Wildcard just moved its Wildpass NFTs onto the Ethereum mainnet, and plans to release a token.
Wildcard, a crypto-optional PVP game that I have been watching for many years is coming soon. Play as a character that can move around in a 3D environment and toss cards which transform into powerful creatures. Wildcard matches are also rewarding for those who watch and play.
Wildcard was developed by Playful Studios. Its CEO and founder, Paul Bettner worked on Words With Friends and Age of Empires.
Wildcard has been in development for more than 2 years. Why? Bettner says that it’s hard to create a great game, and in his opinion, creating a great game with cryptocurrency ties-ins is even harder.
“I personally think it’s because it’s like building games while wandering through a minefield,” He tells me with laughter. “I’ve got two years of doing this under my belt and I’ve lost count of the number of times where unaligned incentives have attempted to hijack the game design and the focus [away from] just trying to create a truly fun game for a mass audience, because of crypto.”
Bettner’s goal is to create a fun game you will choose above all others in your Steam Library.
“Crypto has this gravity to it, it has this set of forces that are constantly trying to tug the design of a consumer application, or a consumer product, especially like a game, in certain directions,” Bettner added.
Wildcard initially released the Wildpass NFTs on Polygon back in 2023 — which gave up to 4,444 fans early access to the game’s development. Bettner refers these holders and members of the Discord servers to as “the “golden cohort.” It’s the main community that he is trying to please with his game.
Bettner’s wife Katy Bettner attended Game Developer’s Conferences as part of Polygon’s booth in previous years, representing the Polygon gaming ecosystem. This included Deadrop (now cancelled), which was the launch of Founders Passes at Polygon.
Wildpass NFTs will now leave Polygon. They were moved to Ethereum’s mainnet by the team on Monday. The gas cost for this move was covered for holders.
Bettner told me that they are not committed to a single EVM chain going forward. However, they do see Ethereum’s mainnet as an ideal place for the Genesis NFTs due to the chain’s high liquidity. However, the transaction fees on Polygon are higher than those of the Ethereum mainnet.
“The Wildpass is not intended to be an asset that people are trading every five seconds,” Bettner explains. The team is likely to choose another EVM with lower fees for future Wildcards NFTs and rewards that are meant to be exchanged frequently.
The WC token that has yet to be released is different from anything else we have seen in recent times because it will be owned by the community, without any team involvement or VC funding. It’s also not a memecoin.
“I’m hoping we can set a new standard here,” Bettner shares. Bettner shares.
A favorable regulatory environment, resulting from Trump’s victory and the recent shake-up of the SEC, has made it easier for the team to launch a token.
“It’s basically the opposite of a meme token,” Bettner says about the WC token. “It is directly connected to the Wildcard ecosystem and to the value that’s created in the Wildcard ecosystem.”
Bettner’s Playful Studios has also developed Thousands. It is a streaming service powered by the blockchain, similar to Twitch. However, it offers more rewards and incentives to viewers as well as streamers.
I previously played an early version of Wildcard — and it’s solid. Overwatch and other MOBAs and arena battlers are my favorite games. And I enjoy colorful sci-fi titles with special powers. This is why I can’t wait for the full launch of this game.
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