Ubisoft is reshaping its strategy around Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, and the latest move is a quiet but clear signal. The turn-based battler is now listed on Steam, stripped of all blockchain integration that once defined its early marketing.
The shift lands the game squarely in the Web2 camp for its initial release, despite Ubisoft’s early framing of the project as a flagship for its NFT experiments. With Steam maintaining its stance against blockchain-based titles, this pivot raises questions about where the game—and Ubisoft’s broader Web3 ambitions—are headed.
A Tactical Strategy Game First
At its core, Champions Tactics is a dark fantasy tactics game, borrowing cues from auto-battlers and squad-based RPGs. Players collect and field a roster of champions, each with unique abilities, in short, strategy-driven encounters. It’s designed for quick matches with depth driven by team composition and counterplay.
The art leans toward a stylized grimdark look, with exaggerated character designs and a strong visual identity. Based on early previews, it sits somewhere between Dota Underlords and Teamfight Tactics, but with a greater focus on unit-level tactics rather than randomized item shops or map movement.
Blockchain Features Scrubbed for Steam Release
The most notable change is what’s not in the game anymore—NFTs. Ubisoft originally planned to integrate collectible, tradable champions on the blockchain. A limited mint of “Warlord” NFTs even launched on Ethereum via Oasys, a gaming-focused L2 network. But none of that appears in the Steam version.
That’s not surprising. Valve has made it clear it won’t allow NFT-based games on Steam. For Ubisoft, launching there meant making a choice, and the version going live on Steam is a traditional Web2 release with no blockchain features or wallet connections.
A Temporary Pivot or a Broader Pullback?
What’s unclear is whether this is a permanent pivot or just a parallel release strategy. Ubisoft hasn’t said whether blockchain features will return in later updates or on other platforms. But putting out a non-NFT version on Steam, without much fanfare, suggests a strategic recalibration.
This wouldn’t be the first time a major publisher tested the waters with NFTs and pulled back. Square Enix, Sega, and others have all danced around blockchain without committing fully. Ubisoft was one of the few big publishers to release actual NFT-linked assets through its Quartz platform, but momentum has slowed.
Where It Fits in Ubisoft’s Lineup
Champions Tactics isn’t positioned as a tentpole franchise. It’s a smaller experimental title, part of Ubisoft’s broader effort to find new models beyond traditional AAA releases. That includes live service experiments, mobile spin-offs, and now, apparently, scaled-back Web3 integrations. Whether the game sticks around will depend less on its blockchain roots and more on how it performs as a strategy title.
If it can carve out a space among tactics fans on Steam, it may evolve beyond its origins as a Web3 experiment.
For now, Champions Tactics is another sign of how traditional publishers are still feeling out the boundaries of blockchain in games—and how quickly those plans can change when platform policies or player sentiment shift.
Gaming Strategist & Trend Analyst
With a background in game economics and digital culture, METAREPORT connects the dots. He dissects trends, deciphers strategies, and delivers data-backed insights for gamers, creators, and investors alike.
