According to a report by Blockworks, the well-known NFT series Pudgy Penguins will launch a player-versus-player game called Pengu Clash on the messaging platform Telegram. A whitelist for early access is currently open, allowing early players the opportunity to earn rare NFT appearances and rewards.
Pengu Clash is a one-on-one battle game featuring the Pudgy Penguins NFTs, where players can customize their penguins and compete in various mini-games, including curling, darts, and soccer. Reports indicate that the game will introduce quick matching battles and a “PVP Arena” mode, along with a store, and a quest system will be launched in the future.
According to the announcement for Pengu Clash, over 1.1 million Telegram accounts have already joined the waiting list.
Reportedly, Pengu Clash is developed by the crypto gaming protocol Elympics for Pudgy Penguins, aiming to spark a trend in “skill-based” crypto social games. Michal Dabrowski, founder and CEO of Elympics, stated in an interview that Pengu Clash is not a pay-to-win game but one that relies on skill to succeed. He emphasized that the game “places great importance on the actual gaming experience,” distinguishing it from other crypto click games on Telegram.
Similar to other crypto games on Telegram, Pengu Clash will utilize the TON blockchain to support in-game NFTs and optional betting features (the original Pudgy NFTs were launched on the Ethereum chain, while their meme coin PENGU is issued on the Solana chain). Players can play Pengu Clash without logging in or creating a crypto wallet, but those wishing to purchase in-game items can connect the built-in wallet within Telegram (currently not supported in the U.S., U.K., and some other countries) or connect an external TON wallet to the game.
When asked why Pudgy Penguins chose to use TON to develop this game instead of their own Ethereum Layer 2 network, Abstract, founder Luca Netz replied that their goal is to “be the ambassador of cryptocurrency” and the “most popular penguin in the world.” This vision is not limited to any single blockchain; however, he added that the planned PC version of Pengu Clash will use Abstract.