Civitas – A Web3 Strategy Game with NFTs, CITI Token, and Augmented Reality

Civitas is the world's first large-scale community-driven 4X strategy game fully integrated with blockchain technology. Players become "citizens" of virtual subDAO cities, participating in construction, economic development, governance through voting, and even AR-based real-world expansion. The game blends the depth of classical strategy titles with a decentralized asset ownership model, forming a unique ecosystem where progress depends on collective decisions.

Contents

• Overview of Civitas
• Gameplay and Key Mechanics
• Blockchain, NFTs, and the Civitas Economy
• SubDAO Governance and Voting
• AR Expansion and Mobile Features
• Technical Architecture
• Conclusion

1. Overview of Civitas

Civitas is the first-ever community-driven 4X strategy game built on the Ethereum blockchain, featuring its own token economy and NFT assets. Developed by Directive Games with industry veterans who previously worked on EVE Online, Battlefield, and Star Wars, the project combines AAA-level design with blockchain functionality.

In 2021, Civitas secured approximately $20 million in funding from leading VC firms including Delphi Ventures, Framework Ventures, and Bitkraft.

The game supports PC and mobile platforms (iOS/Android), with a future AR client in development. A companion app complements the web-based experience, enhancing player engagement.

At its core, Civitas merges city-building, social strategy, and on-chain governance. Each city functions as an independent subDAO where community members decide the direction of development, trade resources, and compete for influence. The hybrid on-chain/off-chain architecture ensures technological flexibility and scalability for the expanding Web3 metaverse.

2. Gameplay and Key Mechanics

Civitas offers players a deep strategic experience within the 4X genre—exploration, expansion, exploitation of resources, and conflict. The core objective is to build and develop a personal city integrated into a decentralized network of subDAOs, where every decision has a direct impact on the collective future of the community.

The game begins with a small plot of land and limited resources. Over time, players expand their infrastructure, participate in economic and social processes, and establish relationships with other members of the ecosystem. Gameplay revolves around several key components:

• Constructing buildings of various types, including residential, industrial, research, and cultural structures;

• Creating and optimizing economic chains—from resource extraction to processing and trade;

• Researching technologies that unlock new opportunities and enhance the efficiency of city systems;

• Participating in cooperative missions, events, and special in-game activities;

• Managing resources and maintaining a sustainable internal economy;

• Engaging with other players through alliances, diplomacy, trade, and strategic competition;

• Making collective decisions via subDAO voting systems that shape city policy and development.

Cities in Civitas are laid out on a hexagonal grid with a central “Tower of Influence,” which acts as a hub for receiving quests, tracking statistics, and participating in governance. This structure combines elements of city-building simulation, economic strategy, and social metaverse interaction, making each player’s journey both immersive and uniquely expansive.

3. Blockchain, NFTs, and the Civitas Economy

One of Civitas' core strengths lies in its blockchain-based economy. All in-game assets—from land to characters—exist as tokens or NFTs, granting players true ownership, market value, and governance rights. The system is built around decentralized principles, allowing communities to shape their cities' futures.

The economy is powered by several components:

• CITI – an ERC-20 token used for transactions, service payments, and governance votes;
• SubDAOs – autonomous city communities managing their own treasuries through voting mechanisms;
• Chosen NFTs – collectible 3D avatars with gameplay bonuses that generate Ever Fragments, essential for crafting Ever Crystals and upgrading land plots;
• Land NFTs – virtual territories where players build infrastructure and extract resources;
• Ever Fragments and Ever Crystals – core materials for land enhancement and progression.

Using Ethereum Layer-2 solutions, Civitas enables fast, low-cost transactions and facilitates NFT trading on open marketplaces. This system ensures a dynamic, player-driven economy with real-world value and long-term sustainability.

4. SubDAO Governance and Voting

Governance in Civitas is decentralized by design. Each city operates as a subDAO—an independent governing body of players with voting power based on asset ownership. Landowners, Chosen NFT holders, and other key participants influence decisions that shape the city's direction.

The governance system covers a wide range of topics, from strategic planning to treasury allocation. This transforms each city into a living digital republic governed by its citizens rather than a central authority.

This system empowers players to engage with their communities on a deeper level, ensuring that every decision reflects the collective will. Inter-city diplomacy, alliances, and competition add a geopolitical layer, where subDAOs interact to influence the broader metaverse.

5. AR Expansion and Mobile Features

The Civitas mobile app enhances the game with augmented reality features. Players can explore real-world locations to discover CITI tokens and resources, turning movement and exploration into meaningful gameplay. The app also includes geo-based mini-games and community events, bridging the physical and digital experiences.

Players can interact with their city’s Tower of Influence, monitor updates, and engage in governance through the app. Meanwhile, the PC version focuses on construction, economics, forums, and strategic interactions. This hybrid model combines traditional gameplay with immersive mobile mechanics.

6. Technical Architecture

According to the project documentation, Civitas uses a modular Web3 infrastructure designed for scalability. A Layer-2 blockchain ensures fast and affordable transactions, while smart contracts power tokens, NFTs, and DAO mechanics.

The backend handles blockchain interactions and off-chain data, while the frontend includes both a web-based interface and mobile AR functionality. Each city operates as a subDAO with its own rules, treasury, and voting system. A built-in marketplace enables peer-to-peer trading of NFTs and tokens.

This robust architecture positions Civitas as a long-term, expandable ecosystem capable of integrating third-party tools and evolving with the Web3 landscape.

7. Conclusion

Civitas is more than a game—it’s a decentralized ecosystem that fuses strategic gameplay with blockchain ownership, NFTs, and player governance. It offers a rich 4X experience where players not only build and grow cities but also shape the political and economic structure of their communities.

With the support of major investors, a seasoned development team, and a flexible technical foundation, Civitas stands out as a pioneering project in Web3 gaming. It redefines the strategy genre and opens the door to a new form of digital society. Join the community, participate in development, and help shape the virtual civilizations of tomorrow.