Nyan Heroes, the Overwatch-inspired hero shooter, is set to revive its online servers on May 8, following a successful pre-alpha demo in March and April. This return is part of a larger initiative on the Epic Games Store PC platform, highlighting a refreshed play-to-airdrop campaign.
Developed by 9 Lives Interactive, Nyan Heroes combines team-based shooting mechanics with NFT assets and an impending token on the Solana blockchain. The upcoming pre-alpha playtest, running until May 26—possibly extending further—will introduce a new ranked mode to enhance player engagement.
Max Fu, Creative Director and CEO, explained the aim of this test period is to refine gameplay and reward mechanisms, fostering a competitive yet rewarding environment. Ahead of this period, the game has launched its second season of the play-to-airdrop campaign, which will broaden the rewards spectrum, including allocations for the future NYAN token airdrop on Solana.
The first season allowed players to accumulate MEOW points by completing various in-game quests, such as participating in a set number of matches or achieving specific kill counts. Season two introduces CATNIP points, which not only reward gameplay performance but also increase the potential airdrop allocations for players. CATNIP will coexist with MEOW points, becoming a staple in subsequent seasons.
Interestingly, CATNIP points earned in the first season, although not previously functional in terms of rewards, will be honored in the second season, impacting future airdrop entitlements. Moreover, players can earn CATNIP points through social media engagements, leveraging Nyan Heroes’ dedicated play-to-airdrop dashboard.
Nyan Heroes has achieved significant traction on the Epic Games Store, amassing over 200,000 downloads and reaching a peak of 45,000 daily active users during its initial playtest. Notably, the game’s analytics indicate that 20% of its players come from a traditional gaming background (“Web2 players”), showcasing its potential to bridge the gap between conventional gaming and the blockchain-enabled “Web3” space.
As Nyan Heroes gears up for another exciting playtest phase, it continues to innovate by integrating blockchain technology with traditional gaming elements. This approach not only enhances the gaming experience but also paves the way for greater mainstream adoption of blockchain applications in gaming.