The NFL, NFL Players Association (NFLPA), and Mythical Games have announced NFL Rivals, which is a play-and-own NFL NFT video game that allows players to compete against other GMs with their assembled rosters and teams while also owning, collecting, and trading NFTs. As for what type of gameplay you can expect, it doesn't seem like a Madden-esque sim, and is more like a simplified Football Manager or possibly even fantasy football.
“With the rise of blockchain technology, we are thrilled to partner with Mythical Games on a blockchain-enabled game that delivers new play-to-own NFT capabilities, creating a new adventure for fans who love to play football games,” said Joe Ruggiero, SVP of Consumer Products at the NFL. “The interest in NFTs and video gaming amongst current and prospective fans continues to grow and combined have accelerated the NFL’s exploration of new gaming models that can deliver an unmatched experience to fans.”
Ahead of the game's launch, there will be 32 limited-quality collections of "unique generative 3D NFL franchise-themed NFTs" that will be released in a bunch of drops called Rarity League. This will give owners access to special events, in-game rewards, and other bonuses.
“Partnering with the NFL to drive new fan and player engagement through fresh game design and the benefits of Web3 is an exciting moment for us,” said Jamie Jackson, Chief Creative Officer, Mythical Games. “NFTs with utility can add value to players in-game, and we can’t wait to bring these concepts to NFL Rivals to evolve the team management genre by adding the advantages of play-and-own games, offering the community new ways to engage with their favorite teams and players both in and outside this virtual world.”
As for any information about environmental impact, longterm sustainability, or addressing any of the numerous issues that come up around NFTs, and cryptocurrency, the press release and the website are notably blank. Nor did there seem to be anything from particular NFL players at this point. Mythical Games has previously released the blockchain-supported game Blankos Block Party which is currently in early access.
NFL Rivals will launch globally in 2023 as a web-based game, with mobile versions. If you're still on the NFT train, there's an official website, Twitter, Instagram, and Discord pages to scour. For more information on NFL Rivals, NFTs, and everything in between, stay tuned to TechRaptor.
