Ethereum Game ‘What Is This Sorcery’ Is Raising Funds via Kickstarter—Here’s Why

What Is This Sorcery, a buying and selling card sport being constructed throughout Ethereum layer-2 networks Skale and Summary, has launched a Kickstarter marketing campaign to lift funds to create bodily playing cards. However it isn’t only a fundraising device, the sport’s creators say—it’s additionally a method to attain a wider viewers of Web2 avid gamers.
The marketing campaign, which launched Tuesday afternoon, goals to lift at the least $20,000 for the manufacturing of the bodily playing cards, with stretch targets ranging as much as $80,000 so as to add extra promotional and uncommon playing cards to the set. Greater than $6,700 has already been raised, as of this writing.
What Is This Sorcery co-founder and CEO Nick Grossi instructed Decrypt that Kickstarter is “supporting” the marketing campaign with promoting and recommendation, together with a month-long e mail marketing campaign to related customers—i.e. somebody who has backed a card sport marketing campaign previously.
🚀 Historical past within the making! 🚀
WITS is formally the FIRST web3 sport backed and partnered with Kickstarter, bridging Web2 → Web3 in an actual approach.
This Month, @Kickstarter is sending an e mail blast to 700,000+ Web2 backers, introducing them to on-chain gaming with… pic.twitter.com/cddGMh2Obv
— What Is This Sorcery (@WITS_TCG) February 4, 2025
“Kickstarter isn’t nearly fundraising—it’s about constructing actual, natural demand from gamers exterior of Web3,” Grossi instructed Decrypt. “By launching right here, we: attain mainstream avid gamers who need to play, not simply speculate; show our demand to future traders and companions; and keep away from extreme Web3 presales that may create unsustainable market situations.”
Grossi claims that What Is This Sorcery is the primary Web3 sport to have such a relationship with Kickstarter. Decrypt reached out to Kickstarter to verify its energetic assist of the venture, however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.
“It’s a transparent signal that Web3 gaming can attraction to conventional gamers if positioned appropriately,” Grossi instructed Decrypt. “This can be a blueprint for a way Web3 video games can combine into mainstream gaming markets, and we’re main the best way.”
Partly, that distinctive standing is because of Web3 video games usually counting on their very own crypto-native strategies to lift funds, usually by way of the launch of sport belongings or avatars bought as NFTs, or through a token launch. Many “Web2” indie video games have used Kickstarter and different crowdfunding platforms previously, however not video games constructed round tokenized belongings.
However Grossi believes that lowering crypto-native fundraising rounds is the trail in the direction of a extra sustainable mannequin for crypto gaming. Grossi mentioned that Web3 builders are inclined to “over-monetize” earlier than releasing their sport, yielding a lackluster fan base.
🪨WITS Genesis Stones are 🪨
OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT🔥
That is the start of our story, not the top🚨
1st FULL Season coming quickly, Staking Idle Recreation, IP Pack openings, Earn XP by streaming WITS on Summary and WAY MORE
Be a part of our discord group to remain updated🫡
Thanks… pic.twitter.com/z1mLsug9RD
— What Is This Sorcery (@WITS_TCG) January 30, 2025
“We imagine in exhibiting the product and permitting ourselves to seek out our group, then give them the selection to purchase what they need or do not need to,” Grossi mentioned. “[There’s] no want for any sport asset gross sales earlier than a sport is even dwell.”
What Is This Sorcery accomplished the sale of 1,500 Genesis Stone NFTs for 0.04 ETH ($130) every on Summary final week, which present in-game gadgets and a leaderboard increase. This comes forward of the sport’s first seasonal airdrop marketing campaign, known as Season 0, on Skale in mid-February.
However the NFT launch and Kickstarter marketing campaign isn’t a case of over-monetizing, Grossi mentioned. That’s as a result of the NFTs are non-obligatory, the sport is already out there without spending a dime on the Epic Video games Retailer, and every supply of funding has a selected goal.
The funds raised by way of the NFT sale will assist assist in-game rewards, develop staking performance that integrates with the sport, and assist the early sport economic system. In the meantime, the Kickstarter marketing campaign will fund the manufacturing, delivery, and retail prices of the sport’s subsequent product: bodily playing cards.
These playing cards can have close to area communication (NFC) chips put in in them, which can enable for contactless communication with smartphones and different units. The plan is that these playing cards will seamlessly combine with in-game battles, including distinctive advantages like in-game bonuses, rewards, and perks. There may also be an NFT model of every card, which will be claimed by tapping it on a cell system.
As such, these supporting the Kickstarter will obtain unique playing cards and gadgets, plus early entry to the sport.
“We 100% imagine [the Kickstarter] strategy must be a staple for Web3 tasks that purpose for true longevity and mass adoption,” Grossi defined. “As an alternative of promoting a imaginative and prescient, we’re promoting an actual, playable sport with bodily and digital belongings that truly matter.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward