EMPIRES: Ultra's On-Chain Strategy Game Launches Closed Alpha, Ignites a New Gaming Economy

Ultra inaugurates a new era of Web3 gaming with the launch of the closed community Alpha of EMPIRES, an economy-focused strategy game developed by its internal studio, Black Ice Studios. Far more than just a game, EMPIRES is a foundational brick of the Ultra ecosystem, where players do not merely play: they own, influence, and shape a multi-game universe.

Why is EMPIRES a revolutionary game in Web3?

EMPIRES is not based on brute force but on economic domination, technological advancement, and political influence. In this meta-strategy game, players form Corporations, extract rare resources, conduct research, build infrastructures, and actively participate in a player-governed economy.

At the heart of the game, EMPIRES turns players into true stakeholders. Every decision—from resource flows to governance votes via The Consortium—has a real impact. All assets, progress, and territories are fully on-chain and owned by the players, ensuring digital sovereignty and lasting value.

The EMPIRES–CITADELS connection: strategy meets action

What sets EMPIRES apart is its direct link with CITADELS, Ultra’s upcoming tactical extraction shooter. Technologies, buildings, and goods produced in EMPIRES directly influence CITADELS gameplay.

Thus, your economic and political decisions affect combat scenarios. Want your allies to have better weapons or technologies in CITADELS? It all starts in EMPIRES. This inter-game utility creates an unprecedented bridge between strategy and action.

Why is the closed community Alpha important?

Launched on July 1st, the closed Alpha is reserved for a select group of Ultra community members, the first builders of this new universe. This exclusive phase aims to:

• Test the main game mechanics;
• Put the infrastructure and economic systems to the test;
• Gather initial feedback from the most engaged players.

It is not just a pre-launch demo but a critical moment to shape the game’s economy and dynamics before it opens to the public.

Next steps: Roadmap

Here is what comes after the closed Alpha:

• Mid-July: Launch of the public Alpha + acquisition campaigns and initial quests;
• September 1st: Public Beta;
• October 15th: Full launch (Gold version) + Token Generation Event (TGE).

Starting in July, EMPIRES will introduce a “play-to-airdrop” quest system, rewarding meaningful in-game engagement and promoting organic growth ahead of the TGE.

EMPIRES is not just a Web3 game; it is a living economy, a governance experimentation ground, and a strategic command center for the Ultra gaming universe. Thanks to full digital ownership, inter-game connectivity, and an economy shaped by players, EMPIRES redefines what blockchain gaming can offer.

👉 Stay tuned on the official EMPIRES website, on X, and on Ultra’s Discord for the public closed Alpha opening in mid-July. Shape the economy and participate in the next generation of video games.