This month’s project review dives deeper into MSV GG partners and Morningstar Ventures’ portfolio company, Cross the Ages. Cross the Ages is a multimedia intellectual property (IP) company creating a universe of products grounded by three main themes: fantasy, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic. The project’s range of products, including books, games, NFTs, and more, all aim to connect the digital and physical worlds and make Web3 more accessible and enjoyable.
This month's review will cover everything from the founding team to fundraising, the range of products within the Cross the Ages ecosystem, and how the Genesis trading card game (TCG) works. It will end with an analysis of what we like about Cross the Ages and where we see potential challenges for the project.
Understanding Cross the Ages: IP, Products, and Lore
Launched in 2020, Cross the Ages is a multimedia IP developing various products, including a Trading Card Game (TCG), action RPG, digital universe, collectibles, movies, and books, all grounded in a lore where futuristic fantasy meets science fiction in a post-apocalyptic setting. Cross the Ages aims to create a captivating world by connecting virtual and physical experiences and ultimately building an ecosystem beyond “just gaming.”
The world of Artellium is the backbone of the lore and drives the main storyline of all Cross the Ages products. Written and crafted by six French authors, the "Cross The Ages" saga lays the groundwork for a world struggling with geopolitical and systemic crises mirroring our own. For decades, the world of Artellium has been divided by two rival powers: Arkhante, a magical civilization spanning the western continent, and Mantris, a technologically advanced city-state. The Rift, a lawless zone resulting from a cataclysm, separates these two worlds. Pranah, a vital energy source, fuels magic in Arkhante and powers technology in Mantris. But its diminishing strength poses a growing energy crisis for both, threatening their way of life.
Throughout the Cross the Ages ecosystem, readers are immersed in a rich universe of Artellium with its rules and symbols. This journey invites readers, players, collectors, and other participants to empathize with characters as they navigate their fates.
Cross the Ages Products
- Trading Card Game (TGC): Cross The Ages: TCG is a free-to-play card game set in the Cross The Ages universe, launched on Unity in March 2023 for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS. The game aims to offer accessible, fun, and evolving gameplay, putting players in control of the economy. This is the only game currently available to the public. It now also includes a partnership with Ubisoft Watch Dogs characters. Read more about the gameplay in the “Gameplay and Token Economy: TGC” section below.
- Books: The team is planning to release a saga of seven novels. It recently published its first volume, La Rune & le Code (publisher Bragilonne, a leading publisher in Sci-Fi/Fantasy). The Rune and the Code is a dystopian tale blending fantasy and science fiction. Already highly anticipated, the first volume soared to the top of sales upon release and is available in French on Amazon. The second volume will be finished in June. The books are planned to be translated into multiple languages.
- Arise (Action RPG): Arise is a multiplayer action RPG set in the Cross The Ages universe developed on Unreal Engine 5 and offered as a free-to-play title. The team aims to launch the game on PC, with Mac and other platforms to follow. The game aims to deliver an accessible, innovative gaming experience where players shape the economy. The current roadmap is to launch a game demo in September 2024, followed by a series of NFT launches and season releases. Learn more about Arise and its gameplay here: https://whitepaper.crosstheages.com/whitepaper/en/products/arise/gameplay.
- ReVerse: Within Arise, players can purchase Cross the Ages land, a digital NFT parcel where players can enhance their skills. These virtual lands also directly translate into physical lands and give players ownership of land within the real Cross the Ages Factory. Cross The Ages has acquired land to provide decarbonized energy from surplus production capacity. The clients of these factories include data centers, players in the artificial intelligence sector, Bitcoin miners, etc., all seeking low-cost green energy in a legally stable environment. CTA Factory can provide a turnkey solution that allows players to connect to their network. ReVerse, therefore, represents a connection between virtual and real-world ownership and supports Cross the Ages with its mission to foster a positive impact on renewable energy transition and decarbonization. The launch of this initiative will coincide with the launch of Arise.
Gameplay and Token Economy: TCG
After migrating from the Polygon blockchain in 2022, Cross the Ages TCG is powered by the Immutable X and is available to play since 2023. Cross the Ages | Gaming on ImmutableCross the Ages’ TCG is the project’s genesis game. It is a free-to-play, play-and-earn collectible card and NFT game. The game was developed for mobile users first yet leverages blockchain technology for desktop gaming.
The Cross The Ages TCG has four primary components:
- Cards
- Heptagram
- Card Deck
- 4x4 Game Board
When players register, they begin in Adventure mode, where they can explore the abovementioned game elements.
During Adventure mode, players encounter characters in the narrative. While playing, they gradually expand their card collection to enhance their deck and advance in the game, unlocking new possibilities as they progress. The game aims for an accessible gameplay experience, blending elements from both traditional board games and conventional TCGs.
At the moment, two distinct game modes are available:
- Adventure mode: A guided game for players to grasp the game mechanics and compete against AI opponents.
- Arena mode: Catering to a more competitive environment, where players can challenge fellow CTA players.
