In the Epic Games Store, a new crypto game in the style of Call of Duty named "Shrapnel" has emerged. This game intensifies the competition among web3 video games vying for leadership in terms of funds. Epic Games boasts a PC user base of over 230 million gamers.
Shrapnel will compete with well-known blockchain-based video games like Star Atlas and Illuvium, which are also available in the store in "early access" versions. The game studio Neon Machine, developing Shrapnel, has described it as an "AAA-class first-person shooter." The development team includes former employees of Xbox and Electronic Arts.
Unlike traditional release schedules for AAA-class games, Shrapnel involves its community in the development process at every stage, planning to launch a free version of the game in 2025. Neon Machine is betting that players will customize "every aspect of the game, from characters and weapons to in-game maps."
Mark Long, the CEO of the studio, stated that implementing gameplay in early access allows players to help create a blockbuster-quality AAA-class first-person shooter. Although no blockchain game has yet to establish itself in the mass gaming segment, Neon Machine believes the current interest in "Shrapnel" is sustainable. The game's online community on Discord has over 100,000 members. The Shrapnel token has a market capitalization of about $68 million.
