MotoGP’s new mobile game will be powered by blockchain
Motorsports' famous MotoGP championship is getting a mobile game powered by blockchain, thanks to a partnership with mobile games developer Animoca Brands.
MotoGP is the oldest motorsports championship in the world, featuring the fastest riders and the most technologically advanced prototype racing motorcycles on the planet. MotoGP is watched by over 400 million people worldwide and shown by more than a hundred media broadcasters, while the number of views of MotoGP videos on its various digital platforms exceeds one billion.
The licensing agreement will allow Animoca to develop what it calls a 'manager' style blockchain game that allows fans to engage and interact with MotoGP through collectibles.
Those collectibles will be routed through blockchain to allow people to collect, view, use and transfer them during gameplay.
The agreement will cover platforms including mobile, PC, and consoles such as the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
While further details about the game are scarce, Animoca says it expects to launch the Manager game by the start of the 2020 MotoGP racing season.
"We are honoured to work with MotoGP, the undisputed leader among motorcycle racing brands, and we look forward to bringing to blockchain the excitement and thrill of the world's most popular motorcycle races," says Animoca Brands cofounder and chairman Yat Siu.
"With both MotoGP and Formula 1 as partners, Animoca Brands has established a solid foothold in two- and four-wheeled motorsports.
Animoca Brands is also no stranger to game development for sports franchises. To date, the Company has obtained licensing arrangements with various leading sports franchises, including Formula 1, Major League Baseball, the Bundesliga, FC Bayern Munich, and now MotoGP.
Dorna Sports manages the MotoGP World Champs. Managing director Pau Serracanta says he's delighted to evolve the company's involvement in blockchain technology.
"The digital world is one of opportunity and I'm proud to see MotoGP further cemented as a forward- thinking and innovative brand, at the same time as giving fans another way to engage with our sport and get the most from their passion for Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Animoca Brands uses gamification, blockchain, and artificial intelligence technologies to develop and publish a broad portfolio of mobile products including games such as The Sandbox, Crazy Kings,and Crazy Defense Heroes as well as products based on popular intellectual properties such as Formula 1, Garfield, Snoopy, Thomas - Friends, Ever After Highand Doraemon.
Animoca Brands' portfolio of blockchain investments and partnerships includes Lucid Sight, Dapper Labs (creators of CryptoKitties), WAX, Harmony, and Decentraland.
