We’re excited to share the latest product updates across Sorare sports — and some football-specific, building upon those shared earlier this month.
These include updates on a new regulatory framework in France, Cash Wallet system, month-long competitions, jersey drop in the Club Shop, Golden Cap 270 competition, and more.
*Please note that this Product Roadmap update is from May 2023. We have added a new section below on ‘Alternative Entry’ in the UK which was added on Friday, July 7th 2023 with an additional update on Feb 14th 2024.
Regulatory update: A temporary change in France
[Click here for French translation]
The French government recently shared its plans to propose a bill that will introduce a new regulatory framework for “Exchangeable In-Game Items.” This development is excellent news for the Web3 gaming space, as the introduction of a new framework that successfully harnesses the potential of Web3 will be key to its growth and success.
While nascent technologies await more suitable frameworks, companies like Sorare sometimes have to temporarily adapt their products to comply with current interpretation of existing regulation. Before the new framework in France is adopted, we have agreed to a temporary solution with the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) that creates an optional alternative method of entry for users based in France only.
This temporary alternative entry method is only made available in France because it is specific to regulatory discussions with the ANJ in France. Each country has its own framework. We are confident the regulatory framework for “Exchangeable In-Game Items” in France will influence other frameworks across the globe that are suited to the Web3 gaming space. In the meantime, our position remains unchanged: Sorare has nothing to do with the games of chance regulated by the gambling authorities.
Alternative entry in France
The temporary solution is now live in Sorare: Football for Game Week 374, and will go live in Sorare MLB this Friday, May 26, with Game Week 17 and will go live in Sorare NBA on October 25th, with GW1.* Please note this is an alternative entry method only for France-based users who choose to explore it.
Note this temporary solution does not impact our core game, competition structure, or reward supply. In fact, it allows Sorare to continue our larger efforts toward achieving product stability and gameplay improvements (e.g. the Collection Game, ETH reward distribution across competitions, and more).
How will the alternative entry method work? Click here for details.
Again, this alternative entry method is live in Sorare: Football for Game Week 374 and will be live for Game Week 17 in Sorare: MLB; and go live in Sorare NBA on October 25th, Game Week 1* (and as with our other sports, will only apply to France-based users).
There are strict rules in place for users to participate in the alternative entry method. Users must:
- Be based in France and have a valid Sorare account with a verified phone number
- Complete a verification process which requires proof of residence. This verification process only applies to the alternative entry method for France-based users.
- Not submit a team composed of any blockchain cards in the related Game Week
- Comply with the terms applicable to the alternative method of entry
- Also: Users in France that choose to select this alternative entry method will not have access to Sorare cards; they will not compete with Common or Scarcity Cards (Limited, Rare, Super Rare, and Unique Cards), but instead will receive player lineups. See here for details.
*Please note that the Alternative Entry Method is also live in the UK and France as of October 25th for Game Week 1 of Sorare NBA.
What it means for Sorare
This temporary solution allows us to protect the integrity of our core gameplay and reward structure while advancing our product roadmap ahead of the 2023–24 European club season. (See below for additional Football roadmap updates.)
Further, our product offering is unique, and the experiences we unlock for our community represent the evolution of where sports fandom is headed. The new framework will offer clear parameters to propel us forward as we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what our Managers can achieve through fantasy sports, ownership, and community.
NEW: Alternative entry in UK**
As hoped, launching the Alternative Entry Method in France has allowed us to accelerate our roadmap development, and despite a few initial small technical challenges, the Alternative Entry Method does not change our core game and the way in which our community play Sorare.
Knowing the above, we have made the decision to open the Alternative Entry Method to users based in the United Kingdom.
Learning from our recent experience and progress with regulators in France and elsewhere, we are being proactive and taking this step now, knowing that it will help facilitate our marketing and growth plans in a key market for Sorare.
The Alternative Entry Method is available in the UK as of Friday July 7th 2023 for Sorare Football and Sorare MLB.** The same rules for application will apply in France and in the UK. For more information please read our document here.
***As part of our continued discussions with the regulator in the UK, on February 9th we have proactively updated the entry flow for our Alternative Entry Method which now has slightly different rules for application. Read the full details of the updated user flow here.
