In 2024, Confiction Labs laid the groundwork for its broader vision of catalyzing Collaborative Entertainment. The team released the genesis asset for the Confiction ecosystem, FICT ZERO. Two RIFTSTORM playtests concluded successfully, with the October playtest pushing the game to #1 on Steam’s Trending Free list for three consecutive days. XPSR-24, the premier collection for the Occultical universe encompassing RIFTSTORM, also launched, and the Confiction Portal was opened to grant community members access to a more extensive and interactive networked experience for the IP.
With a strong community that shares the Collaborative Entertainment vision, 2025 is the year to ignite the next phase. Confiction is set to build on its momentum with a tightly integrated strategy featuring three core pillars: gaming, AI, and Web3.
Expanding the Occultical Universe
The rise of personal computing from 1975 to 2000 launched video games as its own segment within the entertainment industry, with growth reaching US$40 billion in just under 25 years. This put the industry in a position to target mainstream adoption starting in 2000, driving the second 25-year cycle for gaming, which was amplified by the internet and mobile computing to surpass US$200 billion in value.
Today, gaming is on the verge of a third cycle defined by distributed computing and artificial intelligence. Confiction’s flagship co-op looter shooter RIFTSTORM is primed to lead this era as the go-to game of a fast-expanding player base and the nexus of a new, global, collaborative economy.
RIFTSTORM has been developed over the past three years to pioneer Collaborative Entertainment, a goal that would only be possible if everyone had the optimal tools to participate. Starting 2025, the player community will be able to help shape the Occultical universe through AI-powered tools that will unlock their creativity, optimize their player experience, and facilitate their contribution to the lore and world-building. Web3 will also work alongside AI to power the creation of a digital economy, giving the community a path to be rewarded for their involvement and collaboration.
RIFTSTORM’s fourth and final playtest will be launched during the upcoming Steam Next Fest, aiming to onboard 250,000 gamers. Data from this final playtest will propel RIFTSTORM toward its Early Access release in late 2025, setting the stage for a full Steam release the following year.
Powering Collaboration with AI
Across the industry, companies like Tencent and NetEase are using AI to streamline their development processes, create more immersive and personalized experiences, and optimize game performance. An AI x Game Dev Survey conducted by a16z games in 2024 reveals that over 70% of game studios in the sample group use AI in their current workflows.
Gamers want to play together more than against each other. A 2023 Statista Consumer Insight report highlights that over 70% of gamers in the US cite their biggest motivations to play games as spending time with their friends and turning it into a family event. This underscores the growing demand for experiences built around cooperation rather than competition — one that AI can amplify in groundbreaking ways.
Confiction Labs believes that the true superpower of AI is how it can enable collaboration for gamers, creators and investors alike. This year, Confiction will begin deploying its suite of Confiction Intelligence Agents (CIAs) to empower all participants to collaborate, create and contribute.
AI agents like the Meta Director will shape RIFTSTORM gameplay dynamically, ensuring play sessions are paced for challenge and levity. Inspired by the landmark AI director in Valve’s iconic 2008 shooter Left 4 Dead, the Meta Director will manipulate player experiences on the fly, keeping each run fresh, engaging and fun. More CIAs like this are in store for 2025 and 2026, and they will not only make gameplay more immersive but also make it easier for community members to create their own pieces of Occultical lore.
Building the Next $10B Entertainment Franchise
RIFTSTORM’s journey into establishing itself as a household name is contingent on making Collaborative Entertainment a reality. While Pokémon, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe all grew into multimillion-dollar behemoths with cross-media domination, RIFTSTORM is taking a different approach by letting fans decide on the direction of this journey.
In these early stages of the Occultical universe, the RIFTSTORM community has the power to shape the direction and evolution of this franchise. The successful launch of FICT ZERO, which saw all 333 available assets minted and only two sold at the highest price of 3.6 ETH, shows the community’s conviction for Collaborative Entertainment. The XPSR-24 collection raising over 190 ETH in funds likewise signals strong interest in the ongoing development of Occultical.
This community-driven engagement will be a key pillar of RIFTSTORM’s continued growth, accelerating the game’s transition into Early Access on Steam by year-end. With AI and Web3 at the core, Confiction Labs is well-positioned to become the leading platform for Collaborative Entertainment, where players are empowered to shape universes and own their impact.
