Avalon: A New Metaverse Game
Avalon is set to shake up the online gaming world with its upcoming metaverse game. The first trailer for the game was unveiled by the startup, giving gamers a substantial look at what’s to come. This new experience is led by a team of industry veterans and will incorporate blockchain technology and AI tools.
Team and Investors
The team behind Avalon boasts industry leaders who have worked on iconic games like EverQuest, Call of Duty, Diablo, Assassin’s Creed, Elden Ring, and World of Warcraft. In February, Avalon announced a $13 million raise led by Bitkraft Ventures. Other investors included Hashed, Delphi Digital, Mechanism Capital, and Coinbase Ventures.
Game Development and Collaboration
Avalon collaborated with Didimo and Inworld AI to create its virtual universe. The team utilized Didimo’s Popul8 platform for character creation and Inworld AI’s advanced AI-driven character engine to design characters and non-player characters (NPCs) to create more engaging and complex characters.
Gameplay Features and Release Plan
In Avalon, players traverse a virtual universe through portals that can rapidly take them from a medieval world to a cyberpunk landscape. According to Jeffrey Butler, Avalon’s chief product officer, the initial rollout of Avalon will include everything an aspiring dungeon master would need to start building a world.
A playable beta test for Avalon will drop in 2024, with a full release coming in 2025. Avalon will also feature a monetization feature for developers.
Diversity and Blockchain Integration
Butler also discussed Avalon’s commitment to diversity in gaming, saying that Avalon uses generative AI to include as many ethnicities based on real-world communities as possible. Underpinning Avalon is blockchain technology that will give players ownership over the items they earn and buy.
Industry Trends and Outlook
With its announcement, Avalon joins an increasingly crowded AI-powered game industry. Game studios leveraging generative artificial intelligence include Blizzard Entertainment, Square Enix, Roblox, and Ubisoft.
While Butler is optimistic about the future of the metaverse, he cautioned that a fully immersive metaverse cannot be the domain of a single company.
Hot Take: The Future of Gaming
Avalon is making waves in the gaming world with its innovative approach to metaverse gaming. With an experienced team at the helm and cutting-edge technology like blockchain and AI integration, this upcoming game has the potential to redefine the gaming landscape. The focus on diversity and inclusivity further sets it apart from other offerings in the market. As we await its release in 2025, all eyes are on Avalon as it prepares to revolutionize the gaming experience.