Meet Soulbound: The Project Revolutionizing the Gaming Experience with Web3

Soulbound is an innovative gamer identity and profile platform that is transforming how gamers track their progress and achievements through a wide array of games. As a part of the Poolside Accelerator, Soulbound is making waves in the gaming space, empowering gamers, communities, and game developers. Today, we delve into the details of Soulbound's vision, team, and quest system and explore the platform’s exciting opportunities and potential.

The Vision Behind Soulbound

Soulbound was founded to empower gamers, communities, and game developers by creating an open reputation layer for gaming. The platform aims to enable users to ‘own their saga’ – a record of their in-game achievements and community contributions across various gaming ecosystems. By connecting gamers, content creators, micro-communities, major platforms, and institutions, Soulbound is breaking down barriers and paving the way for a more connected, rewarding gaming experience.

The Soulbound Team

With five co-founders from diverse backgrounds, Soulbound boasts a full C-suite of experienced leaders right from the beginning. The team includes gaming, entertainment law, community building, and mobile ad tech experts, ensuring a comprehensive skill set to drive the platform apart from anything similar in the ecosystem. Soulbound has a global team of 21 staff members across various countries, with strong in-house development and community management teams.

M-XP: The Social Token for Gamers

M-XP is a non-transferable social token that players earn by completing quests or actions in-game, within their communities, and on the gaming platform. Unlike other digital currencies, M-XP cannot be bought, sold, or transferred, serving a purpose similar to current gamerscores and steam points but with ownership and control in players’ hands.

This unique token system allows M-XP to function as a ranking system for skilled players and dedicated contributors. Gamers can compare their M-XP on various leaderboards based on class, genre, game, and overall points. As players strive to improve their rankings, they are more likely to discover and engage with new games, fostering a sense of competition and camaraderie.

Soulbound Quest System: Enhancing Game Discovery and Creativity

The Soulbound quest system enables players to embark on unique, tailored missions that reward them with M-XP. Currently, these quests are developed by the Soulbound Quest department in collaboration with game developers. However, the system is evolving to allow anyone, including game developers, content creators, and gamers, to create their own quests and determine the rewards for completing them.

This innovative approach empowers gamers and creators to design their own challenges and experiences, driving engagement and fostering a sense of ownership. By offering rewards for completing quests, players are encouraged to explore different aspects of the gaming landscape, leading to game discovery and community growth.

The Soulbound Vision: Bridging the Gap Between Gamers and Developers

At its core, Soulbound aims to create a seamless gaming experience that is fun and rewarding for players while empowering developers. This is achieved by focusing on three key aspects:

1. Fragmentation: Soulbound aims to address the issue of fragmentation in the gaming space by offering a platform where players can showcase their gaming achievements, regardless of the platform they play on. This creates a gaming CV or resume that is enjoyable for gamers and valuable for developers.
2. Differentiation: Unlike other blockchain gaming platforms primarily focusing on eSports and play-to-earn cultures, Soulbound seeks to build a non-financialized social reputation system called "proof of play." This system enhances the gaming experience for both casual and professional gamers, fostering a more inclusive community.
3. Digital Ownership: Soulbound believes digital ownership should add to great gameplay, not be the main focus. By offering players a way to store and own their gaming achievements, Soulbound focuses on enjoying the game rather than on financial gains.

A Focus on Inclusion and User Experience

Soulbound's approach to revolutionizing the gaming industry goes beyond the technology itself. The company is dedicated to making the user experience as smooth and intuitive as possible, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with blockchain technology can enjoy the benefits of digital ownership and Web3 gaming.

Empowering Gamers and Developers

One of the core tenets of Soulbound's vision is empowering gamers and developers to work together for the mutual benefit of both. By working with the different contributors to the gaming ecosystem, Soulbound aims to create an inclusive network where gamers can use their achievements across multiple platforms, much like college credits. This focus on inclusion and user empowerment sets Soulbound apart from other gaming companies and showcases their commitment to building a better future for the gaming industry.

Powered by Soulbound: Unlocking the Power of Reputation

After developing their whitelabel system to power Polkastarter’s gamer reputation system, Soulbound is now offering high-profile platforms, games, and communities  their own specific Soulbound reputation systems. By joining the Soulbound network, projects can tailor reward economies for their unique needs while allowing individuals to own their achievements and contributions.

Overcoming Challenges in the Gaming Industry

Soulbound acknowledges that there are several challenges faced by gaming founders, including:

1. Onboarding and Retention: The onboarding process for  digital ownership can be complicated and time-consuming. Soulbound aims to simplify this process by developing technology that supports a non-financial infrastructure and player reputation system.
2. Balancing Game Economies: Soulbound works directly with game developers to drive user activity and promote specific in-game actions. By recording on-chain and in-game data, they can analyze and provide quests and activities tailored to the game's objectives, ensuring a balanced economy and beneficial endgame interactions.
3. Future Adoption: Soulbound believes that the future of gaming and the metaverse will involve the standardization of digital ownership. By continuing to innovate and focus on its core values, Soulbound plans to stay ahead of the curve in this evolving industry.

How To Stay Ahead in The Future of Gaming and The Metaverse

As the landscape of gaming and the metaverse continues to evolve, Soulbound is committed to staying ahead of the curve by focusing on the following key areas:

1. Ease of Onboarding: Soulbound recognizes the importance of making the onboarding process as simple as possible to attract a wider audience. They are dedicated to developing solutions that bridge the gap between traditional gaming and web3 experiences.
2. Time and Adaptation: Soulbound acknowledges that it takes time for gamers to adapt to new technologies and business models. By focusing on the social bonds and enjoyment of gaming, they aim to create a platform that transcends the boundaries between Web2 and Web3, ultimately becoming the standard for all games.
3. Community-First Approach: Soulbound's emphasis on a community-first attitude ensures they prioritize gamers’ and developers’ needs and desires. By fostering a strong, inclusive community, they create an environment where everyone can thrive and enjoy the gaming experience.

The Future of Soulbound and Gaming

As Soulbound continues to push the boundaries of gaming through cutting edge technology, the company is well-positioned to become a leader in this emerging industry. With a focus on inclusion, user experience, and collaboration with established gaming companies, Soulbound is poised to bring digital ownership and immersive gaming experiences to the mainstream.

In the coming years, Soulbound plans to continue working with industry juggernauts and forge partnerships with other Web2 and Web3 gaming platforms. As more and more gamers and developers embrace the benefits of digital ownership and blockchain technology, Soulbound will be at the forefront of this evolution. Stay tuned to the Poolside Accelerator channels, as we will keep you updated on Soulbound’s journey.

About Poolside
Poolside is an ecosystem designed exclusively for Web3 builders. With its suite of services and expert resources, Poolside helps Web3 projects make a splash in the rapidly evolving world of Web3. In addition to being a physical hub at the heart of the Web3 district in Lisbon, Poolside also hosts a remote accelerator program that takes selected projects from ideation to market launch, while providing initial funding of up to $100,000. The Poolside ecosystem is rapidly expanding with key partners and a growing community of Web3 builders, mentors, and investors.