Built on the Solana blockchain, Star Atlas is a futuristic space exploration game where players side with factions to create civilizations and intergalactic economies. Using the ATLAS token, players can buy and sell in-game assets to mine resources, buy equipment, and battle in various gaming scenarios in deep-space. Also, the POLIS token is the governance token of the Star Atlas game and gives players control of both in-game activities and changes to the parameters of the Star Atlas crypto game.

In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the Star Atlas crypto metaverse. We’ll discuss the ATLAS token, the POLIS token, and the core mechanisms of the game. Plus, we’ll explore the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology.

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What is Star Atlas?

Based in the year 2026, Star Atlas is a “virtual gaming metaverse” where three factions battle for resources and embark on territorial conquests to achieve political domination. Players of the Star Atlas game become a citizen of one of these factions. Each faction represents a geopolitical ideology that determines the influence a player will have on the intergalactic conflict. 

Combining traditional gameplay with blockchain mechanics and economics, the Star Atlas crypto gaming platform provides an immersive experience with stunningly detailed real-time graphics built using Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite technology. This enables cinematic visuals akin to some of the most popular games available.

The Star Atlas crypto ecosystem was built on the Solana blockchain. The Solana blockchain is the fastest blockchain in the world and facilitates a secure gaming experience that is largely serverless. Furthermore, thanks to the Solana blockchain, the Star Atlas game uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of the in-game economy. This in-game economy mirrors real-world economies built around real-world asset ownership.

Also, the Star Atlas game closely resembles the mechanics of a blockchain through mining and staking. Using both mining and staking enables players to prove that in-game assets are legitimate and can actually be used in the game. Players can mine in-game assets which are discoverable via in-game exploration. These assets add value to the game by increasing a player’s attributes or ability throughout the experience. Moreover, the Star Atlas crypto network enables players to set up mining nodes and staking nodes to secure the network and help players earn rewards.

How Does the Star Atlas Game Work?

While battling in this futuristic science-fiction experience, players side with one of three factions. By contributing to these factions through gameplay, players can earn rewards for their contributions which enhance gameplay. The three factions of the game are:

• The MUD Territory - occupied and controlled by humankind.

• The ONI Region - occupied by a “consortium of alien races”.

• The Ustur Sector - under the control of “sentient androids”.

Core Game Mechanics

The Star Atlas game mechanics combine elements from the grand strategy and role-playing game (RPG) genres with space exploration and territorial control. Also, players can manage vehicles and fleets of various spaceships. Another key concept of the game is mining operations. These operations can take place both on land and in space.

Furthermore, Players can take part in player vs. environment missions (PVE), player vs. player (PVP) battles, and virtual reality (VR) gaming experiences. Plus, players can use specialized equipment to participate in a “dynamic career system”.

Blockchain Mechanics

The game also makes use of blockchain technology in various ways. This includes the ATLAS token and POLIS token in-game currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) representing in-game asset ownership. Also, the Star Atlas game uses smart contracts on the Solana blockchain to execute gaming scenarios and provides decentralized finance (DeFi) features using Serum. Furthermore, players can trade in-game assets transparently on-chain via the game’s NFT Marketplace. Or, players can earn a passive income by mining resources that are native to controlled territories.

The Star Atlas game also features a high-risk “Play-for-Keys” mode. This mode enables players to stake digital assets and bet on the outcome of a game. Additionally, The maintenance of the Star Atlas crypto ecosystem occurs via an on-chain governance model. This allows players to have unprecedented levels of control over their gaming experience by voting on changes to the parameters of the game.

Star Atlas offers various gaming modes to combine multiple game genres into an immersive, flexible gaming environment. This includes a role-playing game (RPG), space flight simulation, exploration, and grand strategy.

Grand Strategy

The augmented grand strategy game incentivizes players to claim stakes, build and expand empires, implement trading routes, and participate in tactical battles that players can view across various regions within a map. 

Exploration

Also, the Star Atlas game allows players to explore deep-space to “scan and discover celestial and terrestrial assets”. When these assets are found, players can stake claims to discovered assets and mine them. Plus, players can refine these assets and trade them via the Universal Marketplace.

The exploration gameplay mode offers a top-down view of space that displays the exterior of a player’s spaceship. Plus, this mode features an “x-ray view” that provides a cross-section visualization of the spaceship’s interior. Here, players can also see the ship’s crew and monitor the performance of tasks. Furthermore, the ship can be flown manually in first person using the cockpit/bridge view. This view can also be used for virtual reality (VR) gaming.

Role-Playing Game (RPG)

The RPG element of the game comes from the driving principle of the Star Atlas economy. By mining raw materials and refining them into various components and in-game items, players can establish a “career”. The career path a player chooses determines the specializations they pursue that enable them to create revenue streams.

Space Flight Simulation

With stunning real-time graphics, the space flight simulation mode of the Star Atlas game provides a first-person, seated visualization of a spaceship as it travels through deep-space. Ships can be piloted manually, or players can captain their own ships, take part in battles, and take advantage of role-specific game mechanics. Using the cockpit view, players can manually control throttles, flight sticks, and complex control panels. Plus, players can immerse themselves in the game using virtual reality (VR) headsets.

Asset Sale Roadmap

There are five key phases that will see the full vision of the Star Atlas game realized via asset distribution. The game’s staggered release of assets will allow players to familiarize themselves with some of its core features while the final iteration is complete. Plus, these phases will introduce various in-game asset sales.

Phase 01 - Galactic Asset Offering (GAO)

In this phase, in-game assets are available via the Marketplace in preparation for the game’s second phase. However, trading of these assets is immediately available. Assets are available on both Ethereum and Solana. Any assets available on Ethereum can be converted using Wormhole, the Solana-Ethereum bridge. Furthermore, asset sales will occur in various phases of the game’s roadmap to provide additional utility in line with developmental milestones.

