Axie Infinity's Strategic Expansion: Origins Card Game Launches on Apple App Store (NFTs Not Required)

‍Axie Infinity, the renowned play-to-earn crypto game, is taking a significant step in its expansion efforts with the release of its card-based strategy game, Axie Infinity: Origins, on the Apple App Store. Unlike its predecessor, this version of the game does not necessitate the purchase of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for participation.

Developed by Sky Mavis, the creator of the popular Axie Infinity NFT project, Origins introduces players to a captivating card game experience by providing them with free non-NFT "starter" characters. Previously available in limited regions through Google Play and Mavis Hub, the game is now targeting key markets in Latin America and Asia, including Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Aleksander Leonard Larsen, co-founder and COO of Axie Infinity, shared insights into the development process, mentioning the long-standing collaboration with Apple. After extensive experimentation, the current iteration of Origins on the App Store represents a "lite" version with further enhancements planned for the future.

Starter characters within the free-to-play version of the game are non-NFT Axies, the endearing digital creatures that form an integral part of the Axie Infinity universe. However, Larsen revealed that the company intends to eventually transform these in-app Axies into NFTs as players acquire additional Axies. Moreover, NFT holders will have the ability to transfer their existing Axies into the app.

Axie Infinity: Origins operates on the Ronin sidechain, an Ethereum-based platform developed by Sky Mavis. Notably, the game's iOS release marks a significant milestone as Apple has agreed to allow externally-purchased NFTs to be utilized on the App Store, according to a recent blog post by the developers.

Following this successful launch, Larsen expressed the company's aspirations to introduce studios from the Ronin Network to Apple, potentially paving the way for easier acceptance of their games on the platform. Axie Infinity aims to foster a solid relationship with Apple as it continues its ambitious growth plans.

In parallel with the game's expansion, Sky Mavis is set to introduce Mavis Market, a curated NFT marketplace powered by the Ronin blockchain. This platform will feature collectibles from third-party game and dapp developers utilizing Ronin. Additionally, the company plans to launch a merchandise store, further enriching the Axie Infinity ecosystem.

Despite overcoming a significant setback in the form of a $625 million hack in the previous year, Axie Infinity has demonstrated resilience and commitment. The core systems of the Ronin network underwent a comprehensive overhaul in March to enhance decentralization and security. Additionally, partnerships with esteemed game development studios such as Tribes Studio, Bali Games, Directive Games, and Bowled.io have expanded the Axie Infinity universe, granting select games the opportunity to leverage the Axie IP.

Sky Mavis CEO Trung Nguyen conveyed the company's unwavering dedication to its vision of establishing a player-owned digital nation and expressed excitement about collaborating with app stores to open up the ecosystem to a new generation of Lunacians.

Axie Infinity's latest expansion endeavors, marked by the launch of Origins on the Apple App Store and the introduction of Mavis Market, showcase the project's determination to revolutionize the gaming and NFT landscapes while engaging a broader audience worldwide.