Axie Infinity: Origin soft launches on PC platform

Sky Mavis, the developer of the famous blockchain game Axie Infinity, has announced the global early access release of its free-to-play game Axie Infinity: Origin on the PC platform.

Interested players can download Axie Infinity Origin via Mavis Hub. It isn't available on iOS or Android yet, but a web-based mobile version is arriving.

Axie Infinity Origin (Battles v3) introduces a new battle system that highlights fast-paced gameplay. Moreover, it features brand new interfaces, game mechanics, art, special effects, storylines, and an expansive onboarding experience.

The developers noted that players should anticipate gameplay changes in the Alpha version, including power-ups, sequential turns, card changes, energy resets, and the addition of three non-NFT (non-fungible token) starter Axies. Each player will receive free starter Axies, allowing them to begin playing the game immediately without incurring any financial costs.

The three starter Axies include Olek, Buba, and Puffy. Since they are non-NFT, they are not eligible to earn Smooth Love Potions (SLP), Axie Infinity's in-game currency.

After the Early Access period concludes, all progress and resources accumulated during the Early Access period will be reset. Until further notice, Axie Classic (Battles v2) will continue to run concurrently with SLP and AXS rewards.

After an initial early access period, the developer intends to launch Origin on the Google Play and Apple App Store. At the same time, it will work toward a full launch that includes SLP rewards, NFT Runes / Charms, and official Seasons.

Initially, the free-to-play alpha test was supposed to launch last week, but the company moved the release date to April 7 after the security breach.

For those unaware, the original Axie Infinity game requires players to mint their Axies, or creatures, through cryptocurrency transactions that can cost up to USD 20 per Axie. Previously, minting the three Axies needed to begin playing the game cost hundreds of dollars.

The cost of minting and breeding Axies is determined by the exchange rate between the Axie Infinity tokens, known as Axie Infinity Shards (AXS), and the in-game currency SLP. Due to the high startup costs associated with minting Axies, some players abandoned the game, prompting guilds of players to offer "scholarships" to those who could not afford the fee.

Also read: Axie Infinity "play-to-earn" game gains popularity in the Philippines

The price was a significant barrier because Axie Infinity gained popularity in countries such as the Philippines, where the pandemic impacted the job market, and people turned to Axie Infinity for a living. During the onset of the pandemic, players discovered that they could earn multiple times the minimum wage simply by playing. And once they got started, they could level up their characters and sell them to other players for a profit.