Crypto game publisher and metaverse investor Animoca Brands announced Tuesday that it has agreed to a collaboration with Ethereum scaling protocol LightLink to integrate gasless transactions into Animoca's games.

LightLink is a layer-2 scaling network built on Ethereum that allows creators of decentralized applications (dapps) to provide users instant transactions without any gas fees.

Under the agreement, Animoca will look to implement LightLink's fee-less transaction technology into selected games while providing guidance to LightLink on tokenomics and marketing strategy. Animoca has yet to announce which games will utilize the technology.

“It is great to partner with industry leader Animoca Brands, making blockchain more accessible and user-friendly to everyone around the world. This partnership marks a pivotal step in integrating blockchain into the daily lives of millions,” said LightLink co-founder and CEO Roy Hui, in a statement.

Animoca co-founder and Executive Chairman Yat Siu added that the collaboration “will take us one step closer toward a frictionless Web3 world.” 

According to the release, LightLink is already being used by over 25 companies and projects, including blockchain-based games Grapes and The Red Village. Animoca and LightLink said they aim to foster greater interconnectivity in blockchain-based applications and improve mainstream adoption.

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'Anichess' NFT Game Launches With Backing From World Chess Champ Magnus Carlsen

Anichess is now in the first stage of its release according to an announcement from Animoca Brands, which is working with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen on the free-to-play browser game’s launch. The initial version of the game available now offers a single-player experience, while an online player-vs-player (PVP) mode will be added sometime during Q1 2024. “Anichess revolutionizes the classic royal game by fusing traditional strategy and gameplay with the innovative...

Animoca Brands is the publisher behind games like metaverse platform The Sandbox, NFT fighting game Wreck League, fantasy-themed chess game Anichess, and the upcoming Mocaverse community. The firm has also invested in prominent crypto startups including NFT marketplace OpenSea and NBA Top Shot maker Dapper Labs.

Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Andrew Hayward.