TL;DR
Founded in Japan, Oasys is a relatively new blockchain dedicated to Web3 gaming. It has backing from and connections to major corporations such as Sega, Softback, and Bandai Namco, and there are some major upcoming titles on the network, including a game called Champions Tactics, from Ubisoft. Oasys makes use of a Hub Layer and multiple Layer-2s called Verses, in order for developers to be able to provide fast, gas-free experiences for users.
Is Web3 gaming set to take off in the near future? It’s a strong narrative backed by real development, and if gaming is going to be a key sector within crypto, then Oasys is definitely one to watch. In short, Oasys is a blockchain–and an entire ecosystem–dedicated to gaming, and it has some big titles lined up, great-looking partnerships, and is quietly building momentum, so let’s take a look at how Oasys works, along with its games and some recent announcements.
How Does Oasys Operate?
Oasys was established in Japan in early 2022 but is now headquartered in Singapore (which is an optimal location for Asia-based crypto companies as it’s a fintech hub with an early crypto regulatory framework in place). It’s a blockchain launched specifically for Web3 gaming, and the founding members include the at-that-time CEO of Bandai Namco Research, Hajime Nakatani, and the co-COO of Sega, Shuji Utsumi, while the network’s validators are operated by companies including Softbank, Sega, and Ubisoft.
Hub and Verse
To operate smoothly (Oasys says it has “instant transaction speed and zero gas fee”) for gaming purposes, Oasis–which is EVM-compatible and proof-of-stake–has been constructed with two layers: the Hub Layer and the Verse Layer.
- Hub Layer: This is the Oasys Layer-1 public blockchain, ensuring security and stability, and utilizing optimistic rollups to achieve scalability.
- Verse Layer: This is a Layer-2 for the network, on which further permissioned chains–known as Verses–can be deployed. Gas fees on Verses are paid by the operators, rather than by users, and notable Verses include HOME Verse, Saakuru, and XPLA Verse.
The native token of Oasys is OAS, while Verses can also have their own tokens, as can individual games, and for easy onboarding of new users there’s the Oasys Passport wallet app, which is optimized for gaming use.
Games and Partnerships
When it comes to Oasys games (which can be explored fully, along with relevant NFTs, through the Oasys Navi portal), a major title right now is Champions Tactics, which is being developed by Ubisoft. Champions Tactics is part of the HOME Verse ecosystem, and it’s a slick-looking, turn-based strategy game that incorporates NFTs–in the form of both PFPs and in-game playable figurines–and has gained a lot of traction.
Also, Ubisoft this month announced a partnership with Web3 games developer Double Jump (which is also the developer of the Oasys Passport wallet, while Double Jump CEO Hironobu Ueno is an Oasys co-founder), with Double Jump supporting the Web3 integration side of Champions Tactics, and assisting in marketing the game.
Moving on to another of Oasys’ Layer-2s, within the Saakuru Verse ecosystem there are several key titles to watch, including Parkour Battle, Copycat Killer, and Panic, all of which are part of a Web3 gaming platform called Playground.
And also incoming on Saakuru, there’s a game called Khuga Rumble Arena, from Khuga Labs. This is a free-to-play combat game featuring fighting cats, including NFTs to be integrated into the gameplay, and with a recently released trailer picking up attention.
Elsewhere, if you’re a fan of eighties manga and anime, you’ll be familiar with the classic Captain Tsubasa series. From that franchise, an NFT-utilizing Web3 game titled Captain Tsubasa: Rivals was launched on Polygon at the start of 2023, and then this May, the game also launched a version on Oasys, with the release making direct use of the Oasys Hub Layer.
And carrying on the retro vibes, Oasys this week announced a new partnership with a Japanese entertainment company called Edia, which owns the IP rights to 139 classic gaming titles. This puts Oasys in a position to perform Web3 revamps of these games and, potentially, market them to new audiences while also bringing in mainstream gamers familiar with the original releases.
Tapping the Korean Market
As mentioned, Oasys was established in Japan and is now based in Singapore, but the network seems also to be paying close attention to the South Korean market, and last month announced a partnership with Vortex Gaming. Vortex is a South Korean gaming community platform that can provide Oasys with a route by which to onboard gamers in South Korea.
What’s more, there’s already an incoming South Korean Oasys Layer-2 called XPLA Verse that was developed by games publisher Com2uS, and that has initial plans to feature AAA titles The Walking Dead: All-Stars, and Summoners War: Chronicles, with more to follow.
And additionally, Oasys has a partnership in place with Metabora SG, which is part of the blockchain gaming branch of South Korean internet company Kakao, and which is itself looking to expand its reach across to Japan.
Bridged USDC Integration
There was a stablecoin-related announcement from Oasys at the beginning of this month giving details of a partnership with Celer Network, a specialist in cross-chain bridging and interoperability. This development means that Bridged USDC is now supported on Oasys, it has the token symbol USDC.e, and it’s backed 1:1 by locked USDC.
Overall then, we can see that Oasys is well-connected and has forged multiple new partnerships across crypto and gaming, all of which indicates that as a dedicated gaming chain optimized for one purpose, it’s becoming a strong competitor in the Web3 gaming arena.
