GUNZ is a gaming blockchain ecosystem and Layer 1 network developed by Gunzilla Games to integrate digital ownership and item trading into AAA games. The infrastructure was originally built as an Avalanche Subnet for Off The Grid, but later evolved into a standalone EVM-compatible platform with the native GUN token, a marketplace, wallet infrastructure, validators, and developer tools. The core concept behind GUNZ is Play-to-Own: in-game items can receive NFT representations and be traded between users, while participation in the crypto economy remains optional. In addition to Off The Grid, the infrastructure is used by the mobile game TECHNOCORE and is designed to support other gaming projects.
Contents
- What Is GUNZ and How the Gunzilla Games Blockchain Works
- GUNZ Economy: GUN Token, HEX, NFTs and Marketplace
- GUNZ Validators and Avalanche Layer 1 Infrastructure
- Off The Grid, TECHNOCORE and Developer Opportunities
- GUNZ Development and the Future of Gunzilla's Blockchain Platform
1. What Is GUNZ and How the Gunzilla Games Blockchain Works
GUNZ was introduced by Gunzilla Games in 2023 as specialized blockchain infrastructure for gaming economies. The network was initially developed as an Avalanche Subnet and was designed to support Off The Grid, the studio's large-scale extraction shooter. This architecture made it possible to use a dedicated gaming token for transaction fees while separating high levels of player activity from the Avalanche primary network.
Following changes to Avalanche's network architecture, GUNZ began positioning itself as an EVM-compatible Layer 1. The network maintains its technological connection to Avalanche while operating as a separate gaming infrastructure with its own validators, native asset, and blockchain explorer. GUNZ uses Chain ID 43419, while GUN functions as both the network's native token and an asset within its gaming economy.
The main purpose of GUNZ is not to move every gameplay action onto the blockchain. Combat, physics, character movement, and other high-frequency processes are handled by conventional game infrastructure. Blockchain technology is used primarily where verifiable ownership of digital items, trading, transaction fees, or NFT creation is required.
This architecture separates Web3 functionality from the core gameplay experience. For example, an Off The Grid player can participate without trading NFTs or interacting with external crypto wallets. If the player chooses to use the economic layer, GUNZ provides the infrastructure for owning, decoding, transferring, and trading eligible digital items.
2. GUNZ Economy: GUN Token, HEX, NFTs and Marketplace
The central asset of the ecosystem is GUN, the native token of GUNZ. It is used as a gaming currency across Gunzilla products, as the gas token for network transactions, and as the settlement asset on GUNZ Marketplace. In Off The Grid, GUN is also connected to HEX decoding and other operations within the digital item economy.
HEX is a loot container associated with an in-game item. In Off The Grid, players must find HEX during a match and successfully extract it before it can be decoded. Once the process is completed, the resulting item can receive an on-chain representation and may then be used by the player or, where the relevant functionality is available, traded on the marketplace.
| Component | Purpose | Role in the Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| GUNZ | Gaming Layer 1 | Processes transactions and records digital assets |
| GUN | Native token | Gaming payments, gas, Marketplace transactions and decoding |
| HEX | Loot container | Used to obtain on-chain game items |
| Game NFTs | Digital game assets | Weapons, Cyberlimbs, cosmetics and other items |
| GUNZ Marketplace | P2P marketplace | Enables item trading between users |
| GUNZ Wallet | Account infrastructure | Manages GUN, HEX and digital assets |
An important part of the model is the origin of NFTs. In Off The Grid, Gunzilla connects the creation of digital assets directly to gameplay: items originate through finding and extracting HEX rather than exclusively through an initial NFT collection sale. Once created, an asset can remain in the player's account or participate in secondary-market trading.
GUNZ Marketplace provides the secondary market for these items. Prices are determined by supply and demand among users, meaning that rarity does not guarantee a specific market value. In addition, Gunzilla may adjust the gameplay characteristics of items through balance updates, which is an important factor when evaluating NFTs as tradable assets.
3. GUNZ Validators and Avalanche Layer 1 Infrastructure
GUNZ uses several elements of validator infrastructure. Hardware validators are responsible for validating transactions and supporting network consensus. Operating them requires appropriate computing resources, including capable server hardware, memory, and SSD storage. Validators may receive rewards in GUN for participating in network operations.
