Image credit: Ubisoft

The Arbitrum Foundation and French gaming giant Ubisoft have announced Dec. 18 as the launch date for Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., a Web3-enabled top-down shooter that blends iconic Ubisoft characters and blockchain technology.

The game, which will debut on the Ethereum layer-2 Arbitrum network, is a spinoff of the 2023 Netflix series "Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix."

Set in the expansive Ubisoft universe, Captain Laserhawk incorporates characters from popular franchises such as Far Cry: Blood Dragon, Rayman, Assassin’s Creed, Beyond Good and Evil, The Crew, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, and Watch Dogs.

The game offers classic top-down shooter gameplay with competitive leaderboards and Web3 functionalities, marking Ubisoft's continued exploration of blockchain gaming and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The launch will also feature a free NFT mint via the Magic Eden marketplace. According to an announcement from the official game account on X, the NFTs will include utilities such as governance voting and exclusive collectibles inspired by legendary Ubisoft characters.

Nina Rong, head of partnerships at the Arbitrum Foundation, highlighted the importance of the game’s release, describing it as a transformative moment for the gaming industry. “Today’s mint, and next week’s launch, will be a cornerstone moment as we look towards the future of game development and player experience.

Forever, players have followed the storylines, character arcs, and game designs that were given to them. Now, that changes,” she said in a statement.

The Web3 gaming sector has shown signs of renewed growth despite challenges following the 2021 NFT boom. Recent data shows NFT sales have steadily increased, with the first week of December recording an estimated sales volume of $187 million.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi’s Beam Foundation is preparing to launch a $150 million fund to support Web3 gaming, further fueling the sector’s expansion.

Captain Laserhawk is poised to be a significant step forward for blockchain gaming, combining beloved gaming IPs with innovative Web3 features.

As Ubisoft continues to push the boundaries of blockchain-based entertainment, the launch signals a bold new chapter in the intersection of traditional gaming and decentralized technology.

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