created by shallowfuckingvalue

Issue #14 | January 19, 2022

gm frens and welcome to the future!

We’re 2.5 weeks into 2022 and I’m back with the first full issue of the year!

I hope the new year has been good to you so far.

The NFT market is on fire, which is why I introduced NFTweets to the lineup, so I can expand coverage to include non-gaming NFTs.

And as we'll see in today's issue, a LOT MORE MONEYYYY is pouring into the metaverse.

Now before I ramble on about irrelevant stuff, let's just dive in.

🔥This week’s lineup:

🥶Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion (very nice)...in cash

📈Animoca Brands raises $358,888,888 to grow the open metaverse

🍬MicroBites

💰VC Land & Money Talk

🕳Deep Dives

– Michael

👾

Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion

Just like Thanos removed half of the universe's population with the snap of a finger, Microsoft becomes the 3rd largest gaming company by revenue with the stroke of a pen.

(Sorry for the spoilers + sh*tty analogy...I've been binge watching the Marvel movies).

The reason I included this story today is because of a key word Microsoft used in their news release:

"Metaverse."

Specifically these sentences:

"This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse."

“Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all.”

It'll be interesting to see what Microsoft creates with their new asset.

While Microsoft has flirted with Web3 before, creating the Azure Blockchain Service (which they shut down in September of 2021), I wonder if they'll stay true to the Web3 ethos.

Will they contribute to an open, decentralized version of the Metaverse...or will this be another walled garden owned by Big Tech?

Read the press release here

👾

Animoca Brands Raises $358,888,888 at $5 billion valuation

Normally I would've included this story (as well as the Microsoft / Activision acquisition) as bullets in the "VC Land & Money Talk" section, but I felt it deserves a little extra time under the spotlight.

Here's why:

According to blockchain gaming analyst Jon Jordan, Animoca Brands has been in at least 33 blockchain gaming investment rounds in 2021, which is the most of any company.

The firm is obviously positioning themselves as a leader in Web3 gaming, alongside such names as a16z, Paradigm, Coatue, Galaxy Interactive and FTX.

Even their press release states their goal is to "grow the open metaverse."

Animoca Brands is working to build the open metaverse by bringing digital property rights to online users through the use of blockchain and NFTs; these technologies enable the true digital ownership of users’ virtual assets and data, and make possible various DeFi and GameFi opportunities (including play-to-earn), asset interoperability, and an open framework that can lead to greater equitability for all participants.

Some of the firm's Web3 game projects include The Sandbox, Phantom Galaxies, the REVV token ecosystem (REVV Racing, F1® Delta Time, MotoGP Ignition, and Formula E: High Voltage), the Arc8 platform and its GAMEE utility token, as well as the TOWER, LMT, BONDLY, and PROSPER token projects.

The round was led by Liberty City Ventures and included other investors such as 10T Holdings, C Ventures, Delta Fund, Gemini Frontier Fund, Gobi Partners Greater Bay Area, Kingsway, L2 Capital, Mirae Asset, Pacific Century Group, ParaFi Capital, Provident, Senator Investment Group, Sequoia China, Smile Group, Stable Asset Management, Soros Fund Management, Wildcat Capital Management, Winklevoss Capital, and others.

Read the press release here

👾

MicroBites

Crypto Raiders introduces "Endless Dungeon"

Doge vs. Bots releases 3D trailer for its upcoming P2E NFT game

Microsoft vets announce first game from new a16z-backed startup

Battle Racers will shut down in February 2022; here's what will happen next

Laqirace plans to launch as first "drive to earn" game on Binance Smart Chain

👾

VC Land & Money Talk

🚀Mechanism Capital launches $100M Gaming Fund to support P2E games. Previous investments include Star Atlas, Ember Sword, Yield Guild Games, and Merit Circle.

🏈Fan Controlled Football raises $40M for spectator-controlled football games. Fans use their smartphones call all the plays in real-time using their NFT voting rights.

🤝Forte acquires N3TWORK's blockchain gaming tech platform. The deal includes the N3TWORK team.

🎮Mainstream gaming studio Dynasty Studios raises $5 million to "build blockchain games that appeal to mainstream gamers."

📈G5 Entertainment has acquired an undisclosed amount of shares in blockchain-based game Upland for $2 million.

🕹Boston-based indie game developer Mystic Moose raises $5 million to produce blockchain games.

💰United Esports and the Dfinity Foundation, the developers of the Internet Computer blockchain protocol, have launched a $10 million blockchain game dev contest.

👾

Deep Dives

📖Play to earn economies as base layer protocols for games

📖Decentraland: The Metaverse's Early Mover

🎧Crypto Corner #9: What 2022 has in store for blockchain gaming

📖Sidequest #1: Evaluating Blockchain Game Investments -- Immersion

👾

Well frens, it feels GREAT to be back!

Let me know what you thought of this week's edition.

See ya in a few days with another issue of NFTweets.

– Michael, editor of Crypto GameBites

PS – Can you forward this email to someone you think would enjoy it?

PPS – If someone forwarded this to you, and you want your own, sign up here.

🏴‍☠️

Disclosure: From time-to-time I might add links in this newsletter to products I use and I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Also, I hold crypto assets (shocking right?). See my investment disclosures here.

Disclaimer to protect my a$$: All investment strategies and investments involve risk of loss. Nothing contained in this magical newsletter should be construed as financial or investment advice. We’re just two brains connecting through cyberspace and shooting the shit about the wild world of blockchain gaming, where buzzwords like “crypto” and “NFTs” roam freely. Any reference to an investment's past or potential performance is not, and should not be construed as, a recommendation or as a guarantee of any specific outcome or profit. Remember to do your own damn research and don’t just ape into things like I did with all those shitcoins from the Spring 2021 bull run.