Validator NFTs represent a separate part of the ecosystem. They participate in HEX decoding and the creation of game NFTs. When a user initiates a decoding operation, the system selects a Validator NFT to process the request. The owner of that validator can receive a portion of the fee in GUN, while part of the tokens involved in the decoding mechanism may be burned.
Validator NFTs are divided into several rarity tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Ancient. Each tier has a specific level of hashpower that affects the probability of a particular validator being selected for a decoding operation. The model can also provide fees connected to subsequent resales of items created with the validator's participation.
This system links blockchain infrastructure with the gaming economy. However, Validator NFTs and hardware validators perform different functions. Validator NFTs are primarily involved in the game-item creation and decoding mechanism, while server-based validator nodes support the operation and consensus of the blockchain network itself.
4. Off The Grid, TECHNOCORE and Developer Opportunities
The main product within the ecosystem is Off The Grid, a free-to-play Extraction Royale developed by Gunzilla Games. GUNZ supports its item economy, HEX system, NFTs, and Marketplace, while the core shooter gameplay operates outside the blockchain. This reflects Gunzilla's broader strategy of making crypto functionality an optional layer rather than a requirement for playing the game.
TECHNOCORE became another game using the infrastructure. It is a free mobile title for iOS and Android in which players control a drone, explore an industrial environment, and search for HEX. The containers are connected to GUNZ Wallet and can contain weapon parts, cosmetic items, and NFT-related assets.
Key GUNZ Components and Features:
- EVM-compatible gaming Layer 1 built on Avalanche technology;
- native GUN token for gaming and network operations;
- GUNZ Marketplace for P2P trading of digital items;
- HEX system for creating game NFTs through gameplay;
- GUNZ Wallet for managing digital assets;
- Validator NFTs involved in item decoding;
- hardware validators supporting network operations;
- integration with Off The Grid and TECHNOCORE;
- optional Play-to-Own model instead of mandatory Play-to-Earn mechanics;
- SDK and infrastructure components intended for third-party game studios.
GUNZ was designed as more than an internal blockchain for a single game. Gunzilla has discussed providing other studios with SDKs and white-label components, including marketplace infrastructure, an NFT minting engine, and related services. This positions GUNZ as potential B2B infrastructure for developers that want to integrate Web3 functionality without building a dedicated blockchain ecosystem from scratch.
The practical value of this strategy depends on the number of third-party integrations. At present, the most visible use cases remain connected to Gunzilla's own products. The ability of GUNZ to expand beyond Off The Grid is therefore one of the important indicators for evaluating the platform's longer-term development.
5. GUNZ Development and the Future of Gunzilla's Blockchain Platform
In 2025, GUNZ entered its mainnet stage and GUN began trading more broadly on external cryptocurrency markets. At the same time, Gunzilla gradually migrated gaming wallets and digital assets from test infrastructure to mainnet. The process has been conducted in stages as the company addresses technical, custody, and regulatory requirements.
The ecosystem also gained a multichain component. GUNZ supports interoperability with Avalanche C-Chain, while GUN expanded to Solana in July 2025. Bridge infrastructure connects the token across supported networks, while the integration of GUNZ assets with OpenSea expanded external options for interacting with eligible NFTs.
In 2026, completion of the mainnet transition remains one of the ecosystem's major infrastructure objectives. According to Gunzilla's published roadmap, migration of the remaining user base is scheduled for September 2026. Once completed, active users and newly created items are expected to operate through the production GUNZ network.
GUNZ represents a blockchain gaming model in which Web3 serves primarily as an economic and ownership layer rather than a replacement for the traditional game engine. Off The Grid provides the ecosystem's main source of player activity, TECHNOCORE demonstrates how the infrastructure can support another game format, and the SDK creates a foundation for potential third-party integrations. The long-term role of GUNZ will depend on player retention, digital-item liquidity, the stability and utility of GUN, successful completion of the mainnet migration, and Gunzilla's ability to attract independent developers to its infrastructure.
