Mythical Games has achieved a major milestone, with FIFA Rivals reaching one million downloads in just six weeks.
For those who might have thought blockchain was a gimmick in the gaming space, Mythical Games presents a powerful counterpoint. The company’s latest release, FIFA Rivals (a game officially licensed by FIFA), hit one million downloads in just six weeks after its initial release, making it clear that blockchain gaming is more than just a fad.
As Nate Nesbitt, Head of Communications at Mythical Games, explains, however, the company’s powerhouse status in blockchain gaming can be attributed to several factors. By understanding the specific elements that appeal to mobile gamers and integrating blockchain and cryptocurrency in natural ways, Mythical Games has positioned itself at the forefront of gaming innovation.
Playing the Hits
While FIFA Rivals can claim the title as Mythical Games’ fastest title to reach one million downloads, it isn’t the first time the studio has crossed this milestone. Previous games Blankos Block Party and NFL Rivals, have also crossed this milestone.
To Nesbitt, this success in the gaming space doesn’t come as a surprise because of his team’s inherent understanding of what it takes to succeed in the industry. “Gamers care about engaging gameplay first,” he explains.
“Blockchain and cryptocurrencies can be exciting, especially with players’ increased interest in owning digital goods. But if you take too much focus away from that core gameplay experience, you’re not going to attract players. Enhancing the gameplay and making the game more fun is how you can win over gamers to something that might be new or different to them. On the other hand, if you make the experience all about the blockchain, you’re only going to drive players away.”
Mythical Games’ team certainly has the credentials to back up this gameplay-focused mindset, with prior work on big-name franchises like Call of Duty, Diablo, EA Madden, World of Warcraft, Overwatch and more. These experiences have directly informed how the development team approaches collaborations with partners such as FIFA.
“Especially when working with the mobile gaming market, it’s essential that our games like FIFA Rivals have gameplay that is accessible and dynamic,” Nesbitt says.
“Balancing the learning curve of the gameplay is essential, where the game is easy to learn but can still become more rewarding as players improve their skills and spend more time in the game. That easy to learn, rewarding to master approach is what has helped many of the biggest franchises in the industry become the mega-hits that they are — and why not follow the template established by the best?”
Streamlined Blockchain Integration
With this foundation, Mythical Games has taken an approach to web3 integration that focuses on enhancing the gameplay, rather than complicating it. FIFA Rivals uses the company’s proprietary MYTH token within the Mythical Marketplace, an in-game blockchain marketplace on iOS and Android that can be used to purchase and sell digital assets within the company’s games.
For example, within FIFA Rivals, a licensing deal with Adidas resulted in the creation of exclusive digital soccer shoes, jerseys and match balls, all of which could be bought or traded within the blockchain marketplace.
“Dialing in on that interest in owning and trading virtual assets was key to how we decided to integrate blockchain technology,” Nesbitt explains. “We use an approach where gamers are incentivized to keep their tokens within the game’s ecosystem so they can access different virtual assets or experiences. The token isn’t meant for speculative gains. It’s meant to provide ownership of items and other assets within the game. As a result, we see far more MYTH deposits than withdrawals.
The blockchain also powers the Mythical Marketplace Quick Trades feature, which allows the company’s players to trade items with other players in a simplified, currency-free transaction.
“When we look at integrating blockchain, we always keep the focus on ensuring that it simplifies rather than complicates the gaming experience,” Nesbitt says. We must consider whether a particular integration genuinely enhances gameplay for players or if it unnecessarily complicates and dilutes the experience. Game economies can definitely improve the player experience by giving them ownership of digital assets in a way that feels rewarding. And when other players see the positive experiences that MYTH users are having within the game, it makes them more likely to try it out for themselves.”
Notably, this focus on offering a streamlined gaming experience means that players can download and enjoy Mythical Games’ releases without making any purchases or utilizing the marketplace at all. While not every player will engage with the company’s crypto offerings, Nesbitt believes this is an important trade-off that earns player trust and loyalty.
A New Approach To Gaming
As Nesbitt and Mythical Games reveal, there is a large (and arguably underserved market) for blockchain gaming — when it is implemented appropriately.
By understanding ways that blockchain and cryptocurrency integration can enhance the gaming experience, Mythical Games has been able to bring a new approach that provides a noteworthy framework for other mobile developers. With ongoing updates and support for FIFA Rivals and its other games, one million downloads may just be a stepping stone to even bigger milestones.
This industry announcement article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
