Party Icons has successfully raised $9 million in a funding round despite challenging market conditions. The funding round was led by Bitkraft Ventures, with participation from several other prominent investors, including IDG Capital, Gam3Girl Ventures, Leap Capital, Mantle Network, and more. With this round, Party Icons’ total funding has reached $20 million.

The company’s CEO, Sim, emphasized that this funding will accelerate the development of their innovative gaming and social experiences. Party Icons' platform combines unique gameplay mechanics with a player-driven economy, supported by web3-enabled functionalities. The funds will also help the company expand into key markets globally by 2025.

What is Party Icons?

At its core, Party Icons offers players access to three primary game modes, with more planned for the future. The flagship mode, Party Heist, presents a party royale experience where four teams of two battle across whimsical maps. Players can secure treasure and extract early or face off against enemies for bigger rewards. This mode combines fun, fast-paced action with tactical depth, although the focus remains on entertainment rather than tactical intensity.

Party Brawl shifts the focus to 3v3 team deathmatches, offering a fast-paced, action-packed experience, while Carnival Clash brings a lighter tone with over 25 party games designed for quick, casual play. All game modes are designed to reflect modern gaming habits, with short session lengths of under 12 minutes.

Players take on the roles of Hero Icons, characters inspired by art toys and pop culture. These characters feature unique combat abilities and upgradeable weapons, adding layers of progression and depth to the fast-paced gameplay. Some of these characters and weapons are minted on-chain, making them valuable assets in the Partyverse's ecosystem.

Party Icons Key Art

God Mode and the Role of Spectators

In addition to the three primary modes, Party Icons features a unique, secret mode called God Mode. This mode is reserved for OGX̅ NFT holders, who take on the role of game masters capable of altering gameplay in real time. Inspired by popular survival games like Squid Game and Hunger Games, OGX̅ holders can manipulate the battlefield by dropping loot and influencing match outcomes, creating an unpredictable and dynamic experience.

An innovative feature of Party Icons is the Spectator role. This role allows viewers to actively engage with both the game and players during live streams. Using advanced technology, spectators will be able to interact with game elements, influencing outcomes in real time. This feature is expected to roll out in 2025, providing a new layer of interactivity that bridges the gap between gameplay and live-streaming.

Party Icons Gameplay 1

Party-as-a-Service: A Decentralized Live Operations Model

A key aspect of Party Icons is its Party-as-a-Service (PaaS) model, which decentralizes live operations and economic interests within the game. This approach contrasts with traditional gaming models, where developers maintain full control over live operations. Instead, Party Icons empowers various groups, such as guilds and streamers, to take an active role in shaping their in-game experiences.

Mirship NFTs play a crucial role in this decentralized system. These NFTs allow holders to create Mirship Clubs, which are communities that can organize events, run tournaments, and manage in-game activities through data-driven dashboards. By providing these tools, Party Icons democratizes competitive gaming, allowing a broader range of players to participate in esports-like experiences, not just the elite few.

Gabby Dizon, founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG), stated that Party Icons is an ideal platform for integrating communities into the web3 ecosystem, allowing them to own part of the in-game economy while enjoying social and competitive mobile gaming experiences.

Party Icons Gameplay 2

Expanding Web3 Integration

Party Icons leverages web3 infrastructure to create a player-driven economy, where digital assets earned in-game hold real-world value. This integration extends to God Mode, where NFT holders influence gameplay, and in-game loot airdrops provide players with tangible rewards.

The decentralized live operations model transforms players from passive participants into active contributors to the game's development and economy. With the recent funding, Party Icons plans to expand its web3-enabled functionalities further, enhancing the game's ecosystem and ensuring players have more control over their digital assets and experiences. 

Party Icons is forging a new path in the gaming industry by combining innovative gameplay with the power of web3 technology. Through its Party-as-a-Service model, players and communities have greater control over their gaming experiences and the platform's overall success. As the company continues to expand and develop its ecosystem, it is poised to shape the future of gaming for the next generation of players.

Source: GamesBeat