Eyeball Games, the mobile game maker, has partnered with Web3 platform Immutable to release a new blockchain-based mobile game called Eyeball Pool. The game is currently in beta testing and is set to be fully launched in early 2024. This partnership with Immutable will help Eyeball Games accelerate the development of their blockchain-based game, providing players with full ownership of their in-game assets and other benefits enabled by blockchain technology.
Eyeball Games, based in Singapore, is the studio behind the highly popular mobile game 8 Ball Pool, which has been downloaded over a billion times and boasts more than 10 million daily active players. The creators of the original 8 Ball Pool, Karsten Niemer and Thomas Elgaard, collaborated with Eyeball Games founder Jonathan Ivarsson on the development of Eyeball Pool. The team envisioned a blockchain-based challenger to 8 Ball Pool, offering gamers the opportunity to have full ownership of their assets and enjoy cutting-edge gameplay.
Eyeball Pool has been designed from scratch by Eyeball Games, featuring its own physics engine and graphics. The game includes a player-vs-player mode as well as various tournament modes with an AI skill-matching engine. The aim is to replicate the success of 8 Ball Pool, but with the added benefits of blockchain technology.
Jonathan Ivarsson, CEO of Eyeball Games, expressed his belief in the power of partnering with a specialized gaming ecosystem such as Immutable, rather than a more generalized platform. He highlighted Immutable’s continuous efforts to improve its gaming ecosystem, developer tools, and publishing capabilities. By partnering with Immutable, Eyeball Games expects to redefine the pool game experience and deliver a fully immersive gaming experience.
Collaborating with Immutable and utilizing its application programming interfaces will significantly reduce the development time and costs of Eyeball Pool. The game will be one of several games launched on Immutable using the recently announced Immutable zkEVM, which allows creators to incorporate advanced trading and game mechanics through smart contracts.
Andrew Sorokovsky, VP of Global Business Development at Immutable Games Studio, emphasized the studio’s commitment to diversifying web3 games and offering players a wide variety of gaming experiences. The addition of a popular genre like pool to the Immutable blockchain family is viewed as an important step towards achieving this goal.
In January, Eyeball Pool conducted a successful 30-minute sellout mint of 4,001 genesis non-fungible tokens (NFTs) known as Balldroids Gen 0. The team is expanding the NFT series with the introduction of a multiplayer Phase 2 game, and Balldroid Gen 1 will serve as an early access pass. The NFTs will be launched on ImmutableX. Balldroid holders will be able to claim exclusive game starter packs featuring NFT cues, currency, and an NFT season pass that unlocks paid rewards. Additionally, Balldroid holders will enjoy an ad-free experience when the mobile game is officially launched.
The full release of Eyeball Pool on mobile devices is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, on Immutable zKEVM. At that time, the NFTs will be converted into game starter packs containing exclusive and unique items for the game. In the meantime, gamers can sign up on the official website for teasers, early releases, and NFT whitelists.
Immutable offers a user-friendly platform for game studios to build and launch successful games on the Ethereum blockchain. The platform provides developers with multiple zero-knowledge (zk) scaling options and delivers a scaling solution to the Ethereum community.
Eyeball Games, with its team of 13 employees, was founded in July 2022. Inspired by the success of their previous game, 8 Ball Pool, the company aims to explore how blockchain technology can enhance the concepts of interoperability and shared ownership.
Our goal is to revolutionize the way players engage with pool games, stated the company. With players devoting hours each week to playing pool games, vibrant communities have emerged, fostering knowledge transfer, skill development, influencer networks, and friendships. Eyeball Games aims to create an in-game ecosystem that aligns with these vibrant communities.
