If you’re a Web3 gaming enthusiast, you’re probably familiar with the FPS Web3 mobile game MATR1X FIRE. If you haven’t heard of it yet, don’t worry. Take a look at the image below; this is MATR1X FIRE.

Now, what’s the big deal about this picture? Well, the stunning sniper rifle skin you see in the image recently sold for an impressive $120,000.

CS2’s case opening system is one of the most iconic “digital lottery” mechanisms out there. In the Web3 space, we’re finally seeing a project that combines this concept with Web3’s unique economic features - enter MATR1X FIRE. Currently, the MATR1X FIRE ecosystem is running its first case opening event, dubbed the “Apollo Project,” which is generating a lot of buzz.

As Web3 gaming evolves, we’re seeing an increasing number of high-quality game projects across various blockchains. There’s also a surge in infrastructure aimed at bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 gaming. However, the term “GameFi” still carries significant weight in the Web3 world.

While Web3 games have come a long way since the “GameFi 1.0” era led by titles like Wolf Game, the development of truly polished games takes time. As a result, many current Web3 game projects lean towards idle mobile games. These games often feature addictive mechanics and accessible gameplay, but their economic models tend to stick to the simple “farm, withdraw, sell” approach. The vast potential of Web3 economic models in gaming remains largely untapped.

Looking at the Web2 gaming industry, we see that games are no longer just about active participation. Much like how many football fans never play the sport but never miss a match, there are now countless gaming enthusiasts who don’t play games themselves but religiously follow e-sports tournaments. With compelling gameplay and competitive elements, competitive gaming has blossomed into a form of mass entertainment. Take CSGO (now CS2) for example - while the game itself is free to play, its in-game cosmetics market generates billions of dollars in annual transactions.

This massive transaction volume is only possible because gaming has reached the status of mass entertainment. Many players may step away from actively playing CS due to life commitments, but they often retain their cosmetics, sometimes even leasing them out for passive income. Moreover, a significant number of players keep cosmetics purely for sentimental reasons. After all, collecting is a common human trait.

Just as Web2 games have fostered a thriving e-sports industry, Web3 games have the potential to do the same. Building a large e-sports viewership and cultivating influence among non-players is crucial for establishing a solid foundation for game IP development. Web3’s unique features open up new possibilities for e-sports streaming and IP expansion that weren’t possible in Web2, such as Watch-to-Earn models and NFT-based virtual and real-world IP extensions.

While MATR1X FIRE’s top cosmetic selling for $120,000 is impressive, replicating the success of CS2’s cosmetics market requires more than just copying the mechanism. That’s why MATR1X is investing heavily in e-sports and IP development, seamlessly integrating these elements into the Web3 ecosystem. With a deep understanding of both Web2 gaming and Web3’s unique economic models, MATR1X is not only addressing the “death spiral” problem common in Web3 games but also exploring innovative ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the Web3 gaming space.

What is the MATR1X “Apollo Plan”?

The MATR1X Apollo Plan is an umbrella term for a series of exciting initiatives within the MATR1X ecosystem. It encompasses the first-ever treasure box opening event, a $MAX token airdrop, and the release of premium skin collections. The crown jewel of this plan is undoubtedly the treasure box opening event. By participating, you’ll have the chance to snag some of the ecosystem’s first high-tier commemorative game skin NFTs, as well as a shot at grabbing a share of 50 million $MAX tokens.

Remember that sniper rifle skin we mentioned earlier that sold for a cool $100,000? Its rarity is on par with CS2’s legendary “Dragon Lore” skin, making it one of the most coveted items in the MATR1X ecosystem. If you’re lucky enough to draw this skin, you’ll also max out your $MAX token earnings, as the amount of $MAX you receive is directly tied to the rarity of the skin you unbox. This clever system blends the thrill of case openings from traditional games with Web3’s token distribution mechanics, creating an innovative and engaging experience.

Web3’s First Foray into “Case Opening” Mechanics

The “case opening” mechanism is a key feature across all three games in the Matr1x ecosystem: MATR1X FIRE, MATR1X Battle, and Castile.

This system introduces a new revenue stream for MATR1X FIRE players. Those who own in-game characters can earn not just through direct play ($FIRE or $MAX tokens) but also through “treasure box” drops. These boxes can contain exclusive, limited-edition NFT game skins. Each season brings new treasure boxes with fresh skins, while older, discontinued skins become rare collectibles. The number of boxes released each season is also capped, adding to their value.

Opening these treasure boxes isn’t just about skins - you can also earn MAX points for additional $MAX token airdrops.

To open a box, you’ll need to spend some $FIRE tokens and a small amount of a stablecoin like $USDT. This mechanism is a clever solution to the common problem in Web3 games where token value decreases as more players join and earn. It essentially gamifies earnings - you might get a common skin, or you could hit the jackpot with an ultra-rare “knife” or “glove” skin. The choice to risk your earnings for a chance at these rare NFTs is entirely up to you.

While anyone can earn boxes through gameplay, watching e-sports events, or participating in predictions, Matr1x hasn’t forgotten its dedicated supporters. Last year, they launched the MATR1X KUKU NFT series to expand their ecosystem’s IP. By staking these KUKU NFTs, you can earn exclusive “KUKU treasure boxes”. The more you stake and the longer you hold, the more boxes you can earn.

