Research Summary
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the gaming metaverse. It highlights key funding rounds, game updates, and upcoming releases. The report also delves into deep-dive analyses and insights from industry experts on topics such as the state of Web3 gaming, the power of Bitcoin’s Lightning Network in mobile gaming, and the pros and cons of launching gaming tokens.
Key Takeaways
Funding Rounds and Announcements
- Shardbound’s Funding: Shardbound, a multiplayer collectible tactics game built on Immutable X, raised $5m in a funding round led by Bitkraft. The game has opened up pre-registration and has been holding several alpha playtests.
- Ethxy’s Pre-seed Round: Ethxy, a Telegram-based MMORPG, announced a $1.6m pre-seed round with participation from a16z, Orange DAO, and several other investment funds and angels.
- Parallel’s Open Beta: Parallel, a Sci-Fi inspired trading card game, announced that their Open Beta will be released on the Epic Games Store.
Deep Dive Analyses
- State of Web3 Gaming: Game7 released a comprehensive report titled “State of Web3 Gaming 2023,” providing a bird’s eye view of the Web3 gaming landscape from 2018 to the present.
- Bitcoin Gaming & The Power of Nano-Transactions: JACL from Delphi Digital published a research analyzing how Bitcoin’s Lightning Network can change hypercasual monetization in mobile gaming.
- Open Economy Gaming: Maitham from Material 10 released a thesis discussing how the concept of Open Economy Gaming ushers in an era of free-to-play gaming without traditional monetization.
Game Updates
- Aurory’s Game Alpha: Aurory officially launched their Seekers of Tokane game alpha which is accessible to all Aurorians and early access code holders.
- Axie Infinity’s Game Jam: Axie Infinity announced the winners of their recently concluded Axie Game Jam 2023.
- Blast Royale’s Milestone: Blast Royale has hit 200k installs on Google Play & App Store.
Actionable Insights
- Investigate the Potential of Web3 Gaming: With the continuous growth and development in the Web3 gaming landscape, there is a need to explore the potential of this sector. The rise of games like Shardbound, Ethxy, and Parallel indicates a promising future for Web3 gaming.
- Consider the Impact of Bitcoin’s Lightning Network: The research by JACL from Delphi Digital suggests that Bitcoin’s Lightning Network could significantly change the monetization strategies in mobile gaming. This calls for a deeper understanding of how this technology can be leveraged in the gaming industry.
- Explore the Concept of Open Economy Gaming: The thesis by Maitham from Material 10 introduces the concept of Open Economy Gaming. This new approach to gaming, which eliminates traditional monetization, could present unique opportunities for both players and developers.
