- Neopets Metaverse, a web3 spin-off of the classic virtual pet game Neopets, has raised $4 million in a recent funding round.
- The new project aims to bring the beloved Neopets game into the decentralized world, allowing players to own and monetize their gaming experiences on the blockchain.
- The Alpha: Winter Edition of the game has received positive feedback from players, praising the immersive gameplay and nostalgia-infused mini-games.
Neopets Metaverse, the web3 spin-off of the classic virtual pet game Neopets, has recently announced the successful closing of its latest investment round, which raised $4 million in funding. The round saw participation from industry leaders in the gaming and blockchain sectors, including Polygon Ventures, Blizzard Avalanche Ecosystem Fund, Hashkey Capital, IDG Capital, and gaming giant NetDragon Websoft.
Founded in 1999, Neopets is best known for its classic browser game, which has captured hearts and created countless memories for more than 150 million fans across the globe. The IP’s most recent project, Neopets Metaverse, aims to bring the highly appreciated virtual pet game into the decentralized world, allowing players to own and monetize their gaming experiences on the blockchain. The game will be free-to-play and accessible to crypto natives and casual players.
The Success of the Alpha: Winter Edition
This news comes with the successful launch of Neopets Meta Alpha: Winter Edition, which features the Neopia Central and Terror Mountain lands. The response to the game has been overwhelmingly positive, with players praising the immersive gameplay and nostalgia-infused mini-games, including “Meerca Chase,” “Ultimate Bullseye,” and “Turmac Roll.” The Alpha: Winter Edition is now available on the Neopets Metaverse website and will run until January 31, 2023.
With this round of funding, Neopets Metaverse is set to continue its growth, bringing the magic of Neopets in a positively fresh light to old-time players and attracting and nurturing a new generation of Neopians. The company looks forward to working with its investors and the broader Game-Fi community to make Neopets Metaverse a reality.
“We’re beyond excited to help a timeless IP like Neopets innovate and build their Metaverse,” said Ed Chang, Head of Gaming at Ava Labs, “Ava Labs is investing in Neopets to support their goal of building an eco-friendly, fast, and low gas metaverse experience and will be working closely with them to bring a top-notch product to gamers.”
The Mixed Response from Players
However, the Neopets community has been divided over the web3 pivot. Over 20 years, 150 million people signed up for the original Neopets. Fans pushed back against the inclusion of NFTs in the new platform and expressed concerns that the original game would be shut down in favor of the new web3 version. The Neopets Meta team previously stated that it operates independently of the original group and is not intended to replace the original platform.
The original platform is still accessible, but it’s been scaled back since its heyday, in part due to the end of support for Adobe Flash, which was a requirement for many of its games. Despite this, the original Neopets still has a devoted following among hardcore fans. However, the brand’s popularity has dwindled in recent years, with the brand being bought and sold by several companies, including Viacom. Jumpstart purchased the brand in 2014 and was acquired by NetDragon in 2017.
With the launch of Neopets Metaverse, the company hopes to reignite the passion of old fans while also attracting a new generation of players to the Neopets world. By bringing the beloved virtual pet game into the decentralized world, players will now have the opportunity to truly own and monetize their gaming experiences on the blockchain.
