Hey everyone,
As we open the game to more and more players, we wanted to take a moment to explain once and for all where our company (Confiction Labs), our game (RIFTSTORM), and our vision (Collaborative Entertainment) stand in relation to web3. We understand that web3 has and continues to be a contentious issue, with two passionate and vocal sides of a coin that don’t always oppose each other.
At Confiction Labs, we see “web3-related” technologies as simply tools that enable and empower — not unlike the internet or the game engines we use. RIFTSTORM is and always will be a looter-shooter game, one that the team and I have been wanting to make for years. We also see RIFTSTORM as the spearhead to launch our ambitious vision for an IP that invites players, creators and consumers to have an impact on its growth and evolution by playing, creating and voting within our ecosystem.
Our — admittedly lofty — goals for Collaborative Entertainment seek to redefine gaming and entertainment for the better. We envision a future where IPs are built for the audience they seek to entertain, where the changes and source material are created, inspired, and changed because of the audience, and where the IP’s creators and consumers are equitably rewarded for their participation.
If the inclusion or preclusion of one piece of technology or the other is cause for concern to you, then we can only hope to gain your trust in the future and that the answers below work towards that end.
Cheers,
Igor Tanzil
CCO, Confiction Labs
Is RIFTSTORM a web3 game?
RIFTSTORM is a cooperative looter-shooter ARPG with roguelite elements, inspired by the mechanics found in hit games such as Hades and the Diablo franchise. RIFTSTORM intends to explore web3 elements in the future, and all of it is designed to enhance the player experience and Collaborative Entertainment, opening the door for creative contributions to the game’s universe while improving asset and legacy-based security. Our priority will always be about making a fun and engaging game.
Web3 plays a vital role in our vision of Collaborative Entertainment and the ecosystem we are building to support it, offering players more ways to interact with the game and its universe. RIFTSTORM is set in an alternate modern world where humanity is being threatened by eldritch and cosmic monsters collectively known as mythics. As secret operatives working for the enigmatic Mythic Protocol, players must fight these threats with unique special abilities, weapons, and technology, and with web3, players will be able to contribute to the world in more meaningful ways.
Are the mainstream gaming platforms supportive of web3 games?
Several games with web3 elements are already on major gaming platforms like Steam, the Epic Games Store, Xbox and PlayStation 5, and they are allowed as long as they follow the guidelines for blockchain elements. A recent example of this is Parallel TCG, which has been getting attention from professional players coming from games such as Hearthstone and Marvel Snap. There have also been web3 games getting a lot of mainstream attention, such as the battle royale Off The Grid (OTG), which has gotten coverage from high-profile content creators such as Ninja, Shroud, and TimTheTatman.
More and more people are opening up to the idea of great games with blockchain elements, and RIFTSTORM aims to continue this trend. We are fully compliant with Steam’s guidelines and are committed to providing a seamless experience on all platforms where RIFTSTORM will launch.
Why are game developers putting blockchain into games?
Game developers are always searching for ways to innovate the gaming experience, whether it is new ways to engage players or experimenting with different models. Blockchain technology offers players more options for ownership and interaction with in-game and out-game assets.
Many big game developers are already exploring games using this technology, from Sony exploring the potential to be more open to web3 games to Ubisoft and Square Enix creating blockchain titles of their own. Similar to how developers in the 1980s laid the groundwork for online multiplayer games, the developers of today are trying to push the boundaries of what’s possible with gaming using emerging technologies.
Our team at Confiction Labs has 15 years of experience in traditional game development, and our exploration of web3 is a reflection of our commitment to innovate. We believe that this technology can open up many exciting possibilities for gaming, while still maintaining the quality we’ve come to know and love.
Why is RIFTSTORM choosing to explore web3 instead of just making a looter-shooter?
As a company, Confiction Labs is looking to build the first Collaborative Entertainment IP that is built upon the integration of gameplay interaction, creative input, and consequential output. RIFTSTORM presents the primary interactive product in that core formula we are building.
As game developers, we see legacy as the primary intrinsic use case for blockchain integration, and we will be exploring ways to secure player actions and input as they work to change and evolve the overall narrative and universe concepts in our IP.
For more information, you can read about our vision for legacy here.
What do NFTs do in RIFTSTORM?
While the the full implementation of NFTs around RIFTSTORM has to be formalized, RIFTSTORM does at the very least intend to explore ecosystem-wide exclusives for NFT holders who have supported the game, the ecosystem, and the IP, starting with cosmetic skins for players in RIFTSTORM.
Are NFTs a requirement for playing RIFTSTORM?
No. NFTs offer an optional way for community members to support Confiction Labs, RIFTSTORM, and Collaborative Entertainment. Holders of XPSR-24 will be entitled to additional benefits within the game and the broader ecosystem, but the NFTs are not a requirement to play the game.
What is Collaborative Entertainment?
Collaborative Entertainment (CE) is a new dimension of entertainment, making it possible for fan input to directly influence the development of an IP. Confiction Labs is pioneering CE with its flagship game, RIFTSTORM. Players can participate in events, and their decisions can change how future updates of the game are developed. In time, they can also submit user-generated content (UGC) to RIFTSTORM’s Repository, a growing library of content that can be reviewed by the Confiction Labs team and potentially adopted into RIFTSTORM lore or a future gameplay update.
What is the goal of Collaborative Entertainment?
CE hopes to change how the entertainment industry approaches development. One challenge facing various forms of media, such as games and movies, is their reliance on a formulaic approach to development. They may create something that doesn’t resonate with fans or be forced to create a remake of their franchise to renew interest in their IPs.
With the community’s help, developers and creators can collaborate with their fans, bringing ideas to life together. It all begins with a willingness to be open to collaboration. The community can vote for ideas or even submit improvements. With many creative minds working on an IP, the possibilities are endless.
