Ubisoft’s Champions Tactics shutting down its web3 features on 27th May

Champions Tactics is set to become a conventional web2 game, with Ubisoft announcing the game will “progressively transition away from blockchain functionality”.

The tactical turn-based RPG, which launched as one of Ubisoft’s most visible blockchain gaming experiments in October 2024, will continue operating, but its NFT-based features are being wound down. The company says its priority is to ensure players can keep enjoying the experience while being given enough time and clarity to manage their existing assets.

The transition starts with a shift in how new champions are acquired. A new Gold Chest has already been added to the game, allowing players to spend in-game gold to obtain champions. This effectively replaces part of the blockchain-enabled acquisition loop with a fully internal game economy.

The current season will also conclude without web3 rewards. Ubisoft says seasonal rewards will be distributed on a web2-only basis and rebalanced to reflect the removal of blockchain-based rewards. In practice, this means the competitive structure can continue, but without NFT or token components attached to the reward flow.

The crucial date is 27th May, which is when wallet functionality will be frozen. At that point, a snapshot of player inventories will be taken based on each player’s last connection to the game. The contents of those wallets will then be replicated in-game as web2 assets, allowing players to continue using their champions even after the blockchain layer closes. Ubisoft says VIP status and associated perks will also be preserved.

In addition, the game’s Forge and Marketplace will also close permanently on 27th May. Players are being encouraged to complete any forging or marketplace activity before that date. After the closure, the game will no longer support the trading, crafting or blockchain-linked asset management systems that formed the core of its original web3 proposition.

Champions Tactics launched on the Japanese-focused Oasys blockchain, using Sequence as its core blockchain infrastructure.

This is a significant retreat. Champions Tactics was important because it represented one of the most serious attempts by a major traditional publisher to build a game around NFT ownership. Its move away from blockchain functionality underlines how difficult it remains to sustain web3 features inside live games when infrastructure, regulations, player sentiment and operational complexity have to align.

The decision also highlights a broader pattern in blockchain gaming. Many projects have discovered that NFTs are easier to launch than to maintain as part of a long-term live operations model. Marketplaces, wallets, external infrastructure and asset liquidity add complexity that has to justify itself through player demand. If that demand is limited, the blockchain layer can become more burden than advantage.

You can find out more details via the game’s FAQ.

Source: https://www.blockchaingamer.biz/news/42272/ubisoft-champions-tactics-shut-down-web3-27th-may/