A new wave of blockchain games could be underway as Off the Grid, a battle royale game based on Avalanche, sees significant mainstream success.
As the first Web3 game to achieve top rankings on the Epic Games Store, the game’s initial rollout attracted a traditional gaming audience who may now be more open to blockchain integrations.
Off the Grid gained attention through engaging gameplay rather than leading with crypto-based assets or NFT promotions – a marked change from the number of Web3 games approaching adoption.
Source: Off-gridTake a game-focused approach
Industry experts have suggested that Off the Grid’s popularity could be attributed to this focus on gameplay rather than cryptographic elements.
“To achieve broad adoption, you need to focus on the player and what brings value to them,” said Hans Andersson, Chief Commercial Officer at Moonray Studios.
During its early access phase, Off the Grid emphasized unique battle royale mechanics, gaining visibility on social media where clips circulated widely and went viral. Unlike previous Web3 games that were criticized for prioritizing token distribution or NFT sales, Gunzilla delayed the introduction of any crypto components.
This approach meant that players were