Animoca Brands-backed web3 chess game Anichess has introduced a new on-chain points system known as M8, designed to reward daily player activity.
Players can now earn M8 Points simply by participating in one Quick or Ranked Match each day. These points can then be claimed during weekday cycles and will contribute to a growing set of in-game utilities, including cosmetics, spells, lootboxes, and a new competitive mode called Gambit.
Built on the Base network, the system offers incentives for players who engage with the game consistently, regardless of match outcome.
What is M8 Points in Anichess?
M8 is a blockchain-based points system introduced to reward player engagement in Anichess. Running on the Base network, M8 is not a cryptocurrency or token—it’s a points mechanism that tracks player activity and enables future in-game benefits.
Every day that a player completes at least one Quick or Ranked Match, they become eligible to receive 10 M8 Points. Importantly, these points are tied to participation, not performance—players do not need to win matches to qualify.
The Anichess team has outlined several planned utilities for M8 Points, including unlocking cosmetic upgrades such as new chess pieces, boards, and backgrounds; acquiring lootboxes that may contain elemental drops (Fire, Water, and Earth); and participating in Gambit, a forthcoming token-based game mode that will require an entry fee paid in M8 Points.
Some of these lootboxes are expected to include allocations of the future $C token, which is connected to the Genius Score system developed by the Checkmate Foundation.
How to claim M8 points?
Whilst earning M8 Points requires playing matches, claiming them involves a separate daily process.
Eligible players can claim their points from Monday to Friday, during a specific claim window that opens at 07:00 UTC each day. These windows are based on matches played from 00:00 to 23:59 UTC on the previous day. Monday’s claim window covers matches played across the weekend—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If a player fails to claim their points during the designated window, the unclaimed points will expire and cannot be recovered.
To claim, players must log into the Anichess platform and click the M8 Claim button. Once submitted, the claim is processed and recorded on-chain, typically within a few hours.
All collected points during Season 3—which marked the game’s public alph a release and featured a partnership with Yield Guild Games—have been automatically converted into M8 Points and added to players’ balances. This retroactive conversion ensures that early adopters are recognised for their participation and provides a foundation for future rewards tied to the broader Anichess ecosystem.
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