Welcome to the OpenSea digest. Let’s look back through the biggest NFT and web3 news of the week.

Sega's Three Kingdoms strategy game launches on Oasys

KAI: Battle of the Three Kingdoms, a blockchain-based reimagining of Sega’s 2005 arcade game Sangokushi Taisen, is launching in early access on April 30 for PC and mobile. 

Developed by Tokyo-based studio Double Jump Tokyo under license from Sega, the game is built on the Oasys blockchain, which is designed for low-fee gaming transactions.

Players will be able to collect and exchange NFT cards called “Awakened Warlords,” each with unique gameplay abilities, compete in tournaments, and unlock content.

A browser-only load test took place in March, and over a million players have reportedly pre-registered.

MetaMask teams up with fintech firms to launch crypto tap-to-pay card

MetaMask, the popular Ethereum wallet, has partnered with metal card manufacturer CompoSecure and crypto payments company Baanx to launch a physical metal payment card that enables direct crypto spending from self-custody wallets. 

Backed by Mastercard’s global network, the new card allows users to tap to pay using crypto without converting to fiat currency or preloading funds. According to the press release, it’s scheduled to roll out globally in Q2 2025.  

‘Peaky Blinders’ could become a blockchain game in 2026

Razor caps and smoky bar brawls are heading to the blockchain. The hit British crime series “Peaky Blinders” is being adapted into a blockchain-powered game and will reportedly launch in 2026.

The game is being developed by web3 IP builder Anonymous Labs, the company behind the BNB Chain-based Simon’s Cat memecoin, in partnership with global distribution company, Banijay Rights.

Scenes will feature post-WWI Birmingham as the setting, with action sequences, interactive storytelling elements, and tokenized in-game items. 

Full gameplay details are still under wraps, but it appears as though fans can expect the familiar faces of Tommy Shelby, Aunt Polly, and Arthur to be brought to life in a new web3 format.

Imogen Heap launches AI music tools with Jen

Grammy-winning artist and technologist Imogen Heap has released five AI-powered music tools through Jen, a London-based platform co-founded by music tech entrepreneurs Shara Senderoff and Mike Caren. 

Each tool, called a “stylefilter,” is trained on one of Heap’s original songs and lets users create new instrumental tracks using text prompts combined with the style of that song.

The tools come with two price points—$4.99 or $7.99—and give users up to 90 minutes of creative use, though the music can’t be used to train other AI models.

Heap says she joined Jen to shape how AI interacts with music in an ethical and transparent way that ensures artists receive credit and compensation.

Pokémon HOME adds digital souvenirs, sparking blockchain questions

A recent update to Pokémon HOME, the franchise’s cloud-based storage service, introduced digital medals and quietly added Parasol Technologies, a new developer tied to Mysten Labs, to its privacy policy. Mysten Labs is the team behind Sui, a layer-one (L1) blockchain platform.

Parasol’s inclusion appears only in Western policies, not in those of Japan, Korea, or China. Meanwhile, a Mysten blog post that previously referenced Pokémon has since been edited, fueling guesses about the potential blockchain partnership.  

While Pokémon has not officially confirmed any use of NFTs or blockchain, the signs suggest a possible entry into digital ownership technologies.

FIFA partners with Mythical Games to launch blockchain soccer game

Los Angeles-based web3 studio Mythical Games has teamed up with FIFA and Colombian developer Bacon Games to create FIFA Rivals, a mobile soccer game that uses blockchain to support in-game digital collectibles. 

Players will be able to collect, use, and share digital items that directly affect gameplay, like team setups and player upgrades. The game is built on the Mythos blockchain, which runs on the Polkadot network. 

The release follows Mythical’s previous title, NFL Rivals, which has reportedly brought in nearly six million users.

ZED Run relaunches as ZED Champions on Base

An OG web3 game is returning with fresh mechanics, cleaner rails, and a clearer track ahead. 

‍Virtually Human Studios has relaunched its digital horse racing game as ZED Champions, now built on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-two (L2) network.

The new version introduces automatic race matchmaking and centers gameplay around the ZED token, which is used for racing, breeding, and purchasing upgrades.

Each of the 4,320 horses has a built-in token balance that rises or falls based on race results, and players can retire horses to cash out their earned tokens.

Legacy ZED Run horses don’t transfer to the new game, but returning players who earned badges in the original version reportedly received rewards for onboarding.

Note: The mention of a token is for informational purposes only nor is it intended as financial or investment advice.