Sony Has Been Working On PS3 Emulation For "Quite Some Time," Says Insider

PlayStation is reportedly developing native PS3 emulation for the PS5, according to industry insider Jeff Grubb. Despite the PS5's impressive capabilities, it has faced criticism for its lack of backward compatibility, particularly with PS3 games. Currently, PS3 titles can only be played via streaming on the PS5, which has led to issues like queues for single-player games.

Recent efforts have seen first-party classics like Sly Cooper and Daxter re-released, but a full native emulation would allow many beloved PS3 games, such as Metal Gear Solid 4 and the Infamous series, to be playable on modern hardware. Grubb mentioned that he expected an announcement by now, but the delay doesn't necessarily mean the feature won't be implemented. If successful, this development could bring a host of classic games to the PS5, eliminating the need for older consoles or less legitimate methods of playing these titles.

Ubisoft Promises That Beyond Good and Evil 2 Still Exists

Ubisoft has once again assured fans that Beyond Good and Evil 2 is still in active development, despite another showcase season passing without any news on the long-awaited sequel. Announced 16 years ago in 2008, the game has yet to see the light of day. The latest reassurance comes not with a trailer or screenshots, but through a tweet in a thread primarily discussing the launch of Beyond Good and Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition, which is set to release tomorrow.

While Ubisoft has confirmed the game's development status, specific details on its progress or a potential release date remain elusive. This echoes previous comments from January 2023 when Ubisoft clarified that Beyond Good and Evil 2 was not among the titles being canceled. Despite this, fans continue to wait for substantial updates.

The original Beyond Good and Evil sequel was reintroduced in 2017, and by 2022 it became the longest-delayed game ever, surpassing Duke Nukem Forever, which eventually launched. The 20th Anniversary Edition of the first game will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, featuring 60 fps performance and new cosmetics, while the original version remains accessible on storefronts.

The Sandbox Builders' Challenge 2 Offers 1.5 Million SAND Prize Pool

The Sandbox, a leading 3D pixel metaverse, has launched its Builders' Challenge 2, running from June 24th to August 26th. Creators from all over the digital realm are invited to compete for a substantial prize pool of 1.5 million SAND tokens, worth approximately $675,000 USD.

The Sandbox initially gained traction with its mobile games, The Sandbox (2011) and The Sandbox Evolution (2016), which collectively amassed 40 million downloads. In 2018, developer Pixowl transitioned this popular User Generated Content (UGC) IP to the blockchain, transforming it into a virtual metaverse where players can build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences using SAND tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.

Following the success of its first Builders' Challenge, this second event aims to push the boundaries of innovation and collaboration within the metaverse community. Participants will utilize the latest Game Maker 0.10 features to create engaging, replayable experiences. New reward mechanics have been introduced to enhance engagement, with a bi-weekly 300,000 SAND pool and a significant engagement score boost for experiences featuring multiplayer modes or branded assets.

To qualify for rewards, participants must meet specific criteria, including setting up a wallet for managing SAND tokens and demonstrating activity on the Game Maker platform for at least seven days. Rankings, based on an Engagement Score from factors like average session length and unique player interactions, will be detailed weekly on The Sandbox Forum, with bi-weekly disbursements.

Participants are encouraged to innovate and engage the community through comprehensive marketing strategies, collaborations, and events. Successful completion of the KYC or KYB process is required to claim rewards. The Sandbox Builders' Challenge 2 promises to be a platform for creators to showcase their talents and earn substantial rewards in the evolving blockchain gaming ecosystem.

Web3 Games Raise $160M Amidst 200K Weekly Transactions

Helika's latest report, in collaboration with Pantera Capital, highlights the impressive growth of web3 gaming. Between February 2023 and February 2024, web3 games secured over $160 million in funding, with weekly transactions surpassing 200,000 across multiple blockchain networks. The report covers various aspects of the web3 gaming ecosystem, including play-to-airdrop campaigns, on-chain royalties, and AI integration in game development. AI has been pivotal in enhancing game development speed and creating immersive player experiences, reducing development costs by up to 30%.

