The cartoonish blue cat NFT project known as the Cool Cats was among the first of the NFT profile picture (PFP) collections to release a browser game. Now, Cool Cats has licensed its IP to develop three more games with nWay, iCandy, and Sync Studios.
“Gaming is an immersive content distribution platform that builds emotional connection with the characters and story through engaging gameplay,” said Cool Cats CEO Stephen Teglas. “Our new games are critical to our ongoing mission of developing Cool Cats into a globally known character brand, and a robust storytelling and content company.”
The three Cool Cats games will be released within the next nine months, according to an announcement. While none of the titles have been revealed, nWay will build a “competitive multiplayer arcade game,” iCandy is developing a browser-based 2D endless runner game, and Sync will create a mobile match-3 puzzle game.
Cool Cats Are Going Multi-Chain—And Adding Customizable NFTs
Cool Cats was one of the hottest profile picture projects to come out of the late 2021 NFT market boom, but prices declined sharply last year as collectors’ gripes piled up. Today the founders behind the project unveiled a new path forward with refreshed branding—and future expansion beyond Ethereum with customizable, full-body avatars. “With our new strategic direction and rebrand, we want to convey to the community and the broader Web3 space that Cool Cats is here to stay,” Cool Cats Group CEO...
nWay is a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, a prominent publisher in the blockchain gaming space, Web3 investment firm, and investor in Cool Cats itself; Animoca also invested in iCandy. Sync Studios is a mobile game developer that has previously developed projects based on Hasbro, Paramount Studios, and Warner Bros. IP.
Cool Cats’ push further into online games comes as other “PFP” NFT collections find their focus as game studios and entertainment brands. Bored Ape Yacht Club creator Yuga Labs has embraced its identity as a gaming-focused company, releasing small-scale, limited-time games like the endless runner Dookey Dash and the pet simulation and social building game HV-MTL Forge while its MMORPG-esque Otherside metaverse develops.
Meanwhile, other PFP collections like Pudgy Penguins have recently found success as social media brands, creating viral Instagram Reels and selling physical plush toy merchandise.
While NFT prices wane, the firms behind these collections are exploring new angles to monetize their IP—and many are taking big bets on adapting their colorful animal characters for online games.
Cool Cats has made other moves to expand its IP since early last year. In March 2022, the project signed with Creative Artist Agency (CAA) for a media and licensing push, and earlier this year revealed plans to expand beyond Ethereum in a multi-chain push that will include customizable, full-body avatars for NFT holders.