These limited-edition boxes (only about 500,000 in total) not only contain top-tier commemorative NFT skins but also distribute a portion of the 50 million $MAX tokens allocated to this initiative.

MATR1X has masterfully adapted the “case opening” mechanism from Web2 games, seamlessly integrating it into the Web3 ecosystem:

• Low entry barrier: Game assets reach their full potential when they attract a broad, casual audience. MATR1X allows players to earn “treasure boxes” by watching e-sports events and participating in predictions. These boxes can yield MAX points for $MAX airdrops, appealing to casual players. Players can also sell unopened boxes on the market. This system redefines “play-to-earn” by rewarding engagement beyond just gameplay.
• Randomized rewards and rarity: NFT skins range from common to extremely rare. Seasonal updates retire previous skins, making them exclusive. Special event boxes, like those for e-sports tournaments, can become valuable collectibles, similar to how rare CS2 event boxes drive up prices of certain cosmetics.
• Rich content: MATR1X regularly updates with high-quality skins for all weapon types. Plans include a “creative workshop” similar to CS2, incorporating player-created skins. This opens new monetization avenues for memes in Web3 and encourages user-generated content (UGC), strengthening the game ecosystem and exploring new possibilities in the Web3 creator economy.

Continuing to Invest in E-sports, Rooted in “Mass Entertainment”, Exploring New Possibilities of “Web3 + E-sports”

MATR1X FIRE has successfully held over 10 offline and more than 50 online events. These e-sports events have been hosted in 10 countries and regions worldwide, including Dubai in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo in Japan, Singapore, and Manila in the Philippines. The total exposure for these events has surpassed 10 million views.

The Asia Master event, held in April at the main venue of the Festival in Hong Kong, was a resounding success. A total of 94 teams from 10 countries and regions across Asia participated in the qualifiers. The top teams emerged from fierce competition to gather in Hong Kong and compete for the championship. Many memorable moments occurred during the event, such as the final round of the qualifiers for the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan regions, where a member of the champion team impressively jumped into the smoke to “backstab” the last remaining opponent and secure the victory.

The offline grand final in Hong Kong took place on April 9 and was broadcast live globally, attracting over 1.8 million viewers, setting a new milestone in Web3 e-sports. Ultimately, the team Black and White E-sports from China claimed the championship. Interestingly, their championship rewards were integrated with Web3, including 10,000 $FIRE tokens and a YATC NFT valued at 18 ETH.

MATR1X has also partnered with GEDA ESPORTS to launch a comprehensive betting event, boasting a prize pool of up to $300,000. Before MATR1X’s Watch 2 Earn e-sports event, we had never seen such thrilling live content that attracted nearly 2 million viewers and successfully converted a significant number of them into the Web3 ecosystem through “XX 2 Earn” activities. The captivating event content, coupled with Web3’s unique incentive model, complements each other perfectly, maximizing the potential value of e-sports live streaming. In the future, MATR1X plans to create exclusive commemorative boxes for e-sports events, integrating the unboxing mechanism into Watch 2 Earn. We might even see MATR1X’s KUKU IP appearing as memorabilia in future e-sports events. E-sports events could also become a development channel for game IP, enriching the story and image of the IP through the exciting moments of e-sports events.

The true “mass adoption” of a competitive game hinges on exploring the e-sports field. Two critical aspects of this exploration are events and professional clubs. MATR1X has already demonstrated excellent operational capabilities in hosting events, and several professional clubs are focusing on the MATR1X e-sports ecosystem. These include Black and White E-sports, Boarding Bridge, JGG (Japan Gaming Guild), FR, Samurai, OtakuLabs, CRYPTO Meteor Street, and QIEG.

MATR1X has taken a significant first step on the challenging path of “breaking the circle”, embarking on a brand-new journey that no Web3 game has traveled before.

Conclusion

Currently, the first unboxing event of the MATR1X ecosystem, the “Apollo Plan”, has officially started. The event features two types of boxes: the “KUKU Souvenir Box” and the “Pioneer Souvenir Box”. Opening one Pioneer Souvenir Box consumes 1 $FIRE, rewarding 1 $MAX and a Pioneer series weapon NFT. The Pioneer Box has a 10% chance of containing a souvenir-grade weapon, which comes with 4 stickers. Different combinations of stickers will reward varying amounts of $MAX. So far, 5,969,781 $FIRE have been consumed in this event, and the price of $FIRE has surged past $1.7, nearing its historical high.

With over 1.1 million downloads and more than 1.2 million registered players, MATR1X FIRE continues to thrive. It is not only the undisputed leader on the Polygon network but also the top Web3 game across all networks in terms of on-chain data—with over 2.5 million unique active wallet addresses and more than 26 million game transactions in the past 30 days, ranking first in on-chain data among all Web3 games.

They have always been at the forefront of Web3 gaming, bravely exploring new frontiers. The introduction of the “unboxing” mechanism not only provides a new solution for Web3’s economic challenges but also marks the first step in exploring the vast potential of “mass entertainment” in Web3 gaming. The future of MATR1X holds many surprises, waiting for us to explore together.

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