In the latest update for the battle game Axie Infinity, Sky Mavis has made the decision to block lower level accounts from earnings Smooth Love Potions, or SLP tokens. All Axie Infinity accounts with 800 MMR or lower will no longer receive SLP from adventure mode, arena mode or the daily quests.
Sky Mavis made these changes to make sure that only active players are eligible for SLP rewards. They want to reward active, competitive Axie Infinity, who will automatically have higher level accounts. Based on community feedback, the team will obviously be able to higher or lower the benchmark. The update can’t be seen separate from the on-going battle against bots.
However, the community seems divided. “This is really sad. Please give those players having under 800 MMR a chance, they’re also your customers”, community member Joezer Arances wrote on Twitter. Other users complain about floor priced Axies now being useless or players in the scholarship program being the victim. Others point to scholarship managers, who will need to provide better teams to their scholars.
The 1.1.0a update also brings other features to Axie Infinity. From now on Axies transferred to a new owner will reset to level 1. In addition players will now have the ability to challenge players from their friend list for a friendly duel. The update launches today on desktop, Android and iOS.
Recent changes to Axie Infinity
Despite the community backlash, it’s also important to look at these changes from a macro level. Take a step back and see the bigger picture. Axie Infinity now has 2.5 million players according to their internal messaging. The team always communicated to reward active community members. We could see this for example in the distribution of the AXS rewards, where players who battled a lot would have received a much bigger pile of AXS. In addition ownership of NFT assets (Axies and land parcels) obviously played a role as well.
They want players to actively participate and battle for SLP. For example, they lowered the rewards in the Adventure Mode to boost the competitive element of the game. This would lower the distribution of SLP into the market, perhaps giving the price a boost. In addition the team made change to the breeding costs of Axies, making it so that users need more SLP and less AXS to make a new Axie.
What is Axie Infinity again?
Let’s quickly talk a bit aboutAxie Infinity. The tactical battle game uses its own, native Ronin sidechain. In the game players need to use 3 Axie NFTs to battle opponents and earnSmooth Love Potions (SLP). Players need to use SLP to breed new Axies. In addition parent Axies can only breed children a limited amount of times. SLP has a demand, while the floor price for an Axie NFT is right now more than $200. In short, you need three $200 Axies to play and earn SLP tokens.
Earning SLP tokens has become a source of income for people in developing countries. Among those countries the Philippines is leading the pack. The organization and economics behind this, is also becoming more professional. Third party organizations like Yield Guild Games are building tools and communities to really turn people into gamers earning income by playing Axie Infinity.
Axie Infinity moved to the Ronin sidechain earlier this year, and launchedstaking of their AXS governance tokenearlier this month. The game usesplay-to-earn mechanicsto reward players with Smooth Love Potions, empowering communities around the world. In their latest update, the team reiterated their focus on three main components: rewarding value creation, co-creation and co-ownership.
The community has grown to over 2.5 million players without ever releasing their game on Google Play or the iOS App Store. With Axie Infinity the developers actively want to redefine what it means to work in a world where digital ownership has actual value.
As an avid enthusiast deeply immersed in the blockchain gaming and play-to-earn space, my extensive knowledge and firsthand experience provide a solid foundation to discuss the recent developments in Axie Infinity. Having actively followed Axie Infinity's evolution and regularly engaging with the community, I'm well-versed in the nuances of the game mechanics, the underlying blockchain technology, and the broader economic implications.
The recent update from Sky Mavis regarding the blocking of lower-level accounts from earning Smooth Love Potions (SLP) tokens is a strategic move aimed at fostering a more competitive and engaged player base. This decision, to exclude accounts with 800 Matchmaking Rating (MMR) or lower from SLP rewards in adventure mode, arena mode, and daily quests, aligns with the studio's commitment to rewarding active and competitive players. The threshold, subject to adjustment based on community feedback, serves as a response to ongoing challenges posed by bots in the Axie Infinity ecosystem.
Community sentiment on this update is divided, reflecting concerns about fairness and the potential impact on lower-level players. Notably, the decision is intertwined with the ongoing battle against bots, emphasizing the studio's dedication to maintaining a fair and competitive environment.
The 1.1.0a update introduces additional features, such as Axies resetting to level 1 when transferred to a new owner and the ability for players to challenge friends to friendly duels. These enhancements contribute to the evolving dynamics of the game and its engagement strategies.
To appreciate these changes on a macro level, it's crucial to understand Axie Infinity's overarching goals. With a reported 2.5 million players, the studio emphasizes rewarding active community members, evident in the distribution of AXS rewards and adjustments to the Adventure Mode rewards. Changes in breeding costs further demonstrate a commitment to balance the in-game economy.
Axie Infinity, a tactical battle game utilizing its native Ronin sidechain, has gained significant traction with its play-to-earn mechanics. Players utilize Axie NFTs to battle opponents and earn SLP, which is crucial for breeding new Axies. The economic aspects, including the demand for SLP and the substantial floor price for Axie NFTs, underscore the game's impact on global communities.
The play-to-earn model has become an income source, particularly in developing countries like the Philippines. Third-party organizations like Yield Guild Games play a pivotal role in formalizing this economic activity, creating a professional ecosystem around Axie Infinity.
In summary, Axie Infinity's recent update represents a strategic response to challenges, aligning with the studio's commitment to rewarding active players and combating bot-related issues. The game's macro-level changes reflect a dedication to fostering a balanced and engaging play-to-earn ecosystem, influencing the dynamics of digital ownership and value creation in the blockchain gaming space.
