Idan Zuckerman is the co-founder and co-CEO of Upland, a metaverse that maps the real world to a blockchain and NFT-based economy. Upland is one of the world’s most widely adopted blockchain applications, available across devices via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. With 20 years of experience in gaming, blockchain, and consumer internet industries, Idan was also a founding team member of Rocketplay — a leading mobile games developer later acquired by AGS.
What inspired Upland to develop a mini‐game for X, and how do XStacks’ mechanics integrate with X’s social features?
We have observed that X is evolving into an all‐in‐one platform—a modern “town hall” that combines various services with social connectivity.
Anticipating that X will eventually support native gaming experiences, we wanted to enter the market early with a product that entertains and integrates well with the platform’s social elements.
In designing XStacks, our aim was to embed social interactions directly into the game’s core mechanics so that progress and competition are driven by community engagement rather than isolated play.
How do you interpret the initial engagement metrics for XStacks in terms of its design and social features?
XStacks is structured as a 3D block puzzle game comprising 99 levels that increase in complexity.
The design intends to challenge players individually while also encouraging them to work as part of a community. In our current campaign, 18 cities compete for $SPARKLET rewards, and players choose which city to represent.
Should a player encounter difficulty on a particular level, they can consult with a fellow player — someone who has already completed the level and shared their achievement on X.
This system facilitates problem‐solving while promoting sharing and interaction among players.
What insights do you hope to gain from Xstacks’ initial 21-day launch, and how might it influence future iterations?
This first XStacks campaign is primarily an opportunity for us to learn and adapt. As the inaugural game on X, we are effectively charting new territory without a pre-existing guide.
Our focus has been on understanding how X’s algorithm interacts with our use of the X-API and on identifying what aspects of the user onboarding process are most effective.
By analysing play data and gathering player feedback, we expect to gain valuable insights that will help us refine the game, improve the user experience, and inform the design of future iterations.
How is Upland balancing accessibility with web3 incentives in the game’s design, and what lessons from Upland’s broader blockchain economy were applied to XStacks?
The $SPARKLET token, which has been part of the Upland economy for two years prior to its TGE event, serves as a distinctive utility token.
Its design and the growing utility it has acquired—backed by a community of over 140,000 token holders at TGE—enable us to incentivise innovation effectively.
Over our five years of development at Upland, we have learned that integrating strong social elements into game design and utilising effective distribution channels are critical.
Although XStacks is a mini-game, it builds on these core lessons by emphasising team-based progress and friendly competition.
We have also seen that a game designed for a broad audience can serve as an onboarding tool for web3, particularly when paired with traditional (web2) distribution channels that extend its reach.
How could the launch of native payments on X affect XStacks and Upland’s wider gaming ecosystem?
Native payments are a fundamental aspect of any digital platform, and X is no exception.
We are looking forward to the launch of X Payments and plan to integrate this feature with XStacks as soon as it is available.
Our expectation is that a fair payment system — without excessive platform fees — will benefit developers and users alike, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and user-friendly gaming ecosystem.
Do you envision a long-term roadmap for expanding beyond mini-games into a more comprehensive social gaming experience on social media platforms?
Yes, we do. Given that the platform is predominantly mobile, we anticipate that mobile games will play a leading role in any future expansion.
Our long-term strategy involves exploring additional gaming formats that retain the essential social features that have proven so effective in XStacks, ensuring that we continue to innovate while maintaining a strong community focus.