LOS ANGELES, CA – Pudgy Penguins, the visionary IP and brand development company known for its globally recognized characters and industry-leading NFT collections, officially launched the alpha version of Pudgy World at Art Basel Miami.
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Powered by zkSync Era, this immersive digital environment is accessible to Pudgy Penguins NFT holders, owners of Pudgy Toys, the brand’s line of NFT-inspired toys, and adventure gamers. The alpha release, scheduled for 2024, will introduce an open world, customizable penguin characters, story-driven missions and the debut of ‘Hero Characters’, Pudgy and Peaches.
Pudgy World is a groundbreaking blend of entertainment IP and zero-knowledge (ZK) blockchain technology, taking a significant step toward mass adoption of Web3 technology.
Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, commented: “Blockchain technology has traditionally been a B2B model, while Pudgy Penguins is direct-to-consumer retail, which reaches a significantly larger audience.”
“The alpha launch of Pudgy World is a huge step forward for the Web3 and NFT space, as Pudgy Penguin owners will play with their Pudgy Toys, without any pre-existing knowledge of the blockchain technology on which it is built.”
Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins
The launch event at Art Basel not only revealed the dynamic features of Pudgy World, but also revealed the first ‘Hero Characters’ that will shape the game’s story. Pudgy Penguins’ strategic partnership with Walmart earlier this year, introducing Pudgy Penguin Toys to more than 2,000 stores, paved the way for the brand’s successful expansion.
Each Pudgy Penguin toy comes with a QR code that allows the user to claim unique traits for their digital Forever Pudgy Penguin character in Pudgy World. Gamers do not need to purchase a Pudgy Toy or hold a Pudgy NFT to play the alpha version of Pudgy World.
From purchasing physical toys to exploring a blockchain-based digital world, every step has been carefully curated to create a rich user experience. The result is a highly customizable open-world game that allows easy access to the Web3 ecosystem through art, play and community.
Because all toys are connected to existing NFT IP pieces, current NFT holders will receive licensing rights for each corresponding toy.
Pudgy World alpha is launching without tradability between users, meaning people can only get returns from the original sale. Players will eventually be able to participate in the Pudgy World game economy once the official Pudgy World leaves a later stage.
Why Pudgy Penguins chose zkSync
Keeping pace with Pudgy Penguin’s global success requires a reliable blockchain with proven capabilities, easily accessible and built at scale. zkSync, along with the support of the zk community, is the only chain that can champion and amplify the success of Pudgy World and the Pudgy community as they introduce blockchain technology to the next generation of mobile gamers.
“Pudgy World leverages zkSync’s revolutionary zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to unlock new business models and gaming experiences, similar to the gaming industry’s transformative shift to mobile games,” said Michael Lee, former president of Activision Blizzard and current SVP of Growth at Matter Labs.
“The launch of Pudgy World, in partnership with Walmart, is a remarkable testament to the capabilities of our joint development teams.
“Whether you’re a seasoned NFT collector or new to crypto, Pudgy World aims to welcome millions of gamers to Web3 to have fun and create lasting friendships.”
Michael Lee, SVP of Growth at Matter Labs
The Pudgy Penguins team chose zkSync because it was the first zkEVM and fastest proof system in production to scale Ethereum to a million developers and a billion users. Additionally, the technology allows Pudgy World to communicate seamlessly with all notable IP and major brands that build on zkSync – making future collaborations as simple as a single line of code.
Lorenzo Melendez, president of Pudgy Penguins, notes: “zkSync was selected as the underlying technology for a plethora of reasons, including, but not limited to, the reliable and secure technological superiority of the blockchain, as well as its reliable, accessible, privacy-protective and hyper-scalable nature of the ZK Stack, positioning Pudgy World for success.”
Unveiling of Art Basel
At an exclusive Art Basel event, Luca Netz shared the excitement of the launch of Pudgy World through an animated video, which offered a glimpse into the expanded universe with new quests, neighborhoods and the introduction of ‘Hero Characters’. The immersive experience invites millions of gamers into the Web3 ecosystem, highlighting Pudgy Penguins’ commitment to empowering the community and shaping the future of IP in the digital age.
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About chubby penguins
Pudgy Penguins strives to make Web3 accessible to everyone by creating innovative products that enable seamless onboarding. Their focus on community empowerment and building brand awareness has made them the leading IP in the Web3 space, while also disrupting the traditional IP sphere. Visit pudgypenguins.com for more information.
About zkSync
zkSync is the cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to scale Ethereum and take crypto mainstream – reaching millions of developers and billions of people who need a technology solution to achieve progress and prosperity. For more information about zkSync, visit www.zksync.io.