Cross the Ages is Building New Games

Animoca Brands has announced a strategic partnership with Cross the Ages (CTA), a gaming ecosystem known primarily for its collectible trading card game, Cross the Ages: TCG. The partnership is intended to support the CTA ecosystem as well as the upcoming launch of the studio’s new action role-playing game (ARPG), Arise. Animoca Brands has been backing Cross the Ages since 2021 and played a significant role in a 2024 funding round where the company raised $3.5 million in exchange for equity. As part of the new agreement, Animoca has also begun purchasing the CTA token, which has experienced a notable increase in buying volume, rising 61% month-over-month.

Cross the Ages is Building New Games

Development of Arise and New Game Mode Blast

Arise has been under development for approximately two and a half years, with its official trailer released around nine months ago. The game entered playtesting in May 2025 and is currently in the pre-alpha phase, with a planned release date in the fourth quarter of 2025 for PC. While the project is ambitious, there are reservations about whether Arise will be able to compete effectively with established web2 games or strongly appeal to the web3 gaming audience.

In addition to Arise, Cross the Ages is working on a new version of its TCG titled Blast. This updated game mode aims to enhance strategic depth while improving accessibility for players. The release of Blast is scheduled for this month and will coincide with the game’s migration from Immutable to the Solana blockchain, signaling a shift in infrastructure that may impact performance and user experience.

Cross the Ages is Building New Games

Ecosystem Expansion and Multi-Media Strategy

Beyond these game titles, Cross the Ages is developing another project called Reverse, which focuses on an economic model that links in-game land assets with real-world assets (RWAs). This approach reflects a broader effort to integrate gaming assets with tangible value outside of the virtual space. The studio also maintains a multi-media strategy that extends beyond gaming itself.

Cross the Ages has expanded into books, movies or series, physical trading cards, merchandise, and comics, aiming to create a more comprehensive entertainment ecosystem. In March 2024, CTA released a collaborative Watch Dogs x CTA card collection, which featured an in-game integration of characters from Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs franchise. Ubisoft, along with Polygon, had previously led a $12 million seed round for Cross the Ages in 2022. The company has also likely generated consistent revenue through pack sales over the years, supporting ongoing development.

Cross the Ages is Building New Games

Outlook on the Partnership and Future Developments

The partnership between Animoca Brands and Cross the Ages reflects an ongoing effort to grow a web3-based gaming ecosystem that spans multiple media formats and gaming experiences. While Arise and the new Blast mode represent significant steps for CTA, the success of these initiatives will depend on their ability to attract and retain both traditional gamers and the web3 community. The migration to Solana and the broader economic model introduced by Reverse indicate that Cross the Ages is actively exploring ways to enhance the utility and appeal of its ecosystem. How well these efforts translate into long-term engagement and growth remains to be seen.

Source: GamingChronicles