Please note that the updated Alternative Entry Method in the UK is live as of February 9th, 2024 for Game Week 449 of Sorare Football and will be live as of February 20th, 2024 for Game Week 34 of Sorare NBA.
**Please note this section was added on Friday, July 7th, 2023.
***Please note this section was added on February 9th, 2024
New Cash Wallet system
Some of you may have recently spotted a new pop-up window we were testing as part of our project to launch a new payment system process. We’re excited to share some of our key progress over the last few weeks as we open a new and significant chapter for Sorare and our user experience. (Note Sorare ETH Wallet functionality will remain unchanged.)
The new payment process will allow Sorare Managers to deposit and withdraw from their Sorare Wallets in US Dollars (USD), Euro (EUR), and British Pound Sterling (GBP).
The new Cash Wallet system — previously referred to as Fiat Wallet — will launch this summer. Upon launch, it will support payments through credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It will also support Bank transfers for deposit and withdrawals (not payments on the Marketplace).
The new Cash Wallet system is similar in scope to our Ethereum scaling solution in 2021 which launched Limited Cards and removed much of the friction associated with gas fees and congestion on the Ethereum network.
We’re working hard to launch this new system and thrilled at the prospect of making the payment and withdrawal process quick and easy for our community. We will share more details, including exact timing, ahead of the launch this summer.
Football Product Roadmap Updates
Introducing month-long competitions
This summer, we will launch our first ever month-long competition format for each card scarcity. In this new format, Managers accumulate points over multiple Game Weeks. Our community will have to put their best scouting hats on to build championship teams! (Note Managers will be able to submit different teams, not just for month-long competitions.)
This competition format has been one of the most popular community requests, and we can’t wait to bring it to you. Full competition details, including rewards — which will include ETH, Sorare cards, and VIP experiences — will be shared in the coming weeks.
Jerseys in the Club Shop
Football jerseys are ready to launch in the Club Shop! To begin with, we’ll drop 100 “mystery jerseys” in the Club Shop starting Wednesday, May 24. To celebrate, jerseys will be available at the early bird price of 10,000 coins. Note Managers will only be able to redeem one mystery jersey every 30 days, to make it as equitable as possible. We’re starting small, so expect more jersey drops across the summer!
K League Special Weekly Rewards
In our recent Football Product Roadmap update, we shared the challenges Sorare is facing with K League coverage this season. We’re frustrated by the situation and in an effort to show this great league much-needed love, we’re launching our first ever K League Special Weekly competition on Thursday, June 1 (Game Week 377). The rewards for this special event include higher-level Scarcity Cards and K League jerseys (including signed jerseys).
Golden Cap 270
Capped Mode 270 becomes Golden for Game Week 375! To mark the end of the busy European football season, we’re increasing the rewards at the top end of the Leaderboard. Prize pools will be revealed once the Game Week 375 opens for submission.
Celebrating “OG” Common Card collectors
We’re excited to offer rewards to Managers who have accumulated a large collection of “classic” Common Cards. This follows changes to the Common Card utility and structure as noted in our January Sorare: Football update, including removing old Common Cards. The above-linked changes and following Manager rewards go into effect Wednesday, May 24:
- Ten Coins for each classic Common Card that is removed from users’ galleries
- A Level-Up boost for each scarcity in which an impacted Manager owned at least one card
- An “OG” badge and banner for Managers who lost 100 Common cards OR who owned a Common Card from 2019. (“OG” is shorthand for someone or something that is an original or originator.)
Collection Game reminder
As announced in our recent Football product roadmap update, we’re rolling out our new Collection Game this Thursday, May 25. Managers can assemble club collections around specific clubs, seasons, and scarcities — such as 2022–23 Napoli Limited Cards or 2018–19 Club Brugge Rare Cards.
Aside from the fun of assembling players from your favorite teams and leagues, Managers can compete for bragging rights by climbing the Collection Leaderboards and earn a Collection Bonus for all player cards in an album to boost their chances of winning rewards in our Game Week competitions. We can’t wait to see the collections you build!
Feedback + communication
We value and welcome your feedback on the above announcements, and look forward to collaborating on the next phase of product updates.
Be sure to join us later this week for a Twitter Spaces as Sorare: Football GM Aalok Kapoor will discuss these product roadmap updates and answer your key questions.
This article was last updated on Feb 14th 2024