Despite a challenging crypto market in 2023, web3 games have thrived, raising $162 million across 25 ventures. Additionally, play-to-airdrop campaigns generated over $500 million in market cap value for various communities. Games like Pirate Nation have achieved up to 9 million total transactions, with weekly peaks of 500,000, facilitated by Layer 2 solutions and alternative Layer 1 blockchains. AI is revolutionizing game development, enabling smaller teams to take on ambitious projects by automating repetitive tasks. Moreover, over 70% of leading web2 game studios, including Zynga, Ubisoft, and Square Enix, are exploring web3, signaling a significant shift in the industry. This transition is expected to expand the total addressable market for web3 gaming.

Anton Umnov, Helika's CEO and co-founder, emphasized the growing transaction activity within web3 gaming, with more than 200,000 weekly transactions. He noted that this trend showcases the increasing diversity and flexibility for studios in web3, predicting a future of interoperability and multi-chain functionality. The report also addresses user retention challenges, highlighting the differences between web2 and web3 retention rates due to varying factors like accessibility and community engagement. It examines strategies from notable games to improve retention, with insights from major web2 studios transitioning to web3.

Helika's comprehensive data and strategic partnerships with various chains position it to support this industry shift, driving the growth and evolution of the web3 gaming sector.

MARBLEX Partners with Immutable to Bring Netmarble IPs to Web3

Immutable, a leading web3 gaming platform, has formed a significant partnership with MARBLEX, Netmarble's blockchain gaming platform. This collaboration will migrate MARBLEX and several major IP titles to Immutable zkEVM, an advanced chain built for gamers. MARBLEX CEO Hong Jin Pyo emphasized the partnership’s importance for scalability and delivering top-notch gaming experiences.

Following the shift from the Klaytn Layer 1 chain, all MARBLEX gaming apps, games, and tokens will exclusively operate on Immutable zkEVM, joining over 330 other titles. Robbie Ferguson, Co-founder and President of Immutable, highlighted this as one of their most significant partnerships, particularly given South Korea's vibrant web3 gaming development scene. Immutable zkEVM boasts over 1.8 million monthly users and offers robust features like Immutable Passport, a non-custodial wallet, and the Immutable Global Orderbook, enhancing asset exposure and liquidity.

The partnership includes the full migration of three live Netmarble titles: Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, an MMORPG blending the real and fantasy worlds with high-quality 3D graphics; A3: Still Alive, a dark fantasy open-world mobile RPG; and Meta World: My City, a board game-based sequel to the popular Let's Get Rich. Additionally, Immutable and MARBLEX have launched the “Ecosystem Boost Program,” providing up to $20 million USD in technical and financial support to developers, aiming to attract new titles to their ecosystems.

This collaboration is a significant step for Immutable, reinforcing its leadership in the web3 gaming industry and its commitment to bringing digital property rights to millions of players worldwide.

Motorverse Partners with Meme Coin TURBO Token

Motorverse, an initiative by Animoca Brands known for its extensive ecosystem of motorsport titles, has announced a new collaboration with the meme coin TURBO token. This partnership is set to explore joint marketing efforts and enhance interoperability within their platforms. Will Griffiths, General Manager of Motorverse, highlighted the innovative nature of the TURBO token, emphasizing its role in integrating new communities into the Motorverse ecosystem.

The collaboration involves a token swap between Motorverse’s REVV tokens and TURBO tokens, with the latter being used to support community-building initiatives for REVV token holders. Futureplay.com will provide liquidity for the token swap on the TURBO token side. To celebrate, Motorverse will host contests starting June 26th, including a car livery design contest for the REVV Racing game and a meme creation contest.

Johnny Mack from TURBO expressed that this partnership enhances TURBO's branding and market presence, aligning with Animoca Brands' web3 expertise. Motorverse aims to build a comprehensive digital vehicle culture in web3, supported by game studios Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, and WePlay Media, collectively boasting over 150 million game downloads.

Motorverse operates as a global ecosystem for digital vehicles and racing games, utilizing the REVV token as its primary interoperable layer. The platform features over 10 racing games, with notable titles like Torque Drift 2, REVV Racing, and MotoGP Racing 2024. The partnership with TURBO token is expected to enhance user engagement and create unique gaming experiences, leveraging the popularity of meme coins and their cultural significance in the web3 community.

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