Electronics giant Samsung has teamed up with Illuvium to redefine home entertainment. This partnership, centered around Illuvium’s three interconnected games, will be officially unveiled at Gamescom 2024. Fans are in for a treat, as the game will be featured front and center on Samsung Web3 TVs.
A New Chapter in Home Entertainment
The partnership marks a huge step in the integration of gaming, digital art, and next-gen technology. Samsung’s Web3 TVs will now bring the expansive Illuvium world directly into living rooms. These smart TVs will allow players to witness the stunning visuals of Illuvium’s games—Overworld, Arena, and Zero—with remarkable clarity and detail.
What to Expect at Gamescom 2024
At Gamescom 2024, Samsung’s booth will offer visitors an immersive experience of the Illuvium world. Fans will have the chance to explore the different regions of Overworld, battle in Arena, and manage their cities in Zero. Participants will also get to win prizes, with 10 of Samsung’s GEN3RATOR NFTs up for grabs. Users holding both GEN3RATOR and Samsung Gen3 Chip NFTs can exclusively access 2,000 digital artworks from partner projects.
Meet Kieran Warwick
For those who wish to explore the partnership and what’s next for Illuvium, Gamescom will also feature a panel with CEO Kieran Warwick. During the “Good Morning Gamescom” panel, Warwick will share insights into the game’s journey, as well as its recent achievements and developments.
The GEN3RATOR Campaign
Beyond Gamescom, the partnership extends into the broader GEN3RATOR campaign. This campaign is part of Samsung’s TX1 program, where Illuvium is one of only two gaming partners selected. Through this program, users can obtain Samsung Gen3 Chip and GEN3RATOR NFTs, which unlock exclusive partner NFTs and special pieces from Illuvium.
Samsung’s Web3 Journey
Samsung began its first foray into Web3 in 2019 with the launch of its Blockchain Wallet App. This was quickly followed by the launch of the Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK, allowing web-based Ethereum apps to operate on mobile devices. In May 2022, Samsung expanded its Web3 ventures by launching an NFT platform for its smart TVs. The platform allowed users to browse, purchase, and view NFTs right on their screens, featuring tokens curated by Nifty Gateway.
In April this year, Samsung unveiled the GEN3GATE bundle, which is included with two of its smart TV models. The bundle comes with a Ledger Nano X featuring limited edition packaging and a GEN3RATOR NFT. Samsung described the NFT as a “digital tool” that unlocks access to exclusive features. These include sweepstakes, discounts, events, and more. Samsung Web3 TVs also come equipped with an NFT Gallery, allowing users to display NFTs from their crypto wallets on their TV screens.
As part of its Web3 push, Samsung has teamed up with several key projects. These include the World of Women NFT collection, Polygon Labs, Wilder World, and Austria’s Belvedere Museum.
Illuvium’s Growing Influence in Web3 Gaming
For Illuvium, the partnership with Samsung is a key milestone in its journey to becoming a dominant force in on-chain gaming. The partnership was first unveiled in April, but no details were given at that time. Earlier this year, Illuvium raised $12 million in a Series A funding round. Last November, the game teamed up with esports giant Team Liquid to promote its Illuvium Arena game.
As an interoperable blockchain game (IBG) built on Immutable zkEVM, Illuvium combines the thrill of RPGs with the strategic depth of auto-battlers and monster-taming. Co-founded by CEO Kieran Warwick, game designer Aaron Warwick, and art director Grant Warwick, the game has been in the making since 2020.
Gameplay Mechanics
There are 3 games that you can play now in the world of Illuvium. These are Overworld, Arena, and Zero.
- Illuvium Overworld: It is an open-world RPG where you can explore different regions to capture creatures known as Illuvials. These Illuvials are vital to the gameplay, as they can be used in battles or traded as NFTs. Capturing an Illuvial requires the use of cured shards, akin to Pokéballs from Pokémon. Players must manage resources like gemstones, used for crafting and upgrading items, to boost their Ranger and Illuvials.
- Illuvium Arena: In this auto-battler, you will place your Illuvials strategically to fight against others. The placement and selection of Illuvials are crucial, as each creature has unique traits and abilities. The gameplay here is deeply strategic. It focuses on the synergy between different Illuvial classes, such as Bulwarks (tanks) and Fighters (damage dealers).
- Illuvium Zero: This is a mobile game that complements the main gameplay by focusing on city-building and resource management. Here, you will manage land, which is crucial for the in-game economy, and produce Fuel that can be used in Overworld.
Looking Ahead
As Illuvium continues to expand its influence in Web3 gaming, fans can look forward to more exciting developments. The partnership with Samsung not only brings Illuvium into millions of homes but could also change how we interact with gaming.
