XOCIETY is closing in on its long-awaited Early Access launch, set for this month on the Epic Games Store. With just a few days left, the team confirmed on November 18 that Early Access is officially happening soon, following earlier hints and previews shared over the past few weeks. 

Just one day later, on November 19, the team behind XOCIETY announced a fresh funding round of $1.6 million. The new capital comes at a time when many web3 projects have struggled to survive. DappRadar announced their shutdown earlier this week, but not all signs point downward. Wizzwoods, a cross-chain idle farming game, also secured $10 million in funding around the same time.

Fresh Funding and Strategic Backers

The new $1.6 million funding round was led by Neoclassic Capital and Winguard. Neoclassic Capital doubled down on its support, adding to its earlier investment in the $XO token. Winguard, a well-known VC with ties to top exchanges like Bithumb, joined as a new strategic partner. The funds will go toward expanding infrastructure for the game on the Sui network and further promoting XOCIETY as a core part of Sui's ecosystem.

This latest raise follows a string of previous support from groups like Hashed, The Spartan Group, and YGG. With new and existing backers onboard, XOCIETY is being positioned as a key title not just on Sui, but across the web3 gaming space broadly.

Early Access Confirmed for November

XOCIETY's upcoming Early Access launch marks its next step forward. Confirmed earlier this week, the release will take place this month via the Epic Games Store. The team has been teasing Early Access for some time, and with the official window now open, a release in the coming days seems highly likely.

The launch is backed by a close partnership with the Sui Foundation and Mysten Labs. Sui has been involved in all aspects of the game's development, from core infrastructure to marketing and global showcases. XOCIETY has been featured at major events including Gamescom and Korea Blockchain Week, signaling strong ecosystem support.

A Look at XOCIETY's Features

XOCIETY is a 3rd-person shooter built with RPG systems, featuring a sci-fi world and a focus on player impact. Unlike traditional shooters where each player's choices don't affect the broader game, XOCIETY introduces ripple effects from player decisions. These can change the environment and gameplay outcomes for everyone involved.

The title is developed by NDUS Interactive, a team of 36 developers with AAA experience at studios like NCSOFT, Nexon, and Krafton. Jeffry Kim, the founder, brings over 20 years of experience in the gaming space.

XOCIETY is built on the Sui blockchain, which powers its token system and reward economy. Real-time blockchain rewards are a core part of the experience, with $XO tokens sent directly to player wallets.

The game also uses Walrus, Sui's onchain data protocol, to verify tournament results and replays. This gives players clear and transparent proof of outcomes.

Invisible Blockchain, Seamless Entry

Despite its blockchain core, XOCIETY is built to feel like a traditional online game. You don't need to manage wallets or deal with gas fees. Email-based login is supported via Slush, and a new "ghost wallet" feature is in the pipeline. This will link each player's Epic Games account to an automatically created wallet, making blockchain features available in the background.

This design reflects the team's approach to Web3: keep the blockchain hidden from view, and let players focus on the gameplay.

Pre-Season Playtest and $XO Rewards

Before Early Access, XOCIETY ran multiple P2E campaigns. In September, the team held its Pre-Season Playtest, which ran globally from September 22 to 29. Servers remained open 24/7 across 4 regions, giving players nonstop access for one week.

That test offered over 8 million $XO in rewards. The Competitive Mode alone featured a pool of 7.2 million $XO, while the free Battle Pass added another 1 million tokens. Players could also earn through missions and leaderboard rankings, with real-time token conversion enabled during the event.

The live token system lets players turn in-game rewards into $XO immediately, using a new conversion tool powered by the Sui network. This replaced the previous delay-based reward model used in Phase Zero testing in August.

Metrics from the Last Test Phase

In August's Phase Zero, XOCIETY recorded over 36,000 active wallets and 15 million onchain transactions. The game also saw a 48% D+14 retention rate, meaning nearly half of users came back two weeks later. This number, according to the team, outperforms many web2 online shooters and supports the idea that web3 games can achieve strong engagement if designed properly.

The team also introduced changes based on player feedback. Combat mechanics, gear systems, and skills were overhauled. Loot drops were simplified, inventory management was improved, and extraction portals were made easier to use. These updates were part of the game's push to polish core systems before Early Access.

The $XO Token in Gameplay

At the heart of XOCIETY's economy is the $XO token, which has a total supply of 5 billion. All rewards during playtests have been tied to actual gameplay, including Battle Pass progress, leaderboard ranks, and token missions. The token system was stress-tested during Phase Zero and the Pre-Season Playtest, both of which showed that onchain rewards can function at scale in a live setting.

By removing paywalls and premium-only rewards, XOCIETY aims to create a fair, skill-driven economy. All players, regardless of spending, were able to earn $XO by simply playing the game.

Ecosystem Plans and Game Expansion

Other than Early Access, the team has revealed plans to build a broader game hub on Sui. This includes tools for other developers, a future SDK, and support for new IPs. Their roadmap hints at future efforts to help onboard web2 games into the Sui ecosystem, as well as building out a larger brand presence.

The game has already seen over 12,000 downloads from its first demo and reached the top 3 most wishlisted web3 games on the Epic Games Store. With November now in its final stretch, XOCIETY's Early Access release is expected to follow soon.