Leading Southeast Asian game developer iCandy Interactive is leveraging its next-gen expertise to evolve the ancient strategy game of chess. iCandy’s specialized Web3 studio Hashcode is helping craft new player-versus-environment (PvE) gameplay for Anichess, an innovative chess title with magic spells and fantasy elements.
TLDR
- iCandy’s Hashcode Studio is helping develop PvE gameplay for chess strategy game Anichess
- Anichess is published by Animoca Brands with Chess.com and Magnus Carlsen
- Game combines core chess rules with storytelling and new magic spell mechanics
- Free-to-play PvE mode launched in January 2024, with PvP expected later in Q1
- Hashcode Studio provides Web3, AI and metaverse development expertise to clients
Published by blockchain gaming leader Animoca Brands alongside chess platform Chess.com and reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen, Anichess blends chess fundamentals with rich storytelling. Players can harness magic spells for offensive and defensive tactics as they progress through an immersive campaign.
This creative fusion aims to broaden chess’s appeal to more casual audiences. And iCandy’s involvement via Hashcode Studio provides the technical skills to bring that vision to life through cutting-edge game design and development.
As one of the largest independent studios in Asia Pacific with over 650 developers and engineers, iCandy can leverage tremendous expertise in building innovative gameplay features. Powered by this depth of talent, Hashcode provides services around emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence and the metaverse.
Let’s build Mocaverse ☄️@MocaverseNFT @MOCAFoundation https://t.co/ZBNJLtacGD
— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) January 31, 2024
The specialist focus makes Hashcode well-suited for crafting novel Web3-friendly game mechanics and economies. These capabilities clearly attracted the attention of Animoca Brands, a prominent proponent of the blockchain gaming movement.
And the exposure from contributing to such a high-profile title as Anichess underscores the studio’s proficiency. Backed by chess’s popularity and Magnus Carlsen’s celebrity, Anichess could introduce blockchain gameplay to significantly wider audiences.
Even in its initial PvE form, Anichess has garnered strong interest from the chess community. The launch in mid-January set the stage for the upcoming PvP mode to drive deeper engagement leveraging Web3 features.
As partners like iCandy and Hashcode continue enhancing the experience, Anichess may fulfill its ambitious vision bridging analog games into a digital future. It represents an intriguing new formula blending traditional strategy gameplay with next generation interactivity.
And with chess holding enduring multi-generational appeal globally, the fusion could resonate widely as players everywhere are empowered to wield magical forces alongside strategic mastery.
