NFL launches blockchain-based mobile game on iOS and Android

Mythical Games launches new NFL sponsored game on iOS and Android powered by the Polkadot blockchain. Courtesy of Mythical Games

A new NFL-themed mobile game recreates how blockchain is used in mobile gaming.

The National Football League and the NFL Players Association launched their first blockchain-based game on the App Store and Google Play stores on Wednesday in partnership with gaming technology studio Mythical Games.

In the game, called NFL Rivals, players can run their own teams as a general manager and play as their favorite arcade-style players. Thanks to the blockchain, users can also buy, collect and trade digital NFT items that unlock access to special events and in-game rewards.

“Collaborating with Mythical Games and the NFLPA to produce an innovative gaming experience such as NFL Rivals is a testament to the NFL’s success in the Web3 gaming world,” Ed Kiang, NFL VP of video gaming, said in a statement.

For the NFL Draft, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, players can participate in draft-themed in-game events and purchase player packs that will transform into the in-game players as they are drafted.

The new game, available for download on mobile starting Wednesday, will feature a simple but interactive experience to target casual fans, according to Mythical Games CEO John Linden.

“It’s super easy to pick up. I can play it for a couple of minutes. I can put it down and pick it up again an hour later and play another game, he said. “What we’re trying to reach is a larger audience.”

As part of this push for mainstream appeal, Linden said the company is not advertising the fact that NFTs or the blockchain are being used.

“If you’ve used the words ‘crypto’ and ‘NFTs’, you’re some sort of crypto or NFT type project, right? If you’re using the technology for consumers, you probably don’t even need to mention it, just provide the great functionality ,” he said.

Still, by using the blockchain, Linden said the game will have features that wouldn’t otherwise be feasible with typical gaming technology.

Enabling these Web3 features is Mythical Games’ transition of the Mythical Chain from Ethereum to a parachain on the Polkadot ecosystem, which Linden said will help with scalability. Linden noted that Mythical Chain has recorded around 3.2 million on-chain gaming transactions in the past 30 days.

“We play to massive, massive audiences,” he added.

Because of the way Polkadot is structured, with parachains that are project-specific yet integrated into the Polkadot ecosystem, Mythical will have more flexibility, said Björn Wagner, CEO of Parity Technologies, a leading contributor to the Polkadot network. The company will also have more control over gas fees and be capable of faster transaction times, which is important for gaming.

“We’re going to see that change pretty drastically — how much you hear about Polkadot, especially with those projects powered by Polkadot that are more consumer-facing projects,” he added.