XOCIETY, a new AAA third-person shooter game, has successfully raised $7.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round to support its development. The funding round was spearheaded by Hashed and the Sui Foundation, with significant contributions from other major players in the gaming industry, including Spartan, Neoclassic, Bigbrain Holdings, and KRAFTON.
XOCIETY blends PvP and PvE elements with RPG mechanics, aiming to offer an innovative approach by allowing players to become key economic agents. This is a significant shift from traditional FPS (First-Person Shooter) games, and it allows player decisions to affect the game’s environment, creating a dynamic and interconnected gameplay experience.
“We are focusing on creating a sustainable player engagement model, moving away from the short-lived earning models seen in some Web3 games,” said Jeffry Kim, founder of NDUS. “This investment will help us blend the best aspects of traditional gaming with the possibilities of Web3.”
Development and Testing Insights
During the beta testing phase, the game garnered significant engagement, with over 3,000 users from 76 countries and more than 11,000 hours of gameplay. A remarkable 77% of players returned to the game for a week or longer, showcasing its potential to attract and retain user interest. XOCIETY is being developed by Team NDUs, which includes industry veterans such as Myoungjin Lee, known for his work on Ragnarok, and Sang Chung, former head of PlayDapp. Their expertise is expected to drive the game’s success in the competitive gaming market.
“XOCIETY is a natural partner for Sui,” said Greg Siourounis, Managing Director of Sui Foundation. “Thanks to Sui’s high throughput, instant settlement speeds, dynamic on-chain assets, players will be able to experience the best of what gaming powered by web3 has to offer.”
One of the unique features of XOCIETY is its in-game corporation system, which allows players to own shares and manage economic entities within the game world. This system encourages a deeper level of engagement and investment from players, blending traditional gaming with elements of economic simulation.