Hong Kong Web3 game Anichess records over 100,000 monthly active players three months after public alpha launch

Animoca Brands'chess-centered game plans to drive growth of Web3 gaming

in keyAsia-Pacificmarkets 

HONG KONG,Jan. 21, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- Anichess today announced that it has recorded 100,000 monthly active users inDecember 2024, three months after its public alpha launch inOctober 2024. Anichess is the progressive chess-based online strategy game fromAnimoca Brandsdeveloped inHong Kongand in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. The homegrown Web3 game also announced a series of initiatives to support the growth ofHong Kong'sgaming ecosystem, while expanding its global user base.

Following aUS$1.8Mfunding round last year led by Sfermion and Amber Group (seeannouncement of25 April 2024), Anichessis emerging as an innovative player inHong Kong'sWeb3 gaming space with a growing global player base. Built on the blockchain,Anichesscombines traditional chess with unique magical spells or abilities, introducing faster and more dynamic chess matches to captivate gamers and competitive chess players.Anichessplayers have collectively conducted over 500,000 matches and recorded over 3 million minutes of total game time. TheAnichesscommunity now consists of 40,000 members on Discord, actively proposing new spells and mechanics, driving game updates and test features, and supporting newcomers.

Anichessis committed to supporting theHong KongWeb3 gaming sector through education. By collaborating withHong Kongdevelopers and local education institutions to host hackathons, internship programs, workshops, and networking events,Anichesswill help bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 gaming sectors and deepen the Web3 talent pool.Anichesswill also participate in events inHong Kongincluding the upcoming Consensus Hong Kong in February, and theHong KongWeb3 Festival in April. Last year, it participated in theGEN3 Playground event, hosted by Animoca Brands, educating over 1,000 attendees on Web3, blockchain, and true digital ownership.

In addition,Anichessplans to deepen its focus on empowering the Web3 gaming ecosystems inAsia-Pacificmarkets, engaging with local gaming and developer communities, partnering with educational institutions, and expanding its presence in key markets.

India, along withThe PhilippinesandVietnam, ranks among the top five geographies in terms of registered players. Recognizing chess'popularityinIndiaand the growing interest in Web3 technologies,Anichessplans to expand its presence in the country to tap intoSouth Asia'sgaming potential and the Latin American market.

Brian Chan, head ofAnichess, vice president of operations and projects of Animoca Brandssaid:"Anichessreaching 100,000 monthly active users showcases the appeal of Web3 gaming and our innovative fusion of chess with blockchain. We're proud to have built this game inHong Kongand to expand it globally, advancing Web3 through gaming and chess. As we grow, we will also remain committed to nurturing our roots:Hong Kong'svibrant Web3 gaming ecosystem."

Anichess can now be played for free at www.anichess.com. The game will soon introduce its own version of play-and-earn, including buy-ins for tournaments, an in-game marketplace and premium features, to create a robust in-game economy. FollowAnichess on X and join its Discordserver to stay updated on future developments.

About Anichess 

Anichess is a subsidiary of Animoca Brands focused on developing and advancing decentralized chess through its distinctive spell-chess gameplay. Anichess brings new energy and innovation to one of the world's oldest and most widely played games, modernizing and tokenizing it to take advantage of opportunities presented by Web3 technologies and communities. Anichess is a completely free-to-play game that combines the core values of traditional chess with an additional layer of strategy provided by new features that include an innovative spell mechanic and special challenges. Anichess boasts a strong focus on powerful visuals and skill-based gameplay to deliver a captivating, esport-like experience for fans of chess and novices alike. For more information visit https://www.anichess.com.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands (ACN: 122 921 813), aDeloitte Tech Fastwinner, aFortune Crypto 40company, one of theTop 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2024, and one of the Financial Times'High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023, is a Web3 leader that leverages blockchain to deliver digital property rights to consumers around the world to help to establish the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products includingAnichess,The Sandbox,PHANTOM GALAXIES™,andCrazy Defense Heroes, and products utilizing popular intellectual properties such as The Walking Dead and Power Rangers. One of Animoca Brands'flagship projects isMocaverse, a platform that enables consumers to maximize their Web3 exposure to experiences and rewards with a single login entry point. Animoca Brands is one of the most active investors in Web3, with a portfolio of over 540 Web3 investments, including Yuga Labs, Axie Infinity, Polygon, Consensys, Magic Eden, OpenSea, Dapper Labs, Yield Guild Games, and many more. For more information visitwww.animocabrands.comor follow onX (Twitter),YouTube,Instagram,LinkedIn,Facebook, andTikTok.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hong-kong-web3-game-anichess-records-over-100-000-monthly-active-players-three-months-after-public-alpha-launch-302356009.html

SOURCE Anichess