Phase 02 - Browser Minigame

The second phase of the Star Atlas crypto game is a minimum viable product (MVP) browser-based “minigame”. This game allows players to get a taste of the full version of the game. Plus, players can purchase and use in-game assets in the minigame that are fully configurable with the full implementation of Star Atlas.

Phase 03 - Shipyard Module Sale

Following the completion of the second phase, the full implementation of Star Atlas is being developed in Unreal Engine 5. The first update of this phase is the “functional Shipyard Module”. In this mode, players will have to decide which faction they want to side with for the duration of the game. This means choosing which native vehicles, weapons, crew, and assets the player wishes to use and the resources miners want to use to generate revenue.

Phase 04 - Final Pre-Sale at Beta

Following the deployment of the beta version of the Star Atlas game, any remaining “pre-live assets” are for sale. Any assets purchased during this phase can be used immediately in a beta version of the game. 

Phase 05 - Ongoing Sales

After the full implementation of the game, the Star Atlas development team will implement new assets. These assets will bring further utility to new game concepts, expanding the Star Atlas crypto gaming ecosystem.

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NFT Marketplace

The Star Atlas Universal Marketplace is an NFT marketplace where any player can buy and sell in-game assets. Also, players can advertise paid job listings for in-game tasks via the NFT Marketplace. Players can purchase mining gear, spaceships, components, collectibles, faction-specific personal items, and more. In-game assets are stored on the Solana blockchain using a crypto wallet and can be viewed in the “inventory” section of the game.

Star Atlas Game Economics

The Star Atlas in-game economy enables players to build intergalactic empires by challenging other players and teaming up to “organize, build, and fight their way into unknown territories”. Initially, this will consist of a relatively small group of mining colonies and spaceships. However, the goal of the game is for these groups to develop into thriving civilizations that explore the expansive universe while “rapidly iterating on alien technologies and intergalactic diplomacy”.

Furthermore, the Star Atlas economy aims to “align production of goods at scale with both a sense of long-term progression and short-term enjoyment to the players” while collaborating with faction members in ways that are increasingly beneficial to all members.

The majority of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games require the completion of repetitive tasks and use tapering incentive curves that can result in player fatigue and a lack of excitement. However, Star Atlas uses a skill tree system that reduces player fatigue and multi-account congestion. Players can allocate their time and resources to activities that suit their personal goals or those determined by the faction or career they choose. Furthermore, the skill tree progression enables players to unlock bonuses and rewards that can be purchased using the native ATLAS token.

The ATLAS Token

The ATLAS token is the in-game currency used within the Star Atlas crypto ecosystem. Serving as the “lubricant of the metaverse”, the ATLAS token is the unit of exchange for buying and selling in-game assets. This includes vehicles, crew, land, equipment, raw materials, and components. 

Plus, the ATLAS token is essential for the execution of operational requirements throughout the game. This can be in the form of direct peer-to-peer transactions or via non-playable character (NPC) merchants. Players have to carefully balance operational costs from mining, fuel, crew, and vehicle repairs. To do this, players must hold an amount of the ATLAS token to pay for in-game purchases. Also, the ATLAS token will be the primary currency used within the game’s NFT marketplace.

Following the sale of ATLAS tokens during the Galactic Asset Offering (GAO) phases, the token will only be available via in-game activities and sales. Plus, the development team receives no stake in the undistributed supply of ATLAS tokens.

The POLIS Token

The POLIS token is the governance token of the Star Atlas crypto ecosystem. As a multi-functional utility token, the POLIS token informs the Star Atlas economic policy both in-game and in the real world. Further, POLIS token holders can become a part of a decentralized autonomous corporation (DAC) to manage micro-economies. The POLIS token gives players the ability to impose fees, fines, and taxes for anybody outside of the DAC to enter independently owned territories.

Also, POLIS token holders can gain jurisdictional ownership of territories, regardless of which player owns the land or equipment in that territory. POLIS token holders can restrict the ability of other players to operate within certain jurisdictions and can create laws to enforce rules within a region. However, for these laws to be passed, a large group of players must agree. No single dictator can formulate rules and impose laws without the collaboration of others.

Moreover, POLIS token holders can influence the development of the Star Atlas game. This includes aspects of the game such as inflation rates, asset release schedules, and the overall direction of the game. Following an initial distribution of 20% of all POLIS tokens during the Galactic Asset Offering (GAO), the only way to generate POLIS tokens is by staking the ATLAS token. Staking occurs in-game. However, any ATLAS tokens staked will be exempt from in-game use. 

Asset Destruction and Deflationary Mechanics

Using “multi-tiered engagement zones”, players can select the level of risk they wish to take on during various gaming scenarios. Higher risks return higher rewards. Also, players can engage in battles that put their spaceships at risk of destruction. Asset destruction can entail permanent destruction of assets via a token burn mechanism. The winner of a battle can salvage certain non-fungible token (NFT) assets left behind by their opponent. Plus, these activities are executed using smart contracts to ensure trustless reward distributions. Furthermore, the development team has implemented deflationary mechanisms that reduce the availability of assets and resources over time.

What is Star Atlas and the ATLAS Token? Summary

Star Atlas is an immersive crypto gaming experience that uses state-of-the-art technologies to create stunning visuals and innovative gameplay. Not only does the game appeal to gamers who are already familiar with blockchain and cryptocurrency, but the game boasts all the qualities that could bring adoption from the broader gaming community. Moreover, thanks to the novel in-game design, beautiful graphics, and use of the Solana blockchain, the game has the potential to encourage the mass adoption of cryptocurrency.

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