Variance, the anime roguelike RPG, is now officially part of the Somnia ecosystem. The partnership was announced by Realm Studios, the creators of Variance, as a major step toward building a scalable, web3-powered future for games.

Why Variance Chose Somnia

According to the team, Somnia was chosen because of its focus on gaming, performance, and blockchain tech. Somnia is a new EVM-compatible Layer 1 network designed to support real-time, high-volume applications like games and social platforms. With over a million transactions per second and low fees, it's built to handle the demands of large-scale games.

"After speaking with Paul Thomas, founder of Somnia, about his vision for Somnia, we knew it would be a great home for us to build out our vision for Variance," Variance shared in a Discord update. 

"Paul and his team have a history of delivering high quality gaming products. Somnia not only understands the nuances of game development but also know how to integrate blockchain technology in a way that benefits both players and developers."

Uprising Labs and its Dream Catalyst accelerator also supported the partnership, helping Variance align its growth strategy with Somnia's tools and reach.

The announcement had an immediate impact. Within 24 hours of revealing the partnership, Variance's X account exploded from 14k to 24k followers. As of today, the game has over 140k followers on X. 

What to Expect from the Partnership

Now that Variance is part of Somnia, the dev team is rolling out a host of new features. A mobile version of the game is in the works, allowing players to enjoy the fast-paced action anywhere. Multiplayer support is also coming soon, along with console versions to bring Variance to living rooms around the world.

Beyond that, the team is building a powerful AI infrastructure to enhance gameplay and boost player retention. This tech layer will make Variance even more dynamic and help scale the game's user experience.

Join the Action: Upcoming Events and How to Take Part

The partnership comes with a full schedule of events to engage players and fans.

The Somnia Quest is live until June 14. By completing social tasks, players can earn rewards and climb the leaderboard. This is part of Somnia's system for rewarding contributors to the platform.

Throughout June, Variance is hosting Game Nights with giveaways like chests, in-game items, and the all-important Tickets. These Tickets will be key for a mysterious new event set for July.

  • June 13: Join Somnia's Discord for a live Game Night and hands-on demo of Variance's latest build. Prizes will be given out during the session.
  • June 16: Another Game Night will be held in the Variance Discord. Players can test the game and earn more rewards.

In early July, the Somnia Open Playtest will go live. This will be the first major showcase of Variance running on Somnia's network. Expect in-game item drops, NFT airdrops, and much more.

Fans should also prepare for a secret event later in July. This surprise campaign will use Tickets as a core mechanic. Tickets can be earned by joining contests, taking part in playtests, or buying them from the game store. Genesis Portal holders will automatically receive one free Ticket per portal.

What is Variance?

Variance is an anime roguelike RPG with tight, skill-based gameplay and a deep story. Players take control of "Variants," powerful characters that battle through procedurally generated levels. Each Variant has unique skills and abilities. The game rewards mastery of combos and quick reflexes, with no pay to win systems involved.

Built by veterans from Pokémon GO, Axie Infinity, and Realm, Variance also comes with blockchain features like NFT drops and token rewards. However, its main focus remains on sharp gameplay and a community-led narrative in the Realmverse.

A Look Back at Variance's Growth

Variance has seen major updates since its first reveal. In April 2024, the pre-alpha version was released, along with the team's vision for adaptive AI.

In January 2025, the 3rd Play to Airdrop wave brought new levels, lootboxes, and balance improvements. This was followed by Wave 4, which extended the campaign through the Treasure ecosystem before the Treasure Chain's shutdown in May.

In February, the team launched the Founders Wave Open Playtest and minted Genesis Void NFTs. These NFTs provide airdrops, monthly bonuses, and early access to new content. The $VOID token is also part of the game's expanding economy.

Now this move to Somnia signals a major move for Variance. By joining a fast, scalable blockchain, the game is ready to reach millions of new players. For fans, it means more ways to play, more rewards to earn, and more content to explore. 

With that, Variance joins other titles like Sparkball, another fast-paced web3 game within the Somnia ecosystem.