Axie Infinity stops low-level players from earning SLP tokens

Axie Infinity has unveiled a major update that affects players’ ability to earn smooth love potions (SLP), the in-game currency that users exchange for cash.

Sky Mavis, the Vietnam-based developer behind the blockchain-powered game, is implementing a rule that prevents users with a matchmaking ranking (MMR) below 800 from earning SLP tokens in the adventure, arena, or daily quest mode. MMR is a unit that indicates or measures player strength.

The change was set to take effect after a recently announced maintenance period, but it was delayed for several days due to deployment issues.

The Axie Infinity marketplace / Photo credit: Emfarsis Consulting

The Axie community seems divided over this change. A Twitter account praised it, citing how it helps stop bots from farming SLPs and disrupting “the economy of the game.” It also pushes people to know more about the game.

“It is been already proven that you can actually reach high MMR using floor (low-level) axies. So stop complaining and actually learn about the game and improve,” one Twitter user wrote.

According to a blockchain enthusiast, the move is aimed at ensuring those who get SLPs are active and competitive players. Smaller rewards also means lower distribution of SLPs in the market, and this could boost the token’s price in the long run and improve earnings for players with sufficient MMR.

However, some regard the update as discriminatory against low-income players who can’t afford expensive characters and struggle to reach high MMR. “Below 800 MMR players only rely on SLP from adventure, and you’re taking away that opportunity of them getting their capital back or earn to buy better Axies. Your so-called community is only for the rich,” another tweet read.

Meanwhile, others have pointed out how the new rule runs counter to Axie Infinity‘s vision of becoming a community-based game.

“Decentralize game? Community-owned? Keep fooling yourselves Axie, the reality is you get to choose whenever you want who gets to earn and how much they earn whenever you want. You can manipulate that. You can even stop the game now if you want cos you have control over all the assets,” a player said.

Tech in Asia has reached out to Axie Infinity for comment about the update.

Read also: Axie Infinity faces big test as player earnings fall

The development comes after the price of SLP plunged from US$0.35 in mid-July and hit its current price of about US$0.073. Prices have not recovered despite recent tweaks to the game’s economy. The drop has raised questions about the game’s sustainability among users, particularly those who were attracted to its play-to-earn mechanism.