With the Conclave Arcana presale right around the corner, we sit down with @yabapmatt for a wide-ranging conversation on where things stand — and where they’re heading.
From the momentum behind recent releases to thoughts on Survival Mode, onboarding & black foils, this one offers a clear window into the current mindset of the team.
@fatjimmy joins as cohost as we dig into ownership, meta shifts, community priorities — and yes, the mustache segment remains a staple of season 4!
Enjoy the show!
Splinterlands Momentum & Upcoming Releases
Matt shared reflections on the past six months, highlighting the consistent delivery of new features and the growing sense of internal confidence. The addition of Dave McCoy has helped stabilize team operations and strengthen community engagement. With Conclave Arcana on the horizon, the focus is on maintaining that release cadence and attracting new players. Matt also credited passionate contributors like Blaze for helping drive the project forward — momentum is building, and the team wants to keep pushing.
Improving the Onboarding Experience
Yabapmatt emphasized the need to make Splinterlands more accessible for new players. He referenced the recent website redesign and the upcoming foundation set — specifically built to simplify the entry point. The goal is to create a cohesive experience by integrating cards, guilds, and future systems more intentionally. Compared to many other blockchain games, he sees Splinterlands as one of the few with actual gameplay depth — and believes that’s a major advantage in the current space.
Player Ownership & Game Resilience
Matt reiterated that the core team is committed to the project regardless of financial headwinds. He drew a sharp contrast with VC-backed games focused on valuation rather than sustainability. With validators and decentralized infrastructure in place, Splinterlands is shifting into something truly player-owned — where the company is just one stakeholder among many.
Survival Mode: From Skepticism to Strategy
Bjangles admitted to initial doubts around the value of Survival Mode, but after getting hands-on, he’s now a believer — calling it both fun and strategic. Yabapmatt agreed, citing the need for more liquidity and reward tuning. The team also discussed “strategic surrender” mechanics, which both saw as a simple but elegant solution to pacing issues.
Community-Driven Mode Changes
Game design isn’t happening in a vacuum. Yabapmatt stressed the importance of consensus and community feedback in shaping gameplay direction. Over the next five months, Survival Mode will be used as a sandbox — with the possibility of SPS rewards on the table. FatJimmy asked about the reward pool size, and Matt confirmed it matches Modern/Wild for now but can shift based on community priorities. Bjangles also floated ideas around reward cross-pollination between modes — especially as player investment grows.
Conclave Arcana Presale & Black Foils
Matt shared some early goals and projections for the upcoming Conclave Arcana presale. He’s hoping to build a full set of black foil cards, though he knows the odds aren’t kind — especially with projections showing just ~60 black foils per legendary if the set sells out. Still, he’s planning to invest more than he has in any previous set. He also emphasized how Arcana will enhance the value of Rebellion cards by giving them increased relevance in Modern meta builds.
Future Integrations & Market Potential
Yabapmatt touched briefly on land integrations, with the focus now shifting to things like research permits and asset production. Potions like Revival and Midnight were discussed as possible economic drivers, creating demand for marketplace resources. He also confirmed the general sale launch date of May 13, and hinted at future projects including:
Survival Mode expansion
A major guild system overhaul
Glamour systems and cosmetics
The Mustache Segment
To close the episode, FatJimmy floated the idea of growing a wild mustache for a week — Yabapmatt wasn’t sure he could pull it off in that timeframe. The conversation then drifted into beard territory and ended with a nod to Yabapmatt’s upcoming 7-year anniversary with the company. The tone turned reflective as they both expressed gratitude for the community and excitement for what’s next — especially with Conclave Arcana just around the corner.
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