Ubisoft, the gaming powerhouse behind blockbuster franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Just Dance, has officially launched its first original NFT-based game, Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles. Available for free on PC through the Ubisoft Connect platform, this marks a significant milestone in Ubisoft’s growing involvement in the blockchain gaming space.
Built on the Oasys blockchain network, Champions Tactics is a tactical strategy game where players assemble teams of fantasy-themed digital champions to battle opponents in turn-based combat. While the game is free to play, it incorporates optional NFTs, giving players the opportunity to enhance their gameplay experience.
Players can participate in Champions Tactics with “ethereal champions”—non-NFT characters that are free but have limited use in ranked play. These champions can also be unlocked by completing in-game quests. For a more robust experience, players can acquire NFT champions. Ubisoft minted 75,000 in-game champions as NFTs on the Oasys network, some of which are now available on secondary marketplaces for just under $10 worth of OAS tokens.
These NFT champions come with unique visual traits and gameplay attributes that affect combat performance. Players can also merge two NFT champions to forge new ones. In addition, holders of Ubisoft’s Warlords NFTs, a collection of Ethereum profile pictures (PFPs) released in late 2023, receive special in-game rewards and advantages.
Ubisoft’s exploration of blockchain gaming began several years ago, with experimental NFT-based projects across various platforms. In 2021, the company launched in-game NFTs for Ghost Recon Breakpoint on the Tezos network. With Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, Ubisoft has taken a bold step toward creating a full-fledged NFT-based gaming experience.
This game is only the beginning of Ubisoft’s blockchain gaming ambitions. The company recently announced Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., inspired by its Netflix series and characters from Far Cry and Rayman. This upcoming game will be built on the Ethereum layer-2 network Arbitrum, with 10,000 NFTs set to be released on the Magic Eden marketplace.
As Ubisoft continues to innovate in the NFT and blockchain space, it aims to reshape how players interact with in-game assets, creating new opportunities for ownership and engagement in the digital world.