Funding Boost for a Game-Changer
Web3 gaming is leveling up, and Neon Machine is right in the thick of it with a whopping $20 million raised in Series A funding. After a solid $10.5 million seed round back in June 2021, the latest round, spearheaded by Polychain Capital with backing from others like Griffin Gaming Partners and Tess Ventures, signals serious investor faith in their flagship title, Shrapnel.
What is ‘Shrapnel’ Anyway?
So, what’s all this fuss about Shrapnel? Neon Machine is presenting this title as a AAA shooter, a badge typically reserved for blockbuster games boasting top-notch production values. Think vibrant graphics that could make even your grandma go “Whoa!” and gameplay that’s smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.
Gameplay Mechanics
Though the game is still cooking, early footage hints at a first-person shooter experience combining multiplayer elements and extraction mechanics. Players will need to gather loot and make it out alive to actually keep what they’ve snagged, making every match feel like a high-stakes game of tag where ‘it’ has a loaded shotgun.
Blockchain Benefits Galore
What puts Shrapnel in a league of its own? It’s the blockchain baby! Unlike traditional titles, Shrapnel promises players true ownership of in-game assets, thanks to its Web3 framework. So forget about grinding for hours, only to watch valuable loot vanish like your last slice of pizza at a party. Here, those assets are yours, all yours!
Modding Possibilities
But that’s not all! Neon Machine is also teasing some powerful modding tools that could let players integrate their own blockchain assets into the game. Imagine a world where you can flex your NFTs while fragging your friends. That’s some next-level stuff!
The Road Ahead
Looking at the timeline, early-access testing for Shrapnel is slated for December, and that’s just for the paid subscribers. The big launch, a free-to-play extravaganza, is penciled in for sometime in 2024. Mark those calendars, folks!
Future Plans
Aside from Shrapnel, Neon Machine has plans to roll out its GameBridge API for developers post-launch. This could usher in an entire ecosystem of Web3 gaming that allows other developers to harness the power of blockchain. It’s like giving a kid a shiny new toy and saying, “You can share it with your friends!”
