For over 1500 years, chess has captured fans across generations with its simple rules that give rise to endless possibilities. As a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, Anichess believes the potential of chess extends beyond the 8×8 board. While preserving the classic elements of chess, Anichess wishes to inject new ideas, new imagination, and unite with chess enthusiasts worldwide to reshape its timeless appeal.
In a strategic partnership with Chess.com, the leading online platform for chess enthusiasts, Anichess embarks on an ambitious mission to re-imagine and re-energize the chess experience for players worldwide.
Anichess believes there is significant potential to appeal to other audiences as well, besides competitive chess players and online enthusiasts. These include people who enjoy strategic games like trading card games, those seeking global competition, and even mobile gamers who occasionally indulge in puzzle games. Currently, the majority of such audience perceives chess as a game with high entry barriers, but Anichess’s aim is to revolutionize that perception through the immersive player experience and rich, anime-inspired narrative.
Animoca Brands has now launched the public alpha version of Anichess, its chess-based strategy game developed in collaboration with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. Alongside the launch, Anichess announced a partnership with Yield Guild Games (YGG) to expand its presence in Southeast Asia – one of its top three regions in terms of player registration.
The game’s alpha introduces players to a combination of traditional chess and unique spell mechanics across four different game modes: ranked match, quick match, friend match, and bot match. Players can now enjoy player-versus-player (PvP) matches, train against AI, and unlock new spells. The partnership with YGG aims to boost the game’s reach among students, chess enthusiasts, and gamers through tournaments, community-building events, and educational initiatives.
