From the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph of Argentina to the ongoing partnership between FIFA and the crypto world, the soccer industry is unlocking the digital door to an exciting new world of gaming and fan engagement. And the latest addition to the scene is FIFA’s World Cup AI League (WCAL), a 4v4 soccer strategy game with AI-powered characters and exciting NFT (non-fungible token) surprises.
Clocking in at over 40 million downloads since its launch back in November 2021, the recently released open beta of WCAL has set a new standard for casual gamers wanting to explore the world of Web3 gaming and the metaverse. Developed by the Web3 AI firm Altered State Machine, this free-to-play mobile game brings the cartoonish, brightly-colored creatures of your childhood Pixar movies and the popular Fall Guys series to life.
The mission of WCAL is to lead gamers into the AI-driven world of the metaverse. All the game’s characters are AI-controlled, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Your job is to act as team coach and owner and manage your team’s performance using tactics and ultimate skill. Currently, four international locales by the names of Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Yaoundé, and Seoul have been designed into the game’s maps, with new locations set to be added in the future.
As per Altered State Machine co-founder Aaron McDonald, the beauty of WCAL is that “[it provides] football fans around the globe to interact with their favorite sport.”
But this game is more than just soccer. An Altered State representative recently confirmed that an NFT marketplace for the game is in the works and set for launch in the near future. The characters first created for the game will be minted into NFTs and all future characters will be represented via the same tokens. Several in-game cosmetic elements can be purchased using the game’s in-game currency, although cryptocurrency is prohibited due to Apple and Google restrictions.
By choosing to release WCAL in a traditional Web2 setting before adding the NFT and crypto elements, FIFA is catering to the gamers who expose a certain level of skepticism when it comes to Web3 games. This move follows a growing trend among game developers in recent months, as more and more teams choose to align with the notion of a frictionless user experience that isn’t overly focused on or distracted by the NFT elements.
That being said, this isn’t the first blockchain-based World Cup move made by FIFA. In addition to partnering with Web3 game studios for World Cup-themed integrations, the international governing body of soccer had also enlisted an official crypto sponsor for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, launched an NFT platform, and collaborated with Upland for a licensing agreement on its official metaverse platform. And with the recent $21 million seed funding raised by Matchday—soccer-centric Web3 gaming startup backed by Lionel Messi’s venture capital firm—Web3 gaming’s presence in the soccer scene is expected to keep growing.
Right now, FIFA World Cup AI League is providing a unique opportunity for soccer fans and casual gamers alike to immerse themselves in the AI-driven metaverse that’s slowly but steadily capturing the global soccer industry. And with rumors of launch-exclusive surprises and NFT-backed rewards, there’s no better time than now to join in the game and unlock the magic.
