Trezor partners with Lightnite to offer limited edition Model T hardware wallets

by Anthony Allen

After many months of development, the Bitcoin-based game Lightnite launched bitcoin rewards today. While we mentioned it briefly in our August blog about Bitcoin gaming, we’re especially excited by this release as we can finally unveil the Trezor-exclusive content which SatoshisGames, Lightnite’s creators, have added to the game. As a way of thanking them for all the cool in-game loot, we’ve made a batch of fifty special edition Trezor Model Ts with Lightnite branding, as well as exclusive goodies to go with it. Head over to our shop to get your hands on one.

Gaming is a sector that has seen a lot of experimentation related to cryptocurrencies. While there have been some successes, the majority of them have been quite limited in their scope. Tokenization has been one of the main focuses, where the game mechanics are built in a traditional way but the items used within the games are tracked on a blockchain. As a proof-of-concept, these were fine, but even networks with higher throughput than Bitcoin have encountered limits that rendered the network unusable for a duration. Bitcoin’s low transaction limit has discouraged many developers from ever attempting to build a game on the Bitcoin blockchain, but Lightnite has used recent protocol improvements to make it capable of real-time usage.

What is Lightnite?

Lightnite is an ambitious cypherpunk-themed third-person shooter, which brings a fresh new experience to gaming, improving upon previous attempts to integrate Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into online games. While many previous attempts at letting players earn bitcoin have failed to accommodate the fast pace of shooting games, Lightnite has been built on the lightning network, allowing players to earn satoshis with every shot they make, instantly and with nearly zero network costs.

Fans of games like Fortnite and Apex Legends will no doubt feel very much at home in this arena-based shooter, while also being introduced to a new experience where they can actually earn money by improving their skills. Where controversial gaming blockbusters like EA’s Battlefront II chose to charge players for in-game rewards, Lightnite brings verifiable ownership to their community, while retaining all the fun of a guns-blazing battle-royale format.

How do I earn Bitcoin in Lightnite?

Lightnite takes advantage of two key Bitcoin technologies: the Lightning Network and the Liquid sidechain. This allows the game to manage both instant bitcoin payments as well as non-fungible tokens, meaning skins and other in-game items are provably tied to the owner’s accounts. Using the lightning network, you will earn a few satoshis as instantly as shooting an enemy player or winning a match, deducting the losses from their wallet. This provides incentive for players to play at their best, reducing the number of griefers which can ruin a game for the whole team, while encouraging new innovative eSports gaming models to emerge.

As you progress, you will also unlock new, exclusive skins of different rarities. These each contain specific cryptographic proofs to check the rarity, ownership & supply, verified by the Liquid sidechain. While no-one can ever take these away from you, you can choose to trade them with other players in exchange for bitcoin or other desirable items. This also means that the market will decide the value of these skins, and players could potentially see large profits simply by finding the right buyer.

With the Trezor exclusive bundle, you will be given access to a number of Trezor-branded in-game items, such as the Trezor hoverboard. These are very rare items that are only available to players who buy the limited-edition Trezor Model T hardware wallet. As such, they could become very sought-after and attract a high price on the open market. Be warned, though: while you may turn a quick profit by selling these on straight away, you could come to regret it when the price increases in future.

How can I play Lightnite?

The Trezor Lightnite bundle includes everything you need to start stacking sats. Along with a super limited edition Model T hardware wallet, you will receive an access code voucher. When you redeem the code, your account will instantly be credited with 20 dollars worth of bitcoin, which you can use in the game. You will also receive a special silicone case to protect your wallet, adorned with the game’s artwork, and a poster and sticker pack to decorate your gaming battlestation.

If you miss out on our bundle, you can always visit the Lightnite homepage to buy the game. Again, the cost of the game will include some bitcoin to spend in-game. This is included to make sure everyone is loaded with enough satoshis to keep the economy running. Of course, you can always withdraw your bitcoin and skins, keeping them safely on your wallet until you wish to use them again.

What does Lightnite mean for gaming?

SatoshisGames launched their prizewinning Bitcoin-based Elixir development platform to provide a satisfying Bitcoin-friendly gaming publishing platform to distribute crypto games safely and effortlessly. While these small games studios lack the funding or manpower of big commercial studios, they can offer players a refreshing alternative to the money-driven underhanded tactics which have become so commonplace. When players are given ownership of everything they find, earn or win while playing, the power dynamic is more in their favour.

While Bitcoin gaming will not be a threat to major publishers just yet, it could serve as a valuable tool in the pushback against any future moneygrabs by those publishers. Pay-to-win mechanics are becoming a new norm, and gamers need an alternative that offers a mutual benefit to both creators and players. In the same way that Bitcoin challenges traditional finance, games built on Bitcoin will show that there are democratic alternatives to the current centralized approach. If enough people begin to enjoy earning bitcoin in a competitive setting, it will challenge the business model which has caused so much division among gamers. With billions of gamers in the world, a Bitcoin-centric gaming industry would cause a massive surge of adoption, something we would all benefit from.