The gameplay revolves around 1v1 skirmishes, where players take turns placing cards on the battlefield to gain control and accumulate points. Each card possesses a power value and is associated with an element, influencing its effectiveness against opposing cards. The heptagram serves as a guide, indicating elemental strengths and weaknesses during battles.
Players in Cross the Ages must strategically control cards and accumulate points to win. They can score the highest by completing the game board or outlasting their opponent's timer. One unique feature of Cross the Ages is the ability to mint favorite cards as NFTs on Immutable X. This gives players digital ownership and the potential to resell the NFTs through the secondary marketplace. Each card can only be minted a limited number of times, ranging from 1,000 to 800,000, highlighting the value of obtaining rare cards.
Here are some statistics about the game:
- 400,000+ game downloads
- 20,000+ daily active users
- 148,000+ monthly active users
- 240,000 followers on Instagram
- 150,000 followers on Twitter
- 25,000+ members on Discord
Token Economy
All Cross the Ages games are powered by three currencies and on specific mint passes. These include:
- CTA Token: The CTA token synchronizes with project assets and aids game progression and exploration. Investors also use it to purchase Mint Passes for exclusive drops.
- Pranah: Pranah is the exclusive digital currency in Cross The Ages products, acquired through purchase. It grants access to secondary features like cosmetics and expedites content acquisition. Pranah is consistent and interoperable across all CTA products.
- Trisel: Trisel is the in-game digital currency in Cross The Ages (CTA) products, earned through player activity. It facilitates crafting features and will soon enable players to sell their Trisel to others. Trisel is consistent and interoperable across all CTA products.
- Mint Pass: CTA offers six Mint Passes that players can lock CTA Tokens into to activate perks. Each pass has two statuses: Charged or Discharged and must be charged to at least stage 1 to activate its effects.
Team, Fundraising, and Partnerships
Since its inception, the project's team has grown to include over 180 members, including world-famous writers, novelists, illustrators, and game developers. Co-founders Sami Chlagou (CEO) and Richard Esteve (COO) are leading the team. Both have a strong affinity for gaming, with Sami having founded five gaming companies in the past and Richard currently contributing to the development of Cross the Ages' future roadmap.
In March 2022, the team announced a $12 million seed round, which included participation from Animoca Brands, leading game publisher Ubisoft, Square Enix, Mechanism Capital, Morningstar Ventures, and others. The investment was allocated towards development initiatives, retaining talent, and executing go-to-market strategies.
- MSV GG partnership
MSV GG is among the largest NFT holders in the Cross the Ages ecosystem. So far, MSV GG has run one closed and one public tournament, allowing its GG members to utilize its NFTs. Furthermore, MSV GG members have created content and helped with go-to-market efforts. Members also played the game and conducted early-stage product testing and bug reporting. With this, the members provided market research and recommendations for game UX and UI improvements.
- Watch Dogs Partnership
On April 10th, Cross the Ages launched a collaboration with the Watch Dogs franchise. They debuted 24 iconic characters into the lore of their native Cross the Ages game. The collection of 51 cards will be gradually introduced, with 17 cards to be released each month. Watch Dogs is developed by Ubisoft, one of the biggest game developer studios in the industry. The Watch Dogs franchise has been highly successful and continues to grow its fan base. This collaboration is exciting for Cross the Ages, as the two IP universes can come together to create a strong storyline within each other's lore.
Watch the full trailer below ⬇️
Analysis
Strengths
- Cross the Ages has developed a valuable IP for Web2 and Web3 audiences, with products that can generate multiple revenue streams. Like Marvel, it can expand into new verticals and product lines.
- The project is backed by major gaming publishers like Ubisoft, Animoca Brands, and Square Enix, positioning Cross the Ages for solid marketing efforts and access to established communities. The recent Watch Dogs collaboration showcases the value generated by these publishers.
- The team aims to bridge the digital and physical worlds sustainably with ReVerse. Given current macroeconomic discussions around sustainability, decarbonization, and energy-efficient solutions, Cross the Ages' efforts to address these issues greatly attract environmentally friendly users to the ecosystem.
Challenges
- The team must keep the IP relevant and exciting despite launching many products. Creating new content can be costly, and a controlled release system is needed to keep the audience engaged.
What’s Next?
The Cross the Ages team has an ambitious and packed roadmap for the coming months. They plan to introduce new Watch Dogs characters and launch a demo version of Arise at the Tokyo Games show in September. Additionally, the team is working on expanding the Cross the Ages universe by writing six more sagas for their book and creating comics, movies, series, and physical merchandise. They are also planning to host an e-sport event sometime this year.
Learn more about Cross the Ages.
🌐 Official website: https://www.crosstheages.com/en-us/
🐦 Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrossTheAges
🕹️ Discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/cross-the-ages-917028207566401586
📖 Whitepaper: https://whitepaper.crosstheages.com/
📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClAY7c4yKUg_ZweqCKp5DPg
