Arcas Champions

Overview

Arcas Champions is a competitive third-person shooter featuring a mix of gunplay, character abilities, and strategic team-based modes. Set on the jungle-covered planet of Arcas, the game revolves around two factions, the Village Elites and the Renegades battling for control over Bastonium, a powerful resource. Players take on the role of Champions, customizable ape warriors with unique stats and abilities. The game focuses on fast-paced movement, skill-based combat, and ranked play, with a governance system that lets players influence future updates. The game also introduces Skillstaking, a web3-powered system that tokenizes ranked matchmaking scores (MMR), allowing players to stake tokens based on their performance.

Game Lore

The planet Arcas was once peaceful, ruled by the Ape Elders after the legendary Arcas Champions put an end to violent tribal wars. Over time, the Elders grew complacent, allowing the Village Elites, a militarized faction, to take control and push weaker apes to the fringes of society.

Everything changed when a spaceship from the Bureau of Astral Supply (B.A.S.) crashed into the jungle, spreading Bastonium contamination. Fearful of its effects, the Elders banned all contact with the crash site. However, a misfit chimp, cast out by the Elites, uncovered the lost history of the Arcas Champions and the true power of Bastonium. After a strange accident fused his brain with the element, he became MadMonkey, leading the Renegades in rebellion against the Village Elites, reigniting the war.

Gameplay and Features

Arcas Champions blends traditional shooter mechanics with unique movement and combat systems. Players control Champions, ape warriors with distinct stats affecting their performance in battle. Strength determines melee power, agility impacts movement speed and dodging, health affects durability, intelligence influences ability cooldowns, and luck can affect in-game events like critical hits or item drops. Players can customize and upgrade their Champions over time, tailoring them to fit specific playstyles. Weapon loadouts are interchangeable during matches, allowing for mid-game adjustments. Some Champions may excel in aggressive, close-range combat, while others might be better suited for long-range precision or support roles.

The game places a strong emphasis on mobility. Movement mechanics like wall vaulting, gliding, and high-powered leaps give players dynamic ways to navigate maps and outmaneuver opponents. This creates a verticality rarely seen in traditional shooters, rewarding those who master positioning and map awareness. Abilities also play a key role in combat. Some Champions may have defensive shields, healing abilities, or offensive tools like explosive projectiles. These abilities add an extra layer of strategy, making team composition and coordination important in higher-level matches.

The game follows a free-to-play model, with premium Champions and cosmetic skins available for purchase. Free players receive randomly assigned Champions each match, while those who purchase one can use their chosen character consistently. A governance system allows high-ranking players to vote on game updates, balance changes, and new features, making the community a key part of the game’s development.

Game Modes

Arcas Champions features multiple modes for both casual and ranked play. Casual matches let players gain experience, test strategies, and unlock achievements. These include Tribe Wars, an 8v8 team deathmatch focused on fast action; Tribe Supremacy, an objective-based mode where teams capture and hold points; and Brawl, a 4v4 elimination mode where players only have one life per round, making teamwork essential.

Ranked play is where things get more competitive, with results affecting a player's matchmaking score. One of the ranked game modes, Banana Fever, challenges teams to collect bananas and secure them in their vaults while trying to steal from the opposing team. More ranked modes will be added, but only after being tested in casual play and approved through the player governance system. Maps vary in size and layout, with locations like Black Market, Village Plaza, and BAS Beach Club offering different strategic possibilities.

NFTs and Web3 

Arcas Champions incorporates web3 through its Skillstaking system, allowing players to stake tokens based on their ranked matchmaking score. This feature is designed to create a more open and skill-driven competitive ecosystem, where progression and rewards are directly tied to in-game performance. The game also follows a community-driven governance model, giving high-ranking players a voice in important decisions, such as balance updates, new game modes, and future content. This ensures that the game evolves in a way that reflects player feedback and priorities.

To further enhance its web3 capabilities, Arcas Champions is now building on the Soneium Blockchain. This transition aims to improve scalability, reduce transaction costs, and provide a more efficient and secure environment for blockchain-based features.

How to Get Started

Arcas Champions is currently in its beta phase, but the game has already made significant progress through consistent development. Players interested in trying it out can play a demo version on Steam and add it to their wishlist on the Epic Games Store to stay updated on its full release. Free players will have access to randomly assigned Champions in each match, while those who purchase a Champion can use their chosen character consistently. For newcomers, casual modes provide a great way to get familiar with the game’s mechanics before diving into ranked matches.