One of the first things that stood out was how easy and intuitive the user interface was. The flow felt natural, the options were clear, and the process didn’t feel overwhelming—even for someone who tends to procrastinate on cosmetic or identity-related features. From a UX standpoint, this was a solid execution.
A Little Bit of Salt… and Some Perspective
I’ll admit it: I did feel a bit salty realizing that using our Runi as an Avatar is no longer an option. Runi feels more like a true NFT to me—something on the blockchain, scarce, and deeply tied to early participation in the ecosystem. In comparison, Avatars feel more game-native and less collectible in that traditional Web3 sense.
That said, after thinking about it more, I can understand the direction.
Avatars are clearly being designed with gameplay, engagement, and progression in mind—not just ownership. From that perspective, this shift makes sense if the goal is to attract and retain gamers rather than purely collectors.
A Strong First Phase
Even in this initial rollout, the customization options are surprisingly good. There’s enough variety to feel personal without being overwhelming, and you can already see the foundation for much deeper systems down the line.
Identity is a powerful thing in online games. How you present yourself—your look, your progression, your uniqueness—is often a major driver of retention and emotional attachment. The team seems to understand that, and this Avatar system feels like a long-term investment in that idea.
I fully expect:
- More cosmetic options
- More progression paths
- More reasons to engage with identity over time
What’s Next: The Exemplar
Now that my Avatar is set, the next step is tackling my Exemplar. That’s where things get really interesting—bridging identity with gameplay in a way that’s still rare in card-based games.
I just need to find the time (and Glint) to take it to the next level.
Overall, this update gave me a renewed sense that Splinterlands is continuing to evolve beyond just cards and battles. It’s building characters, identity, and presence—and that’s a powerful direction for the future of the ecosystem.
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