Best known for racing games such as Gear.Club, Test Drive Unlimited and V-Rally, French developer Eden Games was acquired by Animoca Brands in 2022. More recently, the team unveiled its debut web3 native title Cosmic Royale as part of the ever-growing Motorverse ecosystem of racing games.

We thought it good timing to speak to Eden Games co-founder David Nadal to learn more about this PC-based party royale kart racer.

BlockchainGamer: Can you give us some background to Cosmic Royale, when did the idea of the game come about etc?

Nadal: The idea emerged in the fall of 2022. We wanted to explore what would happen if we combined the crazy and silly tracks & traps of a game like Fall Guys, including its battle royale mechanics, with our expertise in vehicle-based gameplay. Our goal was also to create a bridge between web3 and traditional gaming, blending the best of both worlds.

How different is it designing and developing a blockchain game compared to a traditional game?

When designing and developing blockchain games, you must consider several unique features unique to this ecosystem. There are obviously technical and legal aspects, such as smart contracts, ensuring security, and following regulations, but it goes beyond that. We need to rethink the game’s monetization. How do we integrate the sale and transaction of NFTs? How do we redesign the game economy to provide value and ownership to the players?

The community is also important, as players are not only gamers but also web3 enthusiasts. We decided to rely on a strong community-driven approach for communication and marketing.

Why do you think racing games and blockchain are a good fit?

Racing is the ideal genre for blockchain gaming as the vehicles can be transformed into NFTs, allowing players to own and trade their assets and even use them across different titles. Players can also level up and customize their vehicles, adding unique features and enhancements that increase their value. This integration provides a dynamic and engaging experience, blending gaming with the benefits of blockchain technology.

How do you think Cosmic Royale fits within the wider Motorverse platform?

Motorverse offers an extensive array of racing games, many of which allow for the use of in-game assets across various titles. As part of the Animoca Brands group, it was clear that Cosmic Royale had to be included, given Motorverse’s goal of creating a thriving digital economy within its ecosystem.

Additionally, being part of a specialized platform like Motorverse fosters a strong community of car enthusiasts and gamers, enhancing engagement and collaboration.

Many predicted the major breakthrough of web3 in gaming would have happened by now. What do you think is holding it back?

Even though web3 gaming is promising and has a place in the future in the broader gaming industry, there are several reasons why it hasn’t fully taken off yet. One of the primary obstacles is adoption. Many people are still wary of blockchain technology or simply uncomfortable managing digital wallets and navigating this complex ecosystem. Additionally, I’ve observed that some web3 developers are overly focused on monetization rather than delivering engaging gameplay, which can detract from the overall player experience.

You’ve said you expect “hundreds of thousands of players” in Cosmic Royale. Do you still  think that is realistic?

We anticipated this number due to our partnership with Mocaverse, which hosts over a million users holding Moca IDs, all of whom are invited to play the beta. However, we’re realistic and understand that building a community takes time as a new game in the ecosystem.

Our goal for the full launch is to make the game as accessible as possible for all players, whether or not they are web3 enthusiasts. We hope to attract more and more players as the game reaches its full release.

What are your future plans in terms of web3 native games?

For the moment, we’re focusing on Cosmic Royale and aim to provide the community with regular content updates and new features. 

If you’re a Moca ID holder, you can download and start playing Cosmic Royale via its website.

French game developer Eden Games has launched its debut web3 title Cosmic Royale, as part of Animoca Brands’ Motorverse ecosystem.

An Animoca subsidiary, Eden Games is previously known for titles like Test Drive Unlimited 1/2, Gear.Club and F1 Mobile Racing. PC-based Cosmic Royale is the studio’s first native web3 game – described as a party royale kart racer – that is also part of Animoca’s broader motor gaming network Motorverse. 

Revolving around the head-to-head multiplayer event Cosmic Tournament, the game features 40-player matches of multiple rounds mixing racing with obstacle navigation, which is finally won by one contestant.

For this beta version, Mocaverse’s Moca ID holders are granted exclusive access to the game, as well as Realm Points for high-scoring players. Earned RP can be deposited to and multiplied on the Mocaverse platform, and later be converted into MOCA tokens.

Although there’s no requirement to own a Mocaverse PFP, those who do can use it as their in-game driver. 

“We’re tremendously excited to finally unveil Cosmic Royale and welcome hundreds of thousands of players to participate in the Cosmic Tournament and earn exciting rewards,” commented Eden Games’ creative director David Nadal.

“Better yet, each player can truly personalize their experience by importing their custom drivers and karts thanks to our collaboration with various PFP collections, making each racer’s story unique and memorable.”

The full launch of Cosmic Royale is scheduled for Q4 2024, and will be available on Epic Games Store.