Katana Inu puts out free Windows idle auto-battler, with $KATA holders getting shop discounts

In Brief:

• Katana Inu KATA $0.00002948 ▼ -20.9% (official site) has put out a free-to-play idle auto-battler for Windows. @katanainu announced it on X as “Katana Inu: Samurai Task Warriors,” while the download site lists it as Samurai Task Force.
• The game is in open beta with 39 heroes, five leagues, a shop and a leaderboard. According to the account, Mac and mobile versions are “coming soon.”
• $KATA holders get tiered shop discounts, and holders of two Katana Inu NFT collections get free or half-price bundles.

The first spinoff from Katana Inu is a free idle auto-battler for Windows. A samurai clan fights in a narrow strip that sits above the taskbar.

The project’s X account, @katanainu, announced the release in a launch post: “Today, we’re launching our first arcade game under the Katana Inu IP!” The post called the game “100% FREE-TO-PLAY!” and sent players to force.katanainu.com for the download. On platforms, it said: “Available on Windows! Mac and mobile version coming soon!”

The game goes by two names. In the X post it is “Katana Inu: Samurai Task Warriors.” On the download site, and in an earlier @katanainu post, it is Samurai Task Force.

Open beta, and bugs are expected

The download site calls this release an open beta. A banner on the page says: “Bugs can still happen. Report them in the game under ‘Report a Bug’.”

The site lists 39 heroes across five classes, and each hero has a separate power attack. Four of them march together at a time. Fights play out automatically, though players fire off Ki attacks and healing waves by hand.

Players move up through five leagues: Wood, Iron, Silver, Gold and Master. A league is eight waves long and closes with a boss fight against Moonfang, Iron Oni, Frost Lich, Shogun Wraith and Void Knight respectively. Clearing all five earns the Shogun rank.

Progress keeps building for as long as eight hours with the PC closed. Weapons and armor that players recover go to a dojo, where they can be compared, upgraded or broken down. Every new clan starts with Katana Inu, a Blade class hero who leads from the opening wave.

According to the site’s FAQ, “Combat and progression run locally.”

Shop rules and token perks

The site promises “No loot boxes” and “No pay-to-win,” and says every pack displays all the items inside it. Asked in the FAQ whether the shop is pay-to-win, the answer reads: “No. Cosmetics change no combat stats; hero packs offer sideways options with the same class values.”

Players can buy heroes, skins and packs in the game or on the website using a Katana Inu account. The site states: “Every price is final and includes VAT.”

$KATA holders pay less in the shop. There are three tiers on the site: “15% from $300,” “30% from $800” and “40% from $1,500.” Holdings on Ethereum, BNB Chain or Base all count, and a wallet only has to be linked once through the Katana Inu Launcher.

Perks also go to holders of two NFT collections. The site says TAKERU GENESIS holders receive “The Complete Bundle at no cost, once per NFT token ID.” Forge NFT holders receive “Half price on the Complete Bundle, once per NFT token ID.”

The site carries a risk notice: “Crypto tokens can lose part or all of their value. This is not investment advice.”

One of 10 planned games

An earlier @katanainu post described the title as “the first of our 10 upcoming games.” The same post said it would include “Optional in-game items and a Founder’s Pack for those who want to support us.”

That post made a token pledge too: “First $1000 income will get burned in $KATA.”

The download site’s menu has links to Showdown, Strikers and the Katana Inu Launcher, which manages accounts and wallet linking. The new game’s tagline on the site is “Work on top. War underneath.”