As we end 2024, the Web3 gaming landscape continues to evolve. To gain insight into one of the most promising projects shaping this exciting frontier, we spoke with Zlatko Stjepanovic, CEO of Lussa, which has garnered attention following its significant presence at Gamescom. Let’s hear from him about Lussa, its future, the team behind it, and more.
Can you elaborate on Lussa? What genre of game does it fall under, and why did you choose to build it on the web3 rather than traditional web platforms?
Certainly! Lussa belongs to an open-world MMO Battle Royale, a unique blend of genres combining elements of strategy, shooter, and role-playing games. By fusing these aspects, we are creating a multifaceted experience that appeals to a wide range of gamers. So, when you’re playing the game, you’ll find yourself immersed in tactical planning, thrilling combat, and deep character development, all set in a rich, expansive virtual universe, but with the most realistic graphics created using the best tech available on this planet.
Now, you asked why web3, right? Well, traditional gaming platforms have been here for a very long time, and yes, they have their merits, but my team and I believe that Web3 is the new normal. The web2 games often suffer from centralization, limited earning opportunities where players don’t own what they develop, and a lack of real community engagement. Players’ suggestions often go unheard, and they have little influence on a game’s future, which leads to dissatisfaction among gamers over time.
We didn’t want any of this for Lussa. That’s why we chose Web3, where a decentralized ecosystem offers true asset ownership, earning potential, communicating with a global community, providing suggestions about what they feel should be done in upcoming updates and feeling rewarded. With Lussa, we’re nurturing a vibrant community where every gamer is an integral part of building and shaping the game from the ground up, creating a sought-after gaming experience.
What, in your opinion, makes Lussa different from other NFT-based or P2E games?
In my opinion, every aspect of Lussa makes it different from all the other games. However, there’s one thing that I’d like to highlight: we haven’t forgotten to work on the core of the game, which is providing an exceptional gameplay experience to the players. Unlike many NFT or P2E games that focus solely on earning, Lussa offers a rich, immersive universe with diverse game modes and strategic depth, along with innovative technological solutions which makes players return for more. And in the process of enjoying the game, we let them earn by investing their sharp skills. Also, I’d like to add that Lussa not only gives players the opportunity to monetize but also allows influencers, brands, advertisers, and even sponsors to earn.
Can you shed some light on what technologies you are using to build Lussa?
We’re using cloud servers from AWS, Google, Azure, Huawei, and Alibaba to ensure high user capacity and global accessibility. Our flexible game engine supports both third-person and first-person perspectives, enhancing dynamic gameplay. We are using blockchain infrastructure that ensures high-speed solutions, transparency, and secure ownership of in-game assets. Additionally, Lussa is expertly developed on Unreal Engine 5 (latest version), offering cutting-edge features like Chaos Physics for real-time cinematic style destruction scenes, Niagara for particle systems, Nanite for high frame rates, and Lumen for best-in-class lighting effects in the game.
Has Lussa formed any strategic partnerships recently or in the past? How do you think these collaborations will benefit the project?
We’ve been teaming up with top names in blockchain to bring the best tech to Lussa. Our current partners, like Helika, SAGA, Polygon, Immutable, BGA, Creo Engine, among others, have all played a crucial role in strengthening our platform and its technical capabilities.
We did secure some recent and very exciting new partnerships as well. A little while back, Lussa was accepted into the NVIDIA Inception program, which is something big for us as the program will help us with go-to-market support, training, and technology assistance. We also recently partnered with Enjin Ecosystem. This partnership will boost our NFT support and asset security. Then, EnigmaFund and Helika have recently been added to our partners list. Both these are crucial for our growth, as Enigma Funds backing provides us with valuable returns and resources. Helika will help us with in-depth analytics, support, and fundraising, which will surely improve our game.
Nonetheless, let me tell you that we’re not stopping here. We’ll continue partnering with brands and companies that can further benefit Lussa.
Tell me something about your Team at Lussa. How did you find such raw talent and people aligned to the same goal as yours?
I got really lucky with our team at Lussa, I guess. When I say lucky, I mean it because we’ve assembled an incredibly intelligent, hardcore gamer and fun-loving group like Avengers. Our team includes top-notch professionals from Ubisoft, Sony, Hyper Music, and Nintendo, among others. Plus, we’ve been thankful for the legendary contributions of our other advisors from BitsCrunch and Transcend Lab. Also, our team recently welcomed Douglas Kennedy, the CEO of Studio Wildcard, as Chief Revenue Officer of Lussa. His addition to our team is crucial, and we are thrilled to have him on board. So, all in all, it’s like having a dream team of all-stars; everyone brings their A-game, making Lussa shine even brighter.
How do you see Lussa’s future unfolding? What can gamers expect in the coming years?
See, I don’t want to sound overconfident, but I believe the future of Lussa is like a blockbuster movie in the making – expect twists, thrills, and epic moments. With the successful showcasing at Gamescom and the ongoing Lussa Legend League (LLL), we’re refining gameplay, adding new features, and expanding character functionalities. Gamers can expect a constantly evolving experience, packed with twists and thrills.
As we keep working on fine-tuning every aspect, significant to minute, you can expect a butter-smooth gameplay experience. We’ll be adding more features to game modes and adding functionality to the characters, and a lot more will be happening this year. So, based on ideas Lussa’s entire team has in their head, I can only say that – buckle up, gamers; the real adventure is just beginning, and trust us, you won’t want to miss the next scene!
Finally, is there any message from your side for our lovely gaming community out there?
Oh, the gaming community we have so far is amazing; we at Lussa love interacting with them time and again. All I want to say on behalf of our entire team is – thank you all for your incredible support and feedback! We’re working tirelessly to deliver a product you’ll love. Keep supporting and loving us. Together, we’ll make Lussa shine!
The enthusiasm in Zlatko’s voice is palpable as he speaks about Lussa and the broader Web3 gaming landscape. It’s clear that with visionaries like him at the helm of innovative projects, the gaming industry is in for an exciting year ahead.
