The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association have partnered with gaming technology studio Mythical Games to develop an innovative new NFL-themed mobile game that is revolutionizing the use of blockchain in the mobile gaming industry.
Introducing NFL Rivals, the first-ever blockchain-based NFL game was launched on the App Store and Google Play stores on Wednesday. This game allows users to take on the role of general managers and play as their favorite players in an arcade-style gameplay. Utilizing blockchain technology, players can also purchase, collect, and trade non-fungible token (NFT) digital items that grant them access to special events and in-game rewards.
Ed Kiang, the NFL’s VP of video gaming, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Working with Mythical Games and the NFLPA to create an innovative gaming experience like NFL Rivals is a testament to the success of these organizations in the world of Web3 gaming.”
To commemorate the NFL draft, which takes place from Thursday to Saturday, the game will feature draft-themed in-game events and player packs that transform into game characters as players are drafted.
With the game now available for download on mobile platforms, the aim is to provide a simple yet engaging experience for casual fans. According to Mythical Games CEO John Linden, the company is focusing on appealing to a mainstream audience and is not actively promoting the use of NFTs or blockchain technology. Instead, their priority is to deliver excellent functionality to users.
Linden explained that by leveraging blockchain technology, the game can potentially offer capabilities that would be unattainable with traditional game technology.
Mythical Games is transitioning its Mythical Chain from Ethereum to a parachain on the Polkadot ecosystem, which will enable these Web3 capabilities and enhance scalability. Over the past month, the Mythical Chain has recorded approximately 3.2 million on-chain gaming transactions. Linden emphasized the company’s ambition to achieve massive scale and reach a wide audience.
Björn Wagner, CEO of Parity Technologies, a major contributor to the Polkadot network, explained that due to Polkadot’s structure, Mythical Games will gain more flexibility, control over gas fees, and faster transaction times, all of which are crucial for gaming. He anticipates a significant increase in awareness of Polkadot, particularly for consumer-facing projects powered by the network.