Ubisoft, one of the largest gaming companies, is expanding further into web3 gaming by bringing characters from its blockchain-based strategy game, Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, to The Sandbox. The new Champions Tactics avatars will be available as NFTs started January 29 on Ethereum’s Polygon network, making them Ubisoft’s latest addition to the growing metaverse.
The Champions Tactics avatars were released in two phases. Players on The Sandbox’s allowlist can purchase them for 170 SAND ($88), while the public sale price is 180 SAND ($93). Each purchase includes three champions that can be used in the Champions Tactics game, a turn-based PC strategy title launched last year.
This move follows Ubisoft’s previous collaborations with The Sandbox, where it introduced Rabbids from the Rayman series and characters from Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, a Netflix animated show inspired by Ubisoft’s Far Cry franchise. The company has been steadily integrating its IPs into the metaverse, making The Sandbox a home for some of its well-known brands.
The Sandbox itself is one of the leading blockchain-based virtual worlds, where users can create, buy, and sell digital assets. Many brands, celebrities, and gaming franchises have established a presence in The Sandbox, from Snoop Dogg and Adidas to The Smurfs and The Walking Dead. Ubisoft’s continued expansion into The Sandbox shows its belief in web3’s potential for gaming and digital ownership.
Ubisoft’s continued expansion into blockchain gaming suggests a long-term commitment to web3, even as skepticism remains among traditional gamers. While some major studios have distanced themselves from NFTs, Ubisoft is taking a different approach, focusing on optional blockchain integrations rather than forcing web3 mechanics into existing titles.
The introduction of Champions Tactics avatars into The Sandbox is a strategic move to test how blockchain gaming can work alongside Ubisoft’s established IPs. If successful, it could pave the way for more of its franchises to enter the metaverse and NFT gaming space.
Despite challenges like market volatility and player skepticism, Ubisoft is positioning itself as a leader in web3 gaming experimentation.