Axie Infinity Origins Season 16 Kicks Off
Axie Infinity Origins players will see Season 16 commence on January 21. This season will maintain the current gameplay mechanics and balance without introducing new adjustments. A significant change for Season 16 is the shift in rewards, with bAXS being distributed only once at the end of the season. This moves away from the per-era payout system that was in place for previous seasons, such as the multi-phase structure of Season 15. The aim of consolidating rewards is to simplify the player progression experience. However, initial reactions on X have raised concerns that delayed incentives might impact mid-season player momentum.
Axie Infinity Classic Season 13 and Competitive Circuit 2
Axie Infinity Classic players can look forward to Season 13, which begins on January 22. The season will feature a three-week arena leaderboard running until February 12, followed by four weeks of mini-tournaments concluding on February 20. A key development is the refinement of the Competitive Circuit 2, which will span across four seasons, from S13 to S16. This circuit will de-emphasize guild wars to place a sharper focus on individual player performance. Most bans from the previous Circuit 1 will be lifted for players, with only a few exceptions, thereby broadening the competitive field.
The top 16 leaderboard finishers from each season will qualify for a 3,000 AXS Season Championship. This structure is designed to build anticipation towards the circuit's finale.
Classic Champions Invitational and Reward Structures
Adding to the competitive landscape, the new Classic Champions Invitational will feature eight elite players competing for a 5,000 AXS prize pool. The slots for this invitational will be divided equally: one slot will be awarded to the top-ranked arena player from each of Seasons 13 through 16, and the remaining four slots will go to the victors of the Season Championships. In cases where a player qualifies through multiple avenues, the slot will be passed down to the next eligible qualifier, ensuring new participants have opportunities.
For Season 13, rewards across esports, guilds, leaderboards, and tournaments will be distributed in AXS. The use of bAXS for later seasons is being considered and is pending confirmation. This reward structure is reminiscent of the evolution seen in past circuits, such as Season 12's 36,000 AXS prize pool, but aims to pace competition more intensely to maintain player engagement.
Community Reactions and Future Outlook
Discussions on X are reflecting a range of opinions regarding these updates. Some players have expressed approval for the Classic Invitational, seeing it as a format that can genuinely identify top performers, aligning with long-standing requests for elite-level competitions amidst concerns about bots and high entry barriers. Conversely, others have voiced reservations about the static approach to Origins and the pivot to bAXS, drawing parallels to the shifts in SLP that previously led to a decline in player numbers.
Viral clips from past Elite 8 streams are fueling speculation about potential meta shifts, with players reportedly preparing their teams in anticipation of unbanned Axies. As the arenas begin to fill again, these changes could either stabilize player counts or introduce adaptation challenges, similar to the pivots required during Season 15's era transitions. The coming weeks will indicate whether the revamped circuit can recapture Classic's nostalgic appeal while Origins maintains its current momentum.