Farcana Raises $10M for Bitcoin-Payout NFT Esports Shooter

Farcana, the innovative team behind a third-person multiplayer shooter game, has successfully raised $10 million in seed funding from a consortium of prominent investors. Animoca Brands, Polygon Ventures, Fenbushi Capital, Merit Circle, and others have joined forces to support the ongoing development of Farcana’s cutting-edge gaming experience.

Among the participants in the funding round are Rarestone Capital, MMPro Trust, Unpopular Ventures, Kapo Capital, Emchain, Hasu Capital, and Dravus Investment. The infusion of capital is set to propel Farcana into new heights within the rapidly evolving gaming and blockchain landscape.

Expressing confidence in Farcana’s potential, Clarence Zhou, Investment Director at Fenbushi Capital, stated, “We believe Farcana has the potential to be the next iconic blockchain game and continuously bring new users to Web3.” This sentiment was echoed by Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, who noted, “We have been working with Farcana over the past year and we’ve been impressed with the development and traction it’s received so far.”

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Farcana’s gameplay draws inspiration from successful titles like Blizzard’s Overwatch, featuring smaller, enclosed maps and game modes reminiscent of Riot Games’ Valorant. The game unfolds in a near-future world where humanity has migrated to Mars and stumbled upon a game-changing substance called Axelar, granting superpowers. Farcana’s narrative centers around an ongoing tournament, where players wielding Axelar-induced powers compete for glory.

The Farcana team, hailing from the MENA region, boasts notable figures such as Carlos “Ocelote” Rodriguez, founder and former CEO of G2 Esports, serving as an advisor. Leveraging their expertise, the team previously collaborated with Dubai’s Economy and Tourism department to host a Farcana pre-alpha gameplay test at the Dubai Esports Festival in June 2023. Farcana’s journey continues to captivate attention, blending blockchain technology, engaging gameplay, and a compelling narrative that positions it as a frontrunner in the dynamic realm of blockchain gaming.

Yat Siu, the co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, emphasized the strategic significance of their investment in Farcana as part of the broader vision to drive Web3 development in the MENA region. Siu expressed enthusiasm for supporting Farcana, noting the region’s rapid modernization and adoption of emerging technologies. The collaboration with Farcana aligns with Animoca Brands’ commitment to championing innovative partners actively shaping the sector and introducing compelling products to the market.

Animoca Brands initially revealed its investment in Farcana last month, articulating a commitment to bolstering the game’s ongoing development and its upcoming free Bitcoin Ordinals mint as the project progresses toward a beta launch. Farcana is set to leverage the Ethereum scaling network Polygon, with a scheduled free mint for “Mars Enigma Vault” NFTs slated for December 19.

Farcana’s ambitious vision includes incorporating blockchain elements, such as a play-to-earn tournament feature that rewards the top 10% of players with Bitcoin. The game is designed to operate on a free-to-play model, complemented by optional features like a battle pass, NFTs, and crafting capabilities.

In a bid to fully embrace blockchain technology, Farcana has committed to representing every in-game item as an NFT, spanning character and weapon skins, pets, graffiti, voicelines, and charms. The FAR token will serve as the exclusive currency for all in-game transactions, as outlined in the game’s official documentation. Farcana’s pioneering approach to blending immersive gameplay with blockchain innovation positions it as a trailblazer in the ever-evolving landscape of blockchain gaming.