As inevitable as web3 gaming is as an idea, it’s additionally inevitable that almost all of blockchain video games gained’t achieve success.
So right here’s our record of the video games formally shutting down or rebooting as web2 experiences.
NB: to present a way of the size of time that funding is predicted to final, one rule of thumb is it prices round $1 million to run a group of 10 recreation builders yearly.
Most web3 recreation funding was raised in 2021 and 2022 so a nominal group of 10 would have value not less than $3 million by mid-2025. In fact, for extra advanced video games, groups could be greater than 50-strong.
You do the mathematics!
Closed down
US developer Battlebound – raised $8 million in 2022 – closed down, cancelling growth of its recreation Anterris.
South Korea developer Hypedream – $7 million raised in 2021 – closed down on account of an absence of funding, additionally closing down its Derby Stars and Derby Race video games.
US dev Nice Huge Stunning Tomorrow – raised $3 million in 2024 – closed down, suspending growth on its social deduction recreation The Thriller Society.
US developer Midnight Society closed down, canning its in-development vertical shooter Deadrop.
US studio Laguna Labs canned its forthcoming recreation Neo Olympus after it didn’t mint out its preliminary NFTs.
Singapore dev 9 Lives Interactive – raised $13 million – ran out of funding, additionally closing down its in-development PC shooter Nyan Heroes.
Overworld – the US growth studio that’s a part of Xterio – $10 million raised – cancelled its in-dev recreation Overworld, pivoting to construct the video games advertising and rewards blockchain REACH.
Closing down
Cellular battle royale Blast Royale will formally shut on thirtieth June however will probably be open sourced. UK developer First Gentle Video games – raised $5 million in 2022 – continues to be working.
TGC recreation Cosmik Battle from French developer Cometh – $10 million raised – is being sunsetted. It “didn’t discover a sustainable distribution channel or long-term launch companions”. The corporate continues to function.
Not formally introduced however it seems that cell recreation Rumble Kong League – raised $5 million in 2021 – has been offered off, reportedly – however with no proof but – to a Brazilian firm.
Gala Video games’ The Strolling Lifeless: Empires is shutting down, with its final playable date being thirty first July. NFT holders will obtain “new NFTs of equal performance in different Gala Video games merchandise”.
Ditched web3, going web2
