Paris-based gaming startup Dogami has released its new mobile game, Dogami Academy, which is available for iOS and Android. Currently playable in early access exclusively for Dogami NFT holders, the game serves up crypto token rewards for players.

Dogami Academy is a dog training and racing game that pairs strategic elements with training and obstacle course navigation, letting players compete online in various events. Currently, the game features an environment based on Paris, although more locales are in the works.

Players earn an in-game currency called STAR by racing computer-controlled opponents, which can be used to upgrade their virtual dogs. Players also compete against each other in multiplayer events to earn DOGA tokens, which are traded on centralized and decentralized crypto exchanges.

Dogami has released 12,000 total dog NFTs that are spread across the Tezos and Polygon blockchains. According to the company, players have already logged some 500,000 in-game races across a week of playtesting.

A free-to-play version of the game that does not require NFTs is planned to launch in the first quarter of 2024. It’s unlikely that that free-to-play rendition will reward players with crypto tokens, which is typically a play-to-earn gaming feature reserved for players who buy NFTs.

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"Our vision is to bring a little more joy, fantasy, and entertainment into the world, and Dogami Academy is the perfect vehicle for us to accomplish this," said Kristofer D. Penseyres, co-founder and chief branding officer of Dogami, in a release.

Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Andrew Hayward.