and their different factions.

For us, it’s all about the fun. In Web3 gaming, fun, immersive experiences, strong graphics, and gameplay aren’t always prioritized. We wanted to change that by focusing on these elements, creating a multiplayer experience that’s as engaging as it is entertaining.

Can you tell us more about the unique features of Phantom Galaxies that set it apart from other mecha action RPGs? 

The main focus is our blockchain integration. Our mission and vision are to provide an AAA gaming title that traditional gamers will love and enjoy, creating an experience that naturally brings them from traditional gaming to Web3 gaming, allowing them to benefit from its unique advantages.

We actually started as a Web2 platform and are now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Animoca Brands, which is a major player in the Web3 gaming space. When they acquired the studio, they brought a wealth of Web3 experience, which has greatly benefited us.

How does the game integrate Web3 elements, and what benefits do players get from this integration? 

The big thing for us is true digital ownership of in-game assets. This is really important to us because, as most people know, modern games make a large portion of their revenue from in-game items like skins, weapons, and similar items. But in a traditional gaming sense, players don’t actually own those assets. Web3 changes that by allowing players not only to own these assets but also to trade, level up, and expand them.

Our starfighters, pilots, and even planets in the game are all NFTs. We also have an in-game token called Astrafer (spelled A-S-T-R-A-F-E-R). Astrafer can be used in-game to purchase items, buy NFT mint passes, and it can also be earned in-game. We have a battle pass system where players can complete daily and weekly challenges and objectives to earn rewards.

Players can purchase these tokens through exchanges, like SushiSwap and others.

Currently, we support MetaMask, Coinbase, and WalletConnect wallets on our platform. Are we planning to expand wallet integration in the future? Absolutely—it’s all possible. While there are no definite plans for specific additional wallets right now, the technology allows us to add new features or wallets as they become available.

What challenges did you face during the development process, and how did you overcome them? 

When it comes to AAA Web3 titles, there aren’t many, and we’re among the first to market in that respect. Being first isn’t always easy because there’s no rulebook on how to do this. Although we have a clear vision and a strong sense of what we want to achieve, we’ve definitely encountered challenges along the way, which we’ve managed to overcome.

We released in early access late last year, and the game is now available on Steam, Web3 Sense, Epic Games, and our own website, phantomgalaxies.com.

What are your future plans for Phantom Galaxies, and can we expect any major updates or expansions in the near future?

Absolutely. We’re regularly updating the game, adding new features, gameplay modes, and content. Phantom Galaxies is a continuing story, and we’re constantly adding to it.

I’d love to report more about your organization. Do you have any press releases? We’d love to cover it. So, is there going to be a story mode for Phantom Galaxies? Yes, there is a story mode. In fact, the game started from the story mode. A lot of games, especially multiplayer ones, have a tokenistic story mode that feels tacked on. But we built Phantom Galaxies from the story mode and developed a deep lore with various characters.

You play as an ensign, a new recruit in the Ranger Corps, tasked with protecting the galaxy from space pirates. Recently, pirate activity has increased, and there are different types of pirates, each with unique goals. As you progress, you’ll uncover more about their plans and start questioning your role within the galaxy, offering a reflective experience for the players.

Can players become space pirates? Not currently, as the story hasn’t developed in that direction yet, but that would be cool, right? Some players do enjoy playing as villains; movies have shown that villains aren’t always what they seem. There’s demand for that kind of experience, and some characters in our game have unclear intentions, which adds intrigue.

We also have an anime series called Phantom Galaxies. You can find the first couple of episodes on YouTube. So far, there’s one episode available, with a second one coming soon. The first episode, uploaded around June or July, provides additional context about the Ranger Corps and the space pirates.

What advice would you give to those starting up a gaming projects?

The advice I’d give is that Web3 blockchain is an ideal fit for gaming. It’s not hard to imagine a time in the near future when all games are on the blockchain. They may not even be called Web3 games—they might just be called games. Once we reach critical mass with players, people will naturally see the benefits of owning and trading their in-game assets. It’s a no-brainer.

It’s one of those things where, in the future, we’ll be telling our kids, “I used to play games, but I didn’t actually own my assets. I gave money but didn’t get anything in return.” I think our kids will make fun of us for that. I already have a daughter, and she thinks that way about certain things, so that’s fine. My advice: this change is going to happen.