Nyan Heroes

The studio's debut title is Nyan Heroes, a team-based hero shooter built on Unreal Engine 5 and the Solana blockchain. The development team consists of veterans from prominent gaming companies such as Electronic Arts, Bungie, and Ubisoft, with experience on major franchises like Halo, Destiny, and Rainbow Six. To date, 9 Lives Interactive has raised a total of $13 million over several funding rounds, including a $2.5 million seed round in late 2021, a $7.5 million strategic round in May 2022 which valued the company at $100 million, and a $3 million round in March 2024 led by Mechanism Capital.

Nyan Heroes is a free-to-play, third-person shooter where players control cats piloting powerful mechs called Guardians. The game features objective-based PvP battles in a futuristic world called Nekovia. Players can choose from various guardian classes, each with unique abilities, such as Assassin, Medic, and Tank. A key gameplay mechanic allows the cat pilot to eject from a critically damaged mech and continue fighting on foot, adding a strategic layer to matches. The game emphasizes high-quality graphics and dynamic, cat-like movement.

The business model incorporates both traditional and web3 elements. Revenue is expected from in-game purchases like cosmetic skins and battle passes. The game's economy utilizes a dual-token system. "Catnip" (CTNP) is a virtual in-game currency earned through gameplay and used for marketplace purchases. The second token, $NYAN, is a Solana-based cryptocurrency that functions as the ecosystem's governance token. Players can use $NYAN to convert in-game items into tradable NFTs, pay marketplace fees, and participate in governance. This hybrid model aims to be accessible to traditional gamers while offering the benefits of asset ownership to those interested in web3.