Aussie-based indie game developer Grease Monkey Games – an Animoca Brands division – was reportedly backed financially by the heavyweight Epic Games to design a new blockchain-based motorsport game Torque Drift 2.

Specifically, an Epic MegaGrant was issued by the Fortnite developers to the entity, which will be dedicated towards building the motorsport title, which is based on drifting. 

The Unreal Engine functions as a 3D computer graphics game engine designed by Epic Games, which has been utilized across numerous sectors following its initial showcasing in the 1998 game Unreal. 

As revealed by Animoca Brands, the Epic MegaGrant, with the overall value falling between the $5,000 and maximum $500,000, will be devoted towards designing a realistic gaming experience, which is on the same tier with other triple-A games that also utilize the Unreal Engine. 

Taking into account that Grease Monkey Games is in the building process for a play-to-earn (P2E) game, the Epic Games grant serves as a representative for support from the traditional gaming sphere, something which has often been at odds with blockchain gaming.

Torque Drift 2 will operates as an upcoming drifting motorsport game with a tuning garage, to be introduced to players from the third quarter of this year, with a full release timeline scheduled for 2024. The game will take advantage of nonfungible token (NFT) parts, cars, decals and items that players can use to build up their car and profile.

Players will further have the ability to create their own paint job and car tune NFTs, which are available for sharing and selling within the Torque Drift 2 marketplace.

Grease Monkey Games functions as a traditional game developer that has been publishing original IP games since 2014, which amassed to more than 45 million downloads worldwide. They were subjected to an acquisition from Animoca Brands in February this year, and Animoca will offer assistance regarding their transition to blockchain games.