Lineup Games has delayed the launch of its $LINEUP token to the first quarter of 2026. The token was first scheduled to go live on November 30. On Tuesday, the team announced the change on X, stating that a new "strategic opportunity" had emerged that could improve the launch conditions. The exact details of the opportunity weren't shared, but the team said the move would help set up better token access, exchange alignment, and long-term support across the network.

This new timing also puts the token launch closer to the platform's next Diamond Claim Event. That means player activity during the current season, like in-game progress, campaign participation, and leaderboard standing, will now line up more closely with when the tokens are actually distributed.

What Is Lineup Games?

Lineup Games is a mobile-first game studio building what it calls the "Lineup Player Network," a system that links multiple games through a shared player economy. The studio was founded by the creators of Playtika and COTI, and is backed by brands like Puma, Meta, Sui, and AC Milan. Lineup's goal is to build a connected network where each match, mission, or event across its games feeds into a single onchain identity.

Right now, the network includes 2 mobile titles, Gold Striker and Striker League, both available on Android and iOS. Gold Striker is also live on Telegram and LINE. The studio says over 1 million players have already joined, generating more than 2 million transactions onchain.

What Are Diamonds?

Diamonds are Lineup's in-game points system. They aren't tradable, can't be sold, and don't work like a typical cryptocurrency. Instead, they act as a record of your activity and skill across Lineup's games. Players earn them by competing in tournaments, completing missions, joining campaigns, or referring others to the network.

Diamonds are tied to your account and represent your in-game reputation. At the end of each season, they can be converted into $LINEUP tokens (Lineup's main tradable asset) during a specific claim event. The more Diamonds a player has, the more $LINEUP they'll receive when that season ends.

Token Launch Details

The $LINEUP token is designed to connect the entire ecosystem. It acts as a shared loyalty and progress layer across all Lineup titles, giving players access to better rewards, new features, and exclusive events.

At launch, 16% of the total 1 billion token supply will enter circulation. The rest 84% will remain locked and will only unlock gradually based on milestones tied to development, gameplay, and community activity. There are no private rounds or early allocations to investors.

Here's how the supply is structured:

  • 20.5% for core contributors, with a 6-month cliff and 12-month vesting
  • 8.0% for liquidity, fully unlocked on launch day
  • 12.5% for development, unlocking after 6 months with 18-month vesting
  • 43.0% for seasonal bounties and rewards, with only 1% unlocked at launch; the rest will release over 42 months
  • 16.0% for marketing and treasury, with a 24-month vesting period

The team said they've paid out as little $LINEUP as possible in advance and used stablecoins for payments whenever they could. The goal is to reduce early sell pressure and keep the market stable when the token goes live.

Earning Diamonds: How It Works

Lineup players can earn Diamonds through several ongoing and planned activities:

  1. Playing Gold Striker: Available on mobile and social apps like Telegram and LINE. You can spin to win rewards, complete missions, and compete in tournaments. All actions help stack Diamonds.
  2. GiveRep missions: These are social tasks completed on X. Engaging with Lineup's content or sharing updates will give you verified Diamonds.
  3. Galxe quests: Players complete small tasks to earn points and climb leaderboards. These quests are still live and more will be added closer to the token launch.
  4. Referrals: Inviting new players into the ecosystem earns bonus Diamonds.
  5. Yap Market (coming soon): Lineup plans to reward players who post on crypto Twitter through a Yap-to-Earn program.
  6. Striker League: The fast-paced soccer game doesn't yet offer Diamond rewards, but integration is underway. The game is already live on Sui, and Diamond-linked features are expected soon.

Updated Campaign Timelines

Several campaigns are being adjusted to reflect the new Q1 2026 launch date.

The Orange Sunday campaign is continuing through November 30. Players who use an orange-themed profile picture on X are entered into a draw to win 1,000 USDC or 100,000 Diamonds. Five daily winners are also being selected, each getting 1,000 Diamonds. Winners for the main prizes will be announced on December 1.

Lineup also said that the next profile picture campaign, scheduled closer to the new launch, will offer double the usual Diamond rewards.

The GiveRep campaign has been paused. The team has already taken a snapshot of the leaderboard, and rewards will be given during the Diamond Claim Event. A new version of the campaign is planned to go live in early 2026.

The Galxe campaign is still active. More quests will be added over time to give players extra ways to earn Diamonds before the token launch.

The Network Structure

Lineup's games are all connected through what they call the Player Network. Instead of earning rewards in just one title, players carry their progress across every game in the ecosystem. A player who performs well in Gold Striker can boost their position in Striker League and vice versa, because Diamonds act as a shared reputation layer across both.

Each season works like a full cycle: players play games, earn Diamonds, and then claim $LINEUP based on their activity. Those who hold more $LINEUP can unlock extra in-game perks across all Lineup titles.

What's Next?

There's no specific date yet for the Q1 2026 token launch. Until then, Lineup says all current player progress and Diamond earnings will remain valid. The upcoming claim event will still reflect the activity that's already underway.

With the delay, Lineup will continue rolling out campaigns, refining Diamond integrations across its titles, and preparing for what it says will be a more stable launch. The company said the new timeline allows for a smoother entry point, and a better connection between player rewards and token availability.

Players who want to keep earning Diamonds can still take part in active games, quests, and campaigns across the platform.