The crypto and NFT gaming sector has been experiencing an unprecedented surge in activity recently, with a wave of new game releases, numerous token airdrops, and a continuous stream of developments. Keeping track of all these changes can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Decrypt’s GG is on top of the situation, providing a convenient summary of the latest happenings in the world of crypto video games. This Week in Crypto Games offers a comprehensive overview of the most significant news from the past week, along with some additional highlights and original stories you may have overlooked.
Major Developments
In a significant turn of events, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has concluded its investigation into Immutable, an Ethereum-based gaming platform, with no enforcement actions taken. The announcement was made by the company through a blog post on Tuesday. The SEC had previously issued a Wells Notice to Immutable in October 2024, citing potential violations of securities laws related to the sales of its IMX token. The inquiry also involved questions about claims regarding the token’s backing, particularly a pre-launch investment by Huobi Ventures. With the investigation now officially closed, Immutable’s CEO, Robbie Ferguson, stated that the findings revealed “zero wrongdoings,” commending his team for their resilience during this challenging period. The company celebrated this outcome on social media, calling it a “huge win” for Web3 gaming and for advocates of digital ownership rights. Following a recent shift in leadership, the SEC has dropped several cases and investigations against various crypto firms.
Off the Grid Mainnet Launch
The much-anticipated shooter game Off the Grid, which has been operating on the GUNZ testnet—developed as a dedicated Avalanche L1 chain—is set to launch its mainnet on March 31. This transition was confirmed on Friday, coinciding with the introduction of the GUN token. Gunzilla Games’ Director of Web3, Theodore Agranat, had previously indicated a Q1 2025 launch, emphasizing the desire for a fully polished gaming experience. The excitement surrounding the game is evident, as a black market for in-game skins has emerged, highlighting players’ eagerness for the impending crypto integration that will allow in-game items to be traded for cryptocurrency.
Forgotten Runiverse Launches
The Ronin-based role-playing game Forgotten Runiverse has officially launched in early access, enabling players to explore a fantasy world inspired by the Ethereum NFT collection, Forgotten Runes Wizard’s Cult. After three years of development and over a million hours dedicated to testing, this game has transitioned from the Ethereum layer-2 network Arbitrum to Ronin. The launch coincides with the release of its first major content update, dubbed Moonlit Wilds, which introduces new features including land plots, the ability to build structures, craft and mint items, and master up to 32 spells while embarking on various quests.
GameStop Embraces Bitcoin
In a strategic move, GameStop, the video game retailer known for its meme stock status, has revised its investment policy to include certain cryptocurrencies, notably Bitcoin, as acceptable investment assets. Following this announcement, GameStop revealed plans to raise $1.3 billion through convertible senior notes to fund various corporate initiatives, including Bitcoin acquisitions. This strategy mirrors that of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which has utilized convertible senior notes extensively to bolster its Bitcoin holdings. The announcement came shortly after GameStop’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, shared a photo with Strategy’s co-founder, Michael Saylor, on social media.
In Case You Missed It
In other news, the Solana-based game Star Atlas is collaborating with SingularityNET to incorporate AI agents into its virtual environment. Additionally, a first-person shooter game claims to record every bullet fired on-chain via Ethereum layer-2 MegaETH; the creator admits this is merely a “silly experiment.” The Solana shooter Nyan Heroes has returned with its latest playtest, showcasing its largest airdrop yet. Gunzilla Games, the studio behind Off the Grid, has also acquired and revitalized the iconic magazine Game Informer after its closure last year. Other notable updates include the closed playtest of the mobile strategy game Fableborne on Ronin, the upcoming launch of Immutable-based mobile game Self-Made Billionaire, and the release of the mobile version of the trading card game Parallel in the Philippines. The creators of Tokyo Beast have unveiled a launch trailer, while the anime-inspired NFT collection Azuki has opened pre-orders for its trading card game. Furthermore, the Arbitrum game AI Arena has initiated a competition offering 500,000 NRN (approximately $18,000) in prizes, and the crypto MMORPG Treeverse has commenced its first season. Lastly, Kamigotchi, a crypto pet collection game, has successfully concluded a funding round with 81 participants, announcing that mainnet details are forthcoming. Immutable’s trading card game Gods Unchained has also launched its season two battle pass.
GG Spotlight
We have curated some of our original pieces from this past week that are definitely worth your time for a weekend read.
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