Space Nation Going From Web3 Game to TV Series

A live-action TV series based on the Web3 game "Space Nation Online" is now in development, led by renowned Hollywood director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Those About To Die) and producer Marco Weber (The Thirteenth Floor, Igby Goes Down).

The project is part of their new transmedia venture, Space Nation Inc., which aims to expand the game's universe by delving into its rich history, lore, and setting.

As stated by the company:

“The series will map out the origins of the epic story that began with the recent soft launch of Space Nation Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that sends players to a distant star cluster where humanity has settled following Earth's destruction.”

Rather than pursuing traditional network or streaming platforms, Emmerich and Weber are exploring alternative distribution methods.

Weber said:

“We want to take an approach that fits into the overall philosophy of what we're doing with the game.”

He added:

“We might sell a second window to one of the streamers, but all on a licensing basis. We're not looking for a streamer to come in and outright buy the IP. And our goal is to be able to finance a significant portion of the budget ourselves through our own [in-game] economy and our own token.”

Both will serve as executive producers, shaping the series' direction as they bring the world of "Space Nation Online" to life.

Web3 Game Space Nation Online

Space Nation is a Web3-enabled massively multiplayer online (MMO) game where players become starship captains in a blockchain-driven universe.

The game's integration of blockchain technology allows players to engage in a token-based economy, where non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be bought, sold, and traded in-game.

The venture was co-founded by Emmerich, Weber, former Blizzard-Activision project manager Jerome Wu, and game developer Tony Tang.

Together, they created Space Nation Inc., a company focused on pioneering "transmedia IP" that spans video games, online content, and television.

Backed by $50 million, their first project, "Space Nation Online," soft-launched on 27 September.

Emmerich, known for directing blockbuster films like Independence Day, 2012, and The Day After Tomorrow, brings his cinematic expertise to this ambitious new venture.

Emmerich expressed:

“I came to this project through Marco and he was very excited about it, and whatever he is excited about, I'm excited about, too. We talked about that I have to develop my own [Web3] spaceships, etcetera, etcetera. And so there's a possibility to buy a spaceship I designed — but it's only one of many, many things we offer. What we also want to offer is a TV show. A TV show which shows the origin of this whole situation, because aliens came to Earth, destroyed Earth, and we had to go to space.”

The soft launch kicked off only on 23 October.

Space Nation Shorts Launched Ahead of TV Series

Space Nation, backed by $50 million in early funding, was conceived as a "transmedia" platform from the start, blending gaming, film, and online content.

The game has already soft-launched on PC, and the company has produced animated shorts featuring the character "Zoey," an alien teen space pirate.

Voiced and motion-captured by actress Winona Weber, Zoey's adventures aim to expand the game's narrative universe.

With industry veterans driving the project, Space Nation is poised as a notable entry in the Web3 gaming space.

However, integrating NFTs into MMOs remains a challenge for mainstream adoption.

Despite these hurdles, Space Nation is positioned within the competitive "space opera" genre alongside titles like Eve Online and No Man's Sky.

The game's evolving narrative and innovative blockchain economy aim to set it apart, but success will depend on its ability to capture a broader gaming audience.

The project’s ambitious roadmap includes additional content, including spinoffs of the animated shorts, further enriching the Space Nation universe.