In the realm of blockchain-based gaming, Illuvium emerges as a frontrunner with its Beta 4 release, promising not just immersive gameplay but also a substantial token airdrop. With a value surpassing $23 million, this airdrop sets a new benchmark in the ever-evolving landscape of play-to-earn initiatives.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about Illuvium's Beta 4, including exclusive details about the airdrop, new gameplay features, and how to join to earn valuable rewards. We will also cover Illuvium's recent $12 million Series A funding round, propelling its mission to construct an "interconnected gaming universe" where players can seamlessly use their in-game assets aka Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) across various IPs and genres. 

Airdrop and $ILV Tokens

The Illuvium team recently conducted a snapshot on April 14th, allocating rewards to active participants within their ecosystem. These rewards, totaling 50,000 $ILV tokens, encompass contributors across various engagement channels, including staking, liquidity provision, NFTs ownership, and trading on the IlluviDex platform.

Looking ahead, Illuvium plans to launch a play-to-earn airdrop campaign coinciding with the Beta 4 release. This initiative will distribute 20,000 tokens during the testnet phase and an additional 180,000 tokens for the mainnet beta. Notably, the airdrop will be accessible to all, further democratizing participation in the Illuvium ecosystem.

With a total allocation of 250,000 $ILV tokens, Illuvium aims to incentivize community engagement and governance within its ecosystem. As ILV serves as the governance token, stakeholders stand to benefit from participating in decisions impacting the IlluviDex platform.

Beta 4: What to Expect

Beta 4 marks a pivotal moment for Illuvium, promising the integration of its existing games and unveiling new gameplay mechanics. While specific details remain under wraps, the emphasis is on community-driven testing to ensure a seamless player experience. Bug identification and feedback provision are encouraged, with incentives likely allocated for such contributions.

To participate in the Beta 4 airdrop, players can register for the Private Beta until April 30th. The testnet launch is slated for April 30th, accommodating 10,000 players. Following the private beta, an open beta phase will commence, expanding accessibility to a wider audience.

$12 Million Fresh Funding

Illuvium recently closed a $12 million Series A funding round led by prominent investors including King River Capital, Arrington Capital, Spartan Capital, and Animoca Capital, alongside participation from P2 Ventures, Nomura’s Laser Digital, 32-Bit, and Seven Capital.

With this recent injection of capital, Illuvium's total funding reaches an impressive $60 million. The company had previously secured $10 million in a venture round led by Framework Ventures in May 2023. The timing of this fundraising coincides with Illuvium's imminent launch of its inaugural series of interconnected games, scheduled for release in Q2 2024, promising an experience reminiscent of the widely popular Pokémon Go.

The Illuvium gaming universe comprises three interconnected titles, all designed to seamlessly integrate NFTs across the entire gaming ecosystem. Notably, Illuvium has introduced a unique revenue-sharing model where stakers receive 100% of the in-game revenues paid using the platform’s native token, $ILV. Kieran Warwick, the Co-founder and CEO of Illuvium, highlighted the significance of this revenue-sharing mechanism, stating:

“Redirecting 100% of all in-game revenues to staked investors is a major draw for $ILV, resonating strongly with our community.” He also emphasized its potential to set a precedent for future initiatives, suggesting it could gain traction across decentralized organizations within the industry.

Over One Million Users

With over a million registered users eagerly anticipating the game's launch, Illuvium has garnered significant attention. In 2022, the company generated $72 million from selling land plots, indicating a robust market demand for its offerings.

One of the standout features of Illuvium is its unique gameplay mechanic known as Illuvium Zero, a mobile game enabling landholders to produce fuel, a crucial resource utilized across all game titles. This innovative approach fosters an interconnected economy, promoting strategic decision-making and player-driven trade dynamics within the gaming ecosystem.

In tandem with its latest developments, Illuvium has undergone significant governance restructuring, appointing 20 industry experts like Gabby Dizon (Co-Founder of Yield Guild Games) and Robbie Ferguson (Co-Founder and President of Immutable). The enhanced governance structure introduces four committees focusing on marketing, game development, strategy, and operations, aiming to collaborate closely with the community council, influenced by $ILV token holders.

Illuvium also recently debuted on the Epic Games Store and announced a partnership with the mainstream web2 esports organization Team Liquid. With over 230 million users the Epic Games Store is known for its web3-friendly stance, hosting prominent web3 titles such as Gods Unchained, Parallel, Phantom Galaxies, MetalCore, Apeiron, My Pet Hooligan, Superior, The Machines Arena, Blankos Block Party, Grit (GALA), Last Remains, Cards of Eternity, Mars4, and more. 

More about Illuvium?

Built on Immutable X, Illuvium offers diverse gameplay styles, including an open-world adventure and competitive auto-battler mode, all powered by Ethereum's scaling network. Players journey across a vast and varied landscape to hunt and capture creatures, or Illuvials. Together with their tamed Illuvials, players are tasked with discovering what caused the cataclysm that shattered the world.

Though the core Illuvium game is an open-world adventure game that is part auto-battler and part creature collector, the Illuvium web3 space encompasses much more. This includes Illuvium Zero, a land-based builder game and Iluvium Beyond, a PFP collecting and editing game. All of the various Illuvium projects will interconnect at some point in the future.

Illuvium Overworld, the open-world, RPG, will feature over 100 Illuvials to capture, each with different attributes and powers. Capture them, upgrade them, and combine two Iluvials to fuse a new one. Players can store their Illuvials on Shards, a bit like a collectible card. These cards hold the essence of an Illuvial. Players can trade shards in the marketplace or give them to a friend.

Illuvium has its own marketplace known as the IlluviDex. This serves as a central point for trading all things Illuvium-related. Illuvium also includes player governance in the form of a Council that goes through regular election periods. The game's incorporation of various NFTs, including a $72 million digital land NFT sale in June 2022, highlights its notable position in the web3 gaming space. To learn more, visit the Illuvium website, follow them on Twitter, and join their Discord chat.