The recent debut of the crypto-powered video game "Nyan Heroes" on the Epic Games Store has made waves in the gaming community, with the title breaking into the top 30 most-played games and amassing over 200,000 downloads during its limited pre-alpha release.

Developed by 9 Lives Interactive, "Nyan Heroes" offers players a unique mech shooter experience featuring cat pilots, all powered by Unreal Engine 5. Despite being in its pre-alpha stage, the game showcased promising potential, capturing the attention of gamers worldwide.

Max Fu, CEO and creative director of 9 Lives Interactive, expressed satisfaction with the game's performance, highlighting its smooth gameplay experience and core mechanics. Although some aspects of the game still required fine-tuning, Fu emphasized the team's commitment to delivering an engaging and polished gaming experience.

While the current build of "Nyan Heroes" does not yet include NFT integration, plans are underway to incorporate both on-chain and off-chain assets into the in-game marketplace. Fu revealed that this functionality is expected to be implemented after the game's second major update later this year.

Looking ahead, 9 Lives Interactive aims to release the full version of "Nyan Heroes" on PC by early next year, offering players the opportunity to customize their gaming experience and trade in-game assets. Importantly, players who prefer not to engage with NFTs will still be able to enjoy the game without being compelled to interact with blockchain elements.

The success of "Nyan Heroes" during its pre-alpha phase has prompted 9 Lives Interactive to plan a relaunch on the Epic Games Store in the coming weeks, allowing more players to experience the game's captivating gameplay and unique concept.

Epic Games' support for early-access versions of crypto video games, including titles like "Shrapnel," "Illuvium," and "Star Atlas," underscores the growing interest in blockchain-powered gaming within the broader gaming community.

Founded in 2021, 9 Lives Interactive, formerly known as Rude Robot Studios, continues to innovate in the crypto gaming space, driving forward the intersection of gaming and blockchain technology.

.