Blockchain gaming is a rapidly expanding industry with a global market worth $9.3 billion. Additionally, the NFT market has snowballed and is valued at $27 billion. Gaming is the largest entertainment industry, with millions of avid players worldwide, surpassing the size of music and film. However, the adoption of blockchain gaming still needs to be improved, and the industry faces the issue of sustainable revenue models. This means that only a tiny percentage of players can make money due to the complexity of games.
To tackle this issue, Morningstar Venture's portfolio company, BitBrawl, has developed an easy-to-understand 2D esports fighting game that combines Web2 and Web3 gaming through a skill-based experience.
This month's review will cover everything from the founding team to fundraising, the upcoming beta, and how the game works. The review will conclude with an analysis of what we like about BitBrawl and where we see potential challenges for the project.
What is BitBrawl and How Does the Game Work?
BitBrawl is an online PVP game in which players Compete-to-Earn (C2E) via competitive matches and tournaments. The game is built on Solana and created by the biggest gaming studio in Europe, iLogos.
BitBrawl’s mission is to create a game focused on:
- A fun combat game incorporating every player type
- Competitive, skill-based gameplay
- A sustainable C2E system, with frequent tournaments to create fair player rewards
The alpha version of the game is live on both Google Play and the Apple App Store and is playable online.
Games
BitBrawl currently has one live and playable game for the public and is developing its second game, Kingdoms. Kingdoms is still under development and aims to become a game that combines strategy, adventure, and community, offering an unparalleled gaming experience powered by innovative use of NFTs and cryptocurrency. Learn more about the second game: ➡️ here
Back to the first game – BitBrawl has 10,000 brawlers, which all stem from four different regions, all equipped with various skill sets, leaders, and universes:
- Nedunia: Giant crustaceans crush rocks with their claws. Humanoids power themselves with crystals in their eye sockets, preferring vibrant gems. Most lack a right eye and embed the gem there; some lack a left eye, prized for intelligence but weak physique. The technology relies on crystals, with red gems powering long-lasting tools and alloys of gemstones in weapons.
- Ghule Islands: In Ghule Islands, inhabitants forsake sleep and food for the thrill of fighting. Once a bustling pirate cove, Anchor Bay now houses lifeless smugglers and buccaneers. However, the rovers remain agile, driven by the rush of combat. They rely on the clocktower's bells to remind them of their purpose—to feel alive through battle.
- The Dynasty: In the Sapphire City, steel clashes constantly as duels determine power among the seven noble families. Aymer the Truthful, a prince of Dragonac, reigns as the current champion. Swords forged from Yggdral iron are prized in these battles, sourced from the scarce vein in Yggdram mountain.
- The Underground: The Elders of Vestiea, a gas-based asteroid, can only reminisce about fresh air. They pioneered the Known implant, initially flawed but later refined by Pinto Skolar into the Foxtrot version, saving civilization despite the loss of billions due to oxygen depletion.
The underlying gameplay features two players, each with three lives. Players can join 2v2 or 3v3 matches to play with friends or compete online. The game comes in three different modes:
- Casual Mode: Players can compete 1v1 or 2v2 and earn gold for every win. This can be played for fun.
- Ranked Mode: Players can brawl online, matched by skill level, paying a $BRAWL token fee for ranked matches. The first ten matches each season are free. Rankings include Iron, Gold, and Platinum, with a Diamond tier for top performers. Winners receive 90% of the fee, while 5% goes to BitBrawl and 5% is burned. Ranked matches contribute to season-end rewards for skilled players.
- Tournament Mode: Weekly, monthly, and yearly tournaments with 32 players will require an entry fee. Winners receive 75% of paid tokens, while the rest goes to prizes and token burns.
NFT Collection
The team has already sold out its 10,00 NFT collection, raising around $2M in 2021. The team is working on revamping the collection. As for the NFTs integrated into the game, BitBrawl utilizes four rarity classes in the NFT metadata, impacting rewards per match. Rarity doesn't affect gameplay. Furthermore, Players can access over 40+ partnered NFT projects for free. Customizing appearances requires purchasing a BitBrawl NFT. Upon entering the game, players connect their wallet to change their brawler's look, which remains purely cosmetic to ensure equal power. These include DeGod, y00ts, Azuki, MAYC, and more.
Right now, BitBrawl ranks in the top 100 NFT projects on Solana, coming in 75th place (at the time of writing). Given that the team still has a new NFT collection and a TGE, it will be interesting to see the future growth of this project.
Learn more about the NFT Collection: ➡️ here
Team, Fundraising, and Achievements
The team recently raised $3M for their upcoming $BRAWL token launch. In addition to us at Morningstar Ventures, other investors include Big Brain Holdings and Shima Capital. As mentioned, the game is built on iLogos and created by 14 seasoned developers who built the games Angry Birds and Shadow Fight 2.
Achievements & Partnerships
In a short period, the team has acquired 32K unique NFT holders and 82K+ players since December 2022. The average playtime for the original Alpha is 20 minutes, with around 500+ active daily users. Among these players are our MSV GG members, who have recently partnered with the project to test the game further and provide support with go-to-market efforts and content creation.
Recently, the team announced their recent player's stats, which exceeded their expectations leading up to their token launch.
Token Launch
On March 28th, the team is listing the $BRAWL token on several major exchanges, including Ape Terminal, KuCoin, Bybit, and more. The team also broke the record for the most participants in an IDO on ByBit, with over 69K participants.
Our Analysis
Strengths:
- At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap recorded the NFT market cap to be $4.17B with a 7-day sales volume of $161M. Furthermore, these figures, combined with the fact that approximately 2.9B people play games—one out of every three—suggest ample potential for BitBrawl as it enters a very strong and large market. Similarly, regarding blockchain gaming, reports predict the market will grow from $3B to $65 - $90 billion in 2030.
- Bitbrawl has a strong community, which was generated from its original NFT release. This means it already has a strong user base who will potentially continue playing the game as it releases more versions. Furthermore, the alpha has already been released on two major app stores and Solana, with EVM chains coming soon.
Challenges:
- Although they are building an easy-to-understand game, the technicality around Web3 has often proven to be a barrier to entry for many gamers. The Web3 element of opening a wallet and understanding how to earn from a game will be a feature the team needs to navigate regarding onboarding and explaining to players.
What’s Next for BitBrawl
The team is working on revamping its NFT collection and closing more partnerships. BitBrawl also aims to launch the second game at the beginning of this year. Finally, the team will be focusing on developing its second game, “Kingdoms.” Stay up to date on all announcements about the upcoming game and more.
Learn more about BitBrawl:
🌐 Official website: https://www.bitbrawl.io/
🐦 Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitBrawlio
💬 Official Telegram: https://t.me/BitbrawlGlobal
🕹️ Discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/bitbrawl
