NFT brand Pudgy Penguins is launching a Web3 game powered by zkSync Era.
Pudgy Penguins is known for its collection of NFT (non-fungible token) penguin characters. The brand has gone beyond digital NFTs with the introduction of toys and plush collectibles. The Pudgy Penguin toy line launched earlier this year in Walmarts across the country. Further expanding its reach, Pudgy Penguins plans for an alpha launch of a digital environment, an early example of Web3 gaming.
Pudgy World will offer players a digital space in which they can customize their penguin characters, explore an open-world environment, and even follow a larger story. The new game will introduce two hero characters, Pudgy and Peaches, who will accompany players through Pudgy World’s story.
A Pudgy Penguin NFT or toy isn’t required to play the new Pudgy World alpha, but having one can unlock unique features for players. Every Pudgy Penguin toy includes a QR code to claim the penguin’s traits within the digital space. The alpha version won’t allow trading between players, but future versions have an in-game economy planned.
Pudgy World was first announced at this year’s Art Basel art fair in Miami, Florida and the alpha will launch in the first quarter of 2024.
Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, is eager to see the digital experience open up new avenues for the brand. “Blockchain technology has historically been a B2B model, whereas Pudgy Penguins is direct-to-consumer retail, which reaches a considerably larger audience,” says Netz. “The alpha launch of Pudgy World is a massive step forward for the Web3 and NFT space because Pudgy Penguin owners will be playing with their Pudgy toys, without any pre-existing knowledge of the blockchain technology it is built on.”
