The creators of the play-to-earn crypto game Axie Infinity have launched a fresh version of their latest game on Apple’s App Store. This new release eliminates the need for users to purchase NFTs. Axie Infinity: Origins is an easy-to-play card game that provides players with complimentary non-NFT “starter characters.” This release marks a departure from the original Axie Infinity game, where users were required to either purchase or rent NFTs to participate.
Crypto users have expressed significant controversy and frustration over Apple’s enforcement of a 30% tax on all in-app purchases, including NFT sales. This policy has not only deterred Web3 projects from launching their apps on the App Store, but it has also garnered strong criticism from influential figures in the Web3 community, particularly Ryan Wyatt, CEO of Polygon Studios, who vehemently label the tax as “criminal.”
Regrettably, Apple’s firm stance has impeded NFT adoption among its user base. Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope emerges as Axie Infinity, one of the leading blockchain games, has discovered a workaround that allows them to list their game on the App Store without succumbing to the 30% deduction.
Axie Infinity’s Clever Listing Solution
Sky Mavis, the creators of the popular blockchain game Axie Infinity, have made their card-based game, Axie Infinity: Origins, available on Apple’s App Store in several countries where it enjoys a significant following. These countries include Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
The game studio has cleverly discovered a workaround that allows their game to bypass both the burdensome 30% tax and Apple’s stringent listing process. They have introduced a Lite version of the game, which eliminates NFT trading within the app.
This strategy card game is completely free to play, allowing gamers to dive in without any upfront costs. Players can embark on their gaming journey with complimentary non-NFT starter Axies, departing from the original game’s requirement of purchasing or renting NFTs.
In an exciting development, the new listing utilizes Sky Mavis’ Ethereum-based Ronin sidechain, enabling Axie players to transfer their Axie NFTs directly into the game. This marks a groundbreaking moment as it is the first time Apple has agreed to integrate externally-purchased NFTs and make them usable within the confines of the App Store.
Axie Infinity Co-founder and COO, Aleksander Leonard Larsen, revealed that they have been engaged in a collaboration with Apple for over two years, actively developing the current version of the game. This indicates that there are ongoing efforts to enhance and refine the gaming experience, with the promise of unveiling additional features in the coming times.
The momentous launch of Axie Infinity on the Apple App Store marks a remarkable achievement for the game itself and the broader web3 gaming industry. The magnitude of this achievement is evident through the surge in value observed in the game’s token, AXS, fueled by the overwhelming excitement generated by the announcement.
AXS Gains Ground, Yet Falls Short of Previous Peaks
At the time of writing, the announcement regarding Axie Infinity had a positive impact on its native token. The value of AXS experienced a notable increase of 9.6% in the past day, reaching a price of $7.44, as reported by CoinGecko.
However, this surge in value still has a long way to go to reach its all-time high of $164.90, which was achieved back in November 2021. Since then, Axie has faced challenges including a broader decline in the cryptocurrency market and the aftermath of a $622 million hack of Ronin.
Similarly, the in-game token for Axie, known as Smooth Love Potion (SLP), saw a modest increase of 4.2% upon the announcement. However, it is important to note that SLP remains significantly down by more than 99% compared to its peak in July 2021.
The decline in the value of SLP had a severe impact on the economy of the original Axie game, leading the company to implement several changes to tokenomics. As part of this transformation from “play-to-earn” to “play-and-earn,” Axie Infinity: Origins was softly launched last year, signifying a shift in the game’s approach.
Final Thoughts
The launch of Axie Infinity: Origins on Apple’s App Store signifies a significant shift in the play-to-earn crypto game’s approach. By providing users with non-NFT “starter characters” and eliminating the need to purchase NFTs, Axie Infinity aims to broaden accessibility and attract a wider audience. However, Apple’s imposition of a 30% tax on in-app purchases, including NFT sales, has sparked controversy among crypto users and hindered NFT adoption. Despite these challenges, Axie Infinity has managed to find a clever workaround, allowing them to list their game on the App Store without compromising their vision.
Ken Emmanuel is a Blockchain Content writer, a Web3 Enthusiast and a Social Media Management Strategist, he likes writing educative contents to help people gain more knowledge and get inspired. The growth of any organization he work with is always his priority. He is a Geographer by profession and loves reading.
