This Week in Crypto Video games: 'MapleStory N' Hits Avalanche, Solana's 'Nyan Heroes' Shuts Down – Decrypt

It is robust to maintain tabs on the ever-changing crypto gaming house, because of the fixed movement of reports: every part from large sport launches and enjoyable degen experiments to token worth swings and occasional challenge collapses. It is rather a lot to comply with.

Fortunately,we’re plugged in at Decrypt‘s GG. We cowl the largest happenings all through the week, after which this weekly roundup gives a fast solution to catch up, in addition to discover a bunch of different little bits of reports from all through the week.

High tales

MapleStory N now dwell: MapleStory N launched on the Avalanche blockchain, marking what’s being hailed as one of many largest crypto sport releases to this point. The sport combines the acquainted 2D MMORPG gameplay of the 22-year-old franchise with crypto tech, permitting gamers to personal and commerce in-game property. The launch triggered a 549% spike in Avalanche energetic addresses and included the community’s largest NFT mint ever—over 1.7 million free Scroll NFTs.

The ecosystem’s token, Nexpace (NXPC), rose to a peak market cap above $600 million after launch Wednesday, and has settled a bit below $400 million as of Sunday. That makes it one of many largest gaming tokens available on the market proper now.

Nyan Heroes is completed: Solana-based, cat-themed hero shooter Nyan Heroes is shutting down after failing to safe extra funding, 9 Lives Interactive introduced Friday. Regardless of finishing 4 play exams by means of the Epic Video games Retailer, holding a NYAN token airdrop, and attracting over a million gamers, the Overwatch-style PC title could not overcome latest trade monetary challenges.

9 Lives CEO Max Fu advised Decrypt that acquisition discussions are ongoing, however may take time to provide outcomes. The NYAN token plummeted 40% following the announcement, and is now buying and selling nearly 99% beneath its Might 2024 peak. Different related crypto sport shutdown bulletins embrace The Thriller Society and The Strolling Useless: Empires.

Pixelmon adopts AVAX: Pokémon-inspired crypto gaming franchise Pixelmon will launch its flagship cell RPG Warden’s Ascent on Avalanche within the second half of 2025, together with a number of different upcoming titles. Whereas Pixelmon’s core property stay on Ethereum and its present “Monster Tycoon” sport will keep on Immutable zkEVM, all future initiatives will deploy on Avalanche.

Pixelmon CEO Giulio Xiloyannis cited Avalanche’s capability to onboard tens of millions of avid gamers and the potential for a devoted Pixelmon L1 (aka subnet) as key components within the determination. This partnership represents a strategic shift for Pixelmon, which has reworked from a ridiculed NFT challenge in 2022 to a multi-game franchise with a mobile-first technique.

ICYMI

• Week-long crypto sport experiment DX Terminal kicked off, tasking 36,000 tokenized AI brokers with battling to amass fake meme cash. Early on, the merchants are into scorching dog-themed cash.

• A Slither.io clone referred to as Noodle.gg went viral final week, letting gamers eat every others’ snakes to steal their crypto. An related Solana meme coin obtained scorching consequently.
• Ethereum sport Pixels now has a flirting problem with an AI agent, leading to what some gamers are calling a “rizz-to-earn” mini-game with token rewards and a possible future airdrop, as effectively.

• Immutable-based crypto sport Blast Royale is shutting down. The builders plan to open-source the sport for the group to tinker with.
• Sugartown offered by means of its 7,777-item Cores NFT drop on Ethereum layer-2 community Summary.

• Standard metaverse app VRChat is launching its personal avatar market. No, it would not use NFTs.
• Off the Grid is progressively including extra gamers to its Avalanche L1 mainnet, enabling on-chain buying and selling of in-game gadgets.