In July 2024, Axie Infinity, the prominent blockchain-based gaming platform, showcased robust progress despite challenges in the broader cryptocurrency market. The latest development update highlights significant strides in Axie's ecosystem, emphasizing community involvement and the introduction of innovative features.

Axie Infinity Character Art

We have created a series of three articles to cover the most important points from the report. We will break down Axie Infinity's 2024 development update, featuring new game features, community engagement, and governance advancements.

Here is a table of contents:

• Part One: Axie by the Numbers

• Part Two: Axie Games and Products

• Part Three: Governance Advancements

First, What is Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity is the iconic and much loved non-fungible token (NFT) based online video game developed by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis built on the Ronin Network. Known for its in-game economy which uses Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies. Players of Axie Infinity collect and mint NFTs which represent axolotl-inspired digital pets known as Axies. 

Part Two: Axie Games and Products

Axie Infinity has not only maintained its momentum but also introduced innovative updates, driving increased player activity and reinforcing its position in the evolving gaming landscape. This article delves into the key aspects of Axie Infinity's recent progress, including product updates, the revival of Axie Classic, and the ongoing development of Homeland.

Axie Infinity Origins: Six Months of Growth

Axie Infinity continued to evolve with the introduction of Part Evolution, enhancing in-game card stats through Axie Part Evolution over the past six months. Competitive Seasons expanded from Season 7 to Season 9, elevating the Origins prize pools and distributing substantial AXS rewards, totaling approximately $1.36 million.

Collectible Axie Utility and New Features

The platform reinforced the role of collectible axies by rewarding holders with chests, akin to a Web3 Battle Pass. Season 7 saw the debut of the Collectible Leaderboard, a community favorite offering AXS rewards.

Season 7 Prize pool

Axie Infinity also launched Gauntlet Mode with SLP rewards and revamped the Runes and Charms crafting system using the new Scraps mechanism in Season 8. The introduction of five additional non-NFT companion axies expanded the total to 15, encouraging diverse gameplay experiences.

Community and User Growth

Axie Infinity experienced a substantial surge in user activity, with daily active users increasing by 97.61% to exceed 52,000. Monthly active users similarly rose to 156,445, driven by continuous updates and community engagement initiatives. Looking ahead to Season 9 Offseason, Axie Infinity teased upcoming features such as a PVE roguelike mode and the Meta Morph feature, promising further gameplay enhancements for Collectible axies.

Season 9: Epic Eraa

Axie Classic: The Comeback

Axie Classic's resurgence captivated the community, reintroducing beloved elements while introducing new features like AXP earning, gold, chests, and the Cursed Coliseum mode. The Classic Competitive Circuit launched with a significant AXS prize pool, hosting events like Guild Wars and the Axie Classic Guild World Cup. Axie Classic's daily active user base has grown by 190% since January, exceeding 45,000 players, indicating a promising future.

Cursed Coliseum mode

Here is an in-depth breakdown:

• New Features in Axie Classic: New features like AXP earning, gold, chests, Cursed Coliseum mode, and Grand Tournaments, while keeping beloved Classic elements like turn-based battles, class advantages, and of course, critical hits. 
• Axie Classic Competitive Circuit: In April, the team announced the Axie Classic Competitive Circuit with a 57,000 AXS prize pool, including 12 seasons of guild leaderboard, Guild Wars, and the Axie Classic Guild World Cup. They have already held the first Guild Wars SEA in the Philippines and are gearing up for more, alongside Season Championships leading to the Axie Classic World Cup.
• Growth: Since January, Axie Classic has shown impressive growth with a 190% increase in daily active users, reaching over 45,000 players, and rising weekly and monthly engagement, proving its resurgence and future dominance.
  

Upcoming Features in Axie Classic

Season 4 is at the door. Season 4 will introduce Artifacts, Battle Pass, a revamped Arena Leaderboard, and daily Mini Tournaments with AXS prizes. Don’t sleep on Axie Classic.

Axie Classic Screenshot

Homeland: Advancing the Digital World

Homeland, Axie Infinity's player-owned digital world, underwent refinement following its beta launch in January. Community feedback drove updates to mechanics and features like the Moonfall mechanic revamp and the introduction of AXP earnings for axies engaged in homeland activities. Homeland hosted successful events like The Gathering Showdown and The Cooking Showdown, showcasing community creativity and engagement.

The Cooking Showdown

Here is an in-depth breakdown:

• Feedback-Driven Development: Player feedback guided the team in introducing updates through "leek" articles, allowing them to adjust based on community reactions. For example, the revamped the Moonfall mechanic to make questing more structured based on players’ input.
• AXP Earning and QoL Updates: The team introduced AXP earnings for axies working land, with 10,000 AXP per day for each axie. They have also shipped out more QoL improvements.
• Homeland Events: The team also held three events—The Gathering Showdown, The Cooking Showdown, and the Adventurer's Rush—each with leaderboards and prizes totaling approximately 20,000 AXS. These events celebrated the community's creativity and dedication, from gathering resources to crafting culinary masterpieces, showcasing Homeland's incredible potential.

Upcoming Features in Homeland

Future developments in Homeland include replacing NPC adventurers with Axie NFTs and introducing Avatar Mode, enhancing social interaction and exploration within the digital world.

Axie Homeland

Final Thoughts

Axie Infinity's July 2024 development update illustrates its commitment to innovation, community-driven growth, and strategic expansion despite market challenges. With promising developments across its gaming platforms and digital ecosystem, Axie Infinity remains a frontrunner in blockchain gaming. Keep an eye out for the final section of this series, Part Three (Governance Updates).