Wildcard, the upcoming PVP MOBA hybrid, is set to transfer its digital assets from Polygon to the Ethereum mainnet, starting on February 24. This migration includes the game’s Wildpasses NFTs and marks a significant transition as the developers prepare for the next phase of the game’s development.
Wishlist Wildcard Now on Steam for Alpha Playtesting
Steam Wishlist and Playtests
Wildcard has been in development since 2018 under the leadership of Paul Bettner and Katy Drake Bettner, industry veterans known for their work on Age of Empires and Words With Friends. The game has received significant financial backing, with $46 million in funding from investors such as Paradigm and Griffin Gaming Partners. The extended development timeline reflects the studio’s long-term commitment to delivering a well-crafted experience.
As part of its ongoing development, Wildcard has recently been added to Steam’s wishlist platform, increasing its visibility among players ahead of its launch. Additionally, the studio has opened registrations for closed playtests, allowing select participants early access. These developments indicate that the game is progressing towards its expected release, which Playful Studios has tentatively scheduled for Q2 or Q3 of 2025.
Upcoming Litepaper and Thousands Platform
The move to Ethereum coincides with new details about the forthcoming WC token. Unlike many recent game tokens, WC is designed to be fully distributed to the community, avoiding traditional allocation models that often reserve a portion for developers and investors. The developers hope this approach will create a more sustainable in-game economy and foster long-term engagement.
In the coming weeks, Playful Studios plans to release a litepaper detailing more aspects of the WC token and Wildcard’s blockchain ecosystem. This document is expected to outline gameplay mechanics, token utility, and the game’s broader economic structure. Additionally, the studio has introduced Thousands, a spectator streaming and rewards platform designed to integrate with Wildcard and other third-party games, further expanding the game’s ecosystem.
ETH Migration Coming Soon
What is Thousands?
Thousands was first showcased during Wildcard Alliance's October TownHall livestream, where a demo gave a glimpse into its core features. These included a vibrant crowd of digital avatars, many of which represent real people through NFTs, interacting with live-streamed esports matches in the virtual arena. One unique aspect of Thousands is its NFT-based rewards system.
Spectators can participate in NFT draws, with random winners selected from the audience, replicating the atmosphere of real-world sports events. Thousands draws inspiration from existing social and streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), with a vision to bridge the gap between players, content creators, and fans. The platform offers interactive features similar to X’s Spaces, enabling dynamic engagement within the esports community.
Final Thoughts
The migration from Polygon to Ethereum is a key step in Wildcard’s expansion, aligning with its broader efforts to prepare for launch. With its presence on Steam, upcoming playtests, and plans for a community-driven token, Wildcard is positioning itself as a notable entrant in the web3 gaming space. As the industry continues to evolve, its success will depend on how well these initiatives resonate with players and the wider gaming community.
Source: BlockchainGamer
