Ethereum Game Studio Unveils New Shooter Game on Base Network B3 – Decrypt

The developers behind Ethereum NFT card game Parallel have introduced a new project, a 3D first-person shooter game known as “Project Tau Ceti,” at Token2049 in Singapore. This new game follows the success of Parallel, which debuted on the Epic Games Store in June.

In Project Tau Ceti, players will engage in battles on a sci-fi planet using their Parallel NFT avatars. This game is a departure from Colony, an upcoming AI-focused game set to launch on the Solana blockchain. Project Tau Ceti will instead operate on Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network Base, specifically on the newly established B3 layer-3 gaming network.

The decision to utilize the B3 network was influenced by its technology and experienced team. A spokesperson from Parallel Studios stated, “B3 aligns with our requirements as it prioritizes gaming. Being a prominent network on Base, it was the ideal choice for us.”

B3.fun was launched in August following a $21 million investment round by NFC Labs, a development team founded by ex-Coinbase employees. The network debuted with BSMNT, a web-based crypto arcade platform.

Parallel has established itself as a leading game on Ethereum and Base, incorporating a crypto element into competitive card games like Hearthstone. While the game is free to play, it offers optional NFT cards for collection and trading, as well as the opportunity to earn crypto token rewards.

According to the team, Project Tau Ceti signifies a venture into uncharted territory for Parallel, presenting a distinct gaming experience from its previous offerings.

“Recently, our art team came together to envision a shooter game set within the Parallel universe,” the team mentioned in a pre-alpha trailer. “What began as a small side project quickly evolved beyond our expectations.”

“Encouraged by the enthusiastic response from our community, driven by your enthusiasm and feedback, we embarked on a journey to create expansive new environments, detailed characters, challenging enemies, and unique creatures, all meticulously crafted to enrich and broaden the Parallel universe,” they added.

Project Tau Ceti incorporates Parallel’s extensive library of 3D assets, including characters, weapons, and creatures, to deliver an immersive gaming experience. Parallel Studios revealed that the development of Project Tau Ceti is a collaborative effort with an undisclosed third-party studio using Unreal Engine 5.

“While we continue to work on Tau Ceti, Parallel remains committed to providing substantial updates to the TCG and the upcoming Alpha release of Colony,” the team stated on Twitter.

Project Tau Ceti is set to enter early alpha testing on PC in 2025, as per an interview on NFT marketplace OpenSea. Subsequent releases for mobile and console platforms may follow the initial PC launch.

Edited by Andrew Hayward