FIFA announces plans to integrate NFTs into World Cup mobile game
FIFA, the worldwide soccer governing body, has recently introduced a mobile game, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), named World Cup AI League. The game has been developed by web3 AI firm Altered State Machine and is currently available in an open beta version on Android devices. An iOS release is also planned for the near future.
Uniting AI and NFTs under the umbrella of soccer
World Cup AI League is an advanced version of the World Cup prediction game, which was launched in November last year.
The game showcases brightly colored and cartoonish characters that bear a striking resemblance to those seen in popular animated movies like Pixar. These characters’ movements are under the control of AI, which also sets their individual strengths and weaknesses.
The game offers players the opportunity to play the role of both team coaches and owners. In addition, it currently boasts maps inspired by various international destinations such as Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Yaoundé, and Seoul.
According to Altered State Machine’s co-founder, Aaron McDonald, the game’s primary objective is to usher casual gamers into the world of AI gaming in the metaverse. With FIFA’s AI League, football enthusiasts worldwide now have an unprecedented chance to engage with their beloved sport in a fresh and unique way.
At present, World Cup AI League is free to play. However, an Altered State representative said that the company intends to roll out an NFT marketplace for the game soon. Upon its release, the characters in the game will be minted into NFTs, and all future characters will be represented solely through NFTs.
At present, players can purchase cosmetic upgrades for their players using an in-game currency. However, this currency is not a cryptocurrency because of Apple and Google’s limitations on crypto trading. The Altered State representative revealed that the deployment of NFTs would occur at a later date. The company aims to create a smooth user experience, with players not becoming overly absorbed or sidetracked by the NFT aspects.
Ronaldo and Messi absent from the game
As criticism from gamers rises, a growing trend in the Web3 space sees game developers initially launching games in a traditional “Web2” form without blockchain elements and later adding them.
FIFA, which enlisted several crypto sponsors for the 2022 World Cup and launched an NFT platform, is well-versed in the crypto world. The governing body of soccer also collaborated with other Web3 game studios for World Cup-themed integrations.
The game’s lack of popular soccer players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have endorsement deals with crypto companies, is noteworthy. However, FIFA World Cup AI League has a lot to look forward to.
The game presently caters to Android users only, but it is slated for an upcoming release on iOS. This open beta of the game is an extension of the World Cup prediction game that debuted in November 2022.
