Gaming is going “Off the Grid”

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What is the "Off the Grid" game?

Off the Grid is a cyberpunk-themed battle royale game, an online multiplayer game that blends last-man-standing gameplay with survival, exploration, and scavenging elements. This gaming genre is massively popular among traditional gamers, famous examples being Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, and PUBG.

But what’s Off the Grid connection to blockchain? In April 2023, AAA gaming studio Gunzilla Games announced the launch of Gunz,  an innovative and sustainable blockchain-based digital economy platform fully built on an Avalanche Subnet. 

This Subnet has been tailored to allow for smooth gaming, charge gas costs solely using in-game tokens, and offer both Web3 and conventional players an easy-to-use, satisfying user experience. Other game developers can also create and release their applications on GUNZ by utilizing the GUNZ SDK and white-label elements, including an integrated companion app, marketplace, and NFT minting engine. With the introduction of blockchain technology, GUNZ will allow players to own their in-game assets. The first game GUNZ will launch on its Subnet is Off the Grid.

Why is "Off the Grid" so special?

Who made the "Off the Grid" Game?

Most blockchain-based games were developed by small or medium game developers, although they were unique, they weren’t special and most games were only available on PC and sometimes on mobile. Off the Grid is developed by a professional gaming studio, and based on the first gameplay, it trumps other blockchain games by a long shot. While the gameplay looks impressive, its potential audience reach is way more extensive than other games. Off the Grid is already on the Playstation, Xbox, and Epic Games (PC), although it's only in early access. The massive reach through these traditional gaming platforms will enable Off the Grid to significantly lower the entry barrier for gamers to enter blockchain-based gaming. 

Furthermore, the game is free-to-play, making it even more available for the masses. However, it’s important to note that the game does have in-game purchases, such as the Pro Monthly Subscription. This allows gamers to enjoy monthly exclusive content packs, clan tags, additional loadout slots, and the ability to sell their items on the marketplace and earn more GUN.

The GUN Token

I can already hear the next question: What is GUN? GUN is the official token of the GUNZ platform. It is used to trade and buy items, in the form of NFTs, on the marketplace, and gamers can earn additional GUN by completing different challenges. We expect that these GUN tokens will be available on other marketplaces, potentially converting to $. 

Now, before I upset any gamers already thinking, “I don’t want NFTs in my game! I just want to relax and play after a long day, without dealing with microtransactions or extra costs”—don’t worry. Don’t worry, if you are not interested in the NFT aspect of the game, you don’t have to. OTG allows gamers to play the game without NFTs and any gameplay limitations. If players change their minds and do want to experiment with this technology, they can always opt-in.

What does the data say?

The GUNZ subnet is currently live in a test environment, but the data does look promising. Since its official launch on November 30th, it has executed over 56.61 million transactions, with 25.41 million transactions in the past 14 days. In these 14 days, users paid an average fee of 0.10 GUN. It's difficult to determine if this is cheap or expensive in terms of monetary value, as there is no price for the GUN token.

Source: https://49321.testnet.snowtrace.io/

If we look at the chart above, we can see that transactions have surged since September 2024 as more users engaged with the game. Daily transactions hovered around 100,000 in August, but in September, they surpassed 1 million on multiple occasions. The trend exploded in October, coinciding with the official launch of the game trailer. This trend is also observed in the number of active and unique wallet addresses which can be seen in the charts below. 

Source: https://49321.testnet.snowtrace.io/
Source: https://49321.testnet.snowtrace.io/

Our view

Off the Grid has the potential to be a catalyst for blockchain-based gaming by seamlessly attracting conventional gamers. In many blockchain games, the focus is often on the token, which diminishes the gaming experience as it becomes secondary. Additionally, most blockchain games have yet to be visually appealing or offer impressive gameplay, with only a few exceptions. However, with Off the Grid being developed by an AAA gaming studio, blockchain games can enter a new era—one that offers high-quality gameplay while also providing the option to earn rewards. Off the Grid recognizes that not all gamers want to engage with NFTs, so by making this optional, the emphasis remains on the gaming experience.

If the game is well received by the gaming community, we may see other AAA studios adopting a similar framework. This could spark a revival in the blockchain-based gaming sector, leading to broader adoption.

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