This Week In Gaming | Off The Grid on Xbox Series X|S, Sky Mavis Restructures for New Axie Infinity, Moonray's Record NFT Mint, and the Latest Free Mint & Airdrop Updates

Web3 Game Development

Off The Grid Now Available on Xbox Series X|S via Game Preview Read More

Off The Grid (OTG), a web3 battle royale game by Gunzilla Games, has expanded its reach with an early access launch on Xbox Series X|S through Game Preview. This marks the first time Xbox Series S players can access the game, alongside support for OTG Pro and the Save Democracy content pack. Players can immerse themselves in both competitive multiplayer modes and a 60-hour single-player campaign, exploring the dynamic world of Teardrop. The game combines AAA-quality gameplay with blockchain-based features like customizable NFT assets, further redefining player ownership and in-game economies.

Sky Mavis Restructures Workforce and Prepares for New Axie Infinity Game Read More

Sky Mavis, the developer behind Axie Infinity and the Ronin Network, has announced layoffs affecting 21% of its workforce. According to co-founder Nguyen Thanh Trung, the move is a strategic decision to focus on key initiatives, including the Ronin wallet, Mavis marketplace, Web3 game publishing, and the release of a new Axie Infinity game in Q1 2025. The firm also aims to expand the Ronin Network, now the third-most-used crypto network. The restructuring aligns with anticipated regulatory shifts and a strategy to drive adoption in blockchain gaming and Web3 innovation.

MetaKing Studios Launches Lordchain to Scale Blocklords Ecosystem Read More

MetaKing Studios has introduced Lordchain, an L3 blockchain built on Ethereum’s Base L2, to scale its Blocklords gaming ecosystem. Designed to support up to 100 million users and billions of transactions, Lordchain addresses the demands of Blocklords Dynasty, which has already processed over 80 million transactions and attracted 1.85 million users. Leveraging the OP Stack framework, Lordchain ensures cross-chain compatibility and rapid bridging with Base. The ecosystem integrates the $LRDS token and a Master Validator Node system, offering rewards and governance power to participants. Future updates include the Blocklords "Battleborne" expansion and Lordchain’s testnet rollout.

Moonray Sets Record With Largest Free Gaming NFT Mint on OpenSea Read More

The Ethereum-based combat game Moonray has achieved OpenSea’s largest free gaming NFT mint, with over 220,000 "Jadeon Adam" character skins claimed on Coinbase’s Base network between November 19-21. The free NFT offers an in-game skin for the PC version of the game, available via the Epic Games Store. Moonray previously shifted from Bitcoin’s Stacks network to Ethereum to leverage NFTs and Web3 features, enhancing player ownership of digital items. The game, set to launch on PS5 next year, will debut without crypto elements due to Sony’s policies.

Emergence Launches New Worlds Initiative to Empower Metaverse Creators Read More

Emergence has unveiled the New Worlds Initiative, designed to support 100 World Producers in building interoperable worlds within the Open Metaverse. Backed by the $ometa token, participants gain access to tools like the Emergence SDK and Marketplace, retaining ownership of their creations. The initiative introduces diverse projects, including Bunshin Industries, a futuristic UGC platform, and ON1 Force, a decentralized anime universe. By fostering collaborative storytelling and economic integration, Emergence aims to establish a dynamic ecosystem for creators to shape innovative, interconnected metaverse experiences.

Attack on Titan Brings Tower Defense Gameplay to The Sandbox Read More

The popular anime and manga Attack on Titan has launched a new experience, Attack on Titan: Invasion, on the Ethereum-based metaverse platform, The Sandbox. Players take on the role of soldiers defending the Trost District against Titans alongside characters like Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman. The game features training challenges and strategic tower defense gameplay, culminating in a final quest with Eren. The experience is free to play on Windows and Mac, with optional NFT avatars available for purchase. This launch is part of The Sandbox’s growing portfolio of branded content during its Alpha Season 4.

Delabs Announces Ragnarok and Boxing Star Games on Telegram Read More

Delabs has revealed plans to launch Ragnarok and Boxing Star on Telegram, aiming to blend traditional and blockchain gaming experiences. Announced at the YGG Play Summit in Manila, the games reflect Delabs’ focus on social gaming and web3 integration. Backed by TON Ventures, the initiative leverages Delabs’ expertise in mid-core gaming, targeting a global release in Q1 2025. These titles aim to engage web2 and web3 audiences, offering innovative features on a familiar messaging platform.

Captain Tsubasa: Rivals Unveils Token Plans and Gains Player Momentum Read More

The Telegram-based game Captain Tsubasa: Rivals, inspired by the popular anime, has revealed plans for its JOHN token, named after a dog featured in the series. Players’ engagement, including collected in-game soccer balls, unlocked characters, and completed tasks, will influence their eligibility for the upcoming airdrop. The token is expected to launch on The Open Network (TON), aligning with the platform's ecosystem. Since the announcement, the game has experienced a surge in interest, doubling its Telegram subscribers and reaching nearly 4.5 million monthly active players. The addition of Rivals Coins during a limited event further enhances player excitement ahead of the token rollout.

Game Financing

Animoca Brands Invests in Pudgy Penguins’ Parent Company Igloo Inc. Read More

Animoca Brands has made a strategic investment in Igloo Inc., the parent company of Pudgy Penguins, through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE). The investment aims to support Igloo’s web3 ecosystem, including its Ethereum Layer 2 solution, Abstract, designed for consumer-focused applications. This collaboration fosters connections between Abstract and Animoca’s Mocaverse platform, driving cross-community engagement. Under CEO Luca Schnetzler, Pudgy Penguins has expanded into physical products and gaming, bridging blockchain technology and mainstream audiences. The partnership aligns with Animoca’s vision of advancing intellectual property within a decentralized digital economy.

Balance.fun Raises $10M Ahead of Key Node Sale to Bridge Web2 and Web3 Read More

Balance.fun, an AI-powered blockchain platform within the Aptos ecosystem, secured $10 million in institutional funding from investors like Animoca Brands and GSR Markets, bringing total funding to $30 million. This investment supports its Key Node Sale, a pivotal step in enhancing gaming and social networking through web2 and web3 integration. With over 4 million users globally and partnerships spanning 180 games, Balance.fun aims to unite decentralized applications, AI model training, and web3 gaming. Key Nodes, priced from $599, offer token rewards, revenue sharing, and support decentralized operations, with mining set to launch on December 25, 2024.

Accelbyte Fund Invests $15M in Web3.0 Games Infinitar and Runesoul Read More

Accelbyte Fund has announced a $15 million investment in two AAA Web3.0 games, Infinitar MOBA and Runesoul ARPG, signaling its commitment to innovation in blockchain-based gaming. With a global team of over 200 professionals from countries including the U.S., Vietnam, Japan, and Russia, the firm leverages its expertise to develop high-quality projects. This investment aligns with Accelbyte’s vision to lead the Web3.0 gaming sector, fostering growth in decentralized gaming experiences and showcasing the potential of blockchain integration in AAA titles.

Airdrop & Free Mints & Launchpad

Oxya Origin Early Access on Epic Games, Dec. 4–16 Read More

Xociety Corporate Share (XCS) NFT Free Mint Lucky Draw, December 4 Read More

Captain Laserhawk Universe NIJI Warriors ID NFT FREE Mint, December 11 Read More

The Red One: Occultation Closed Beta Test with exclusive rewards, Dec. 13–17 Read More