Animoca Brands Japan, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, and KDDI Corporation ("KDDI") have announced a new partnership for a collaboration between Mocaverse, and αU (Alpha U), the metaverse and web3 service by KDDI.

Animoca Brands and KDDI aim to provide a more seamless and interoperable experience for the "web3-curious" to enjoy web3 games, culture, and entertainment globally. KDDI is one of the largest telecommunication providers with over 31 million users in Japan. This partnership will also include integrations with Blowfish Studios' web3 game Phantom Galaxies.

Details of Partnership?

The partnership will see the integration of Mocaverse’s on-chain decentralized identifier (DID) Moca ID with αU wallet, enabling customers of αU wallet to seamlessly access web3 content such as games, entertainment, and culture within the Mocaverse ecosystem.

There will also be collaborations between the intellectual property (IP) and web3 content of Animoca Brands and αU, including offering sales of NFTs for the web3 game Phantom Galaxies on the NFT marketplace αU market.

More About Animoca Brands?

Animoca Brands is a leading web3 company that invests in various areas including blockchain games, metaverses, DeFi, and wallets, and also is building its own web3 ecosystem. Animoca Brands Japan is a strategic subsidiary of Animoca Brands that supports the global expansion of Japanese IP and content holders in the web3 domain. 

Kensuke Amo, COO of Animoca Brands Japan, said: "This collaboration is expected to serve as a bridge between Japan and the global web3 community. Furthermore, this collaboration will be the initial step toward a society that leverages web3, where individuals can seamlessly connect with various blockchain applications on a personal level."

More About Mocaverse?

Mocaverse started as Animoca Brands’ first official membership NFT project, and has evolved into the growth network with an interoperable infrastructure layer of Account, Identity, Reputation, and PointFi systems seeded by Animoca Brands, dedicated to building the largest on-chain cultural economy.

Since the launch of Moca ID in November 2023, over 750,000 on-chain users have minted their unique .moca name and engaged in the broader Mocaverse ecosystem.  

Kenneth Shek, project lead of Mocaverse commented: “ e are excited to explore opportunities to onboard millions of retail users to web3 cultural and entertainment experiences through our interoperable on-chain identity Moca ID and point system. Not only does Japan have a strong culture of IP and gaming, but Japanese users are well accustomed to using point systems.”

More About Phantom Galaxies?

Phantom Galaxies is an online multiplayer science fiction action RPG that utilizes blockchain technology and is developed by Blowfish Studios, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands. 

The game officially launched into early access just recently, marking a significant step in the intersection of gaming and blockchain technology. Positioned as a triple-A title, the mecha space opera is now available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, presenting a blend of high-quality gaming and cutting-edge technology.

Benjamin Lee, the co-founder of Blowfish Studios, said: "We are thrilled at the opportunity to introduce the captivating world of Phantom Galaxies to KDDI customers, revolutionizing player ownership."

More About KDDI?

KDDI launched the metaverse and web3 service αU in March 2023 to realize a world where anyone can become a creator and to support the new generation of users who effortlessly move between the real and virtual worlds.

αU provides various products, including the αU wallet for managing NFTs and cryptocurrencies, the user-friendly NFT marketplace αU market, αU metaverse for entertainment and socializing, αU live for high-quality 360-degree music concerts through cloud rendering, and αU place for virtual shopping experiences replicating real-world stores.

Shunpei Tatebayashi of KDDI Corporation commented: “We believe that content plays a crucial role in web3 mass adoption, and we aim to develop new experiences while increasing access to web3 through this collaboration with Animoca Brands."