SunSpear Games has announced a strategic partnership with Immutable, a prominent web3 gaming platform, to bring web3 features to Immortal: Gates of Pyre, a fantasy real-time strategy (RTS) game. This collaboration will integrate Immutable’s zkEVM, a Layer-2 blockchain solution powered by Polygon, into the game's ecosystem, enabling players to buy, trade, and own in-game assets while keeping transaction fees low.

Immortal: Gates of Pyre 

SunSpear Games, based in Ashland, Oregon, is currently developing Immortal: Gates of Pyre for PC. The game blends traditional web2 free-to-play mechanics with optional web3 elements, offering players the ability to engage with blockchain features like asset ownership and trading if they choose. This hybrid approach ensures that web2 players can enjoy the game without needing to interact with web3 unless they wish to explore its potential benefits.

SunSpear Games Reveals New Blockchain Game on IMX

Web3 Integration with Immutable zkEVM

Through this partnership, SunSpear Games gains access to a suite of web3 tools provided by Immutable, including Immutable Passport for user authentication, Immutable Checkout for seamless in-game purchases, and the Immutable Orderbook. These tools are designed to create a frictionless onboarding experience for players, allowing them to access web3 features without complications.

In an invterview with GamesBeat, Kevin Wagner, CEO of SunSpear Games, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the company's vision of enhancing player choice: "As a company founded by StarCraft modders, we are committed to offering players flexibility in how they interact with our game. This partnership will allow us to deliver unique web3 benefits within the Immortal: Gates of Pyre ecosystem."

Wagner added that Immortal: Gates of Pyre is not shifting completely to web3 but instead is incorporating optional elements that players can explore at their own pace. This approach ensures that players who choose to engage with web3 will not have an advantage over others, preserving the competitive integrity of the game.

 Immortal: Gates of Pyre Key Art

A New Layer of Player Engagement

The integration of Immutable zkEVM provides several new opportunities for Immortal: Gates of Pyre players, including the ability to collect, trade, and own in-game assets such as cosmetic skins, mods for characters, and unique traits that reflect player status. SunSpear Games has also secured $IMX tokens from the Digital Worlds Foundation to support the in-game economy and assist with gas fees for end users, ensuring low-cost transactions on the platform.

Robbie Ferguson, President of Immutable, highlighted the significance of the partnership: "The integration of Immutable zkEVM into Immortal: Gates of Pyre brings enhanced scalability, security, and seamless gameplay. This collaboration allows us to explore new opportunities in web3 gaming, and we look forward to the value it will provide to the community."

Robbie Ferguson, President of Immutable

A Game Rich in History and Innovation

Immortal: Gates of Pyre is set in a richly detailed world where players take on the roles of godlike commanders leading armies in an eternal war for magical resources and power. Initially announced in 2021, the game quickly gained traction, with its Kickstarter campaign surpassing its funding goal by over 400%. The game has since built a loyal community of supporters.

The development team at SunSpear Games includes some of the most respected modders in the industry, with members who contributed to projects like StarCraft II: Starbow, TheCore custom hotkey layout, and The Elder Scrolls: Skywind.

The game features competitive multiplayer modes, such as 1v1 and 2v2 combat, with plans to expand into larger team battles, cooperative experiences, and a single-player campaign. The studio has also crafted an intricate lore for the game, with approximately 1,000 pages detailing the history of its world.

Immortal: Gates of Pyre Cover Banner on X

Balancing Web2 and Web3 for Players

Immortal: Gates of Pyre started as a web2 game but gradually evolved into a hybrid of web2 and web3 features. Wagner explained that the decision to adopt web3 elements came after exploring how blockchain technology could improve the player experience. With Immutable zkEVM, SunSpear Games received funding and access to technology that allows seamless integration with multiple wallet platforms.

Wagner emphasized that the transition to web3 should be a choice for players. The game remains free-to-play, and web3 elements, such as trading and ownership of in-game assets, are entirely optional. The company is committed to ensuring that players who do not engage with web3 will still enjoy the same gameplay experience without disadvantage.

Community Response and Future Vision

SunSpear Games has maintained open communication with its community throughout the development process, and according to Wagner, the response to web3 integration has been largely positive. The development team has worked extensively to ensure that web3 does not disrupt the core gameplay experience and that players have full control over whether they engage with these new features.

Looking ahead, Wagner expressed hope that web3 technology could pave the way for more innovative features, such as carrying assets between games and adding a social layer where players can share and interact with NFTs representing their in-game achievements.

Reflecting on the broader state of the gaming industry, Wagner noted the cyclical nature of the market, acknowledging the challenges many developers face today. However, he believes that SunSpear Games’ focus on modding and building great games has helped the company navigate these difficulties. Despite the current turbulence in the gaming industry, SunSpear Games remains committed to its passion for creating immersive, player-driven experiences.

Recent Steam Playtest Success

Final Thoughts

SunSpear Games’ partnership with Immutable zkEVM marks a significant step forward in the integration of web3 technology within traditional gaming. By offering optional web3 features alongside its core web2 gameplay, Immortal: Gates of Pyre allows players to choose how they want to engage with the game’s ecosystem.

With a dedicated community and a development team with deep roots in the modding scene, Immortal: Gates of Pyre is poised to carve out its place in both the web2 and web3 gaming spaces. Immortal: Gates of Pyre is available for wishlisting on Steam, and players interested in playtesting can join the SunSpear Games Discord or visit the official website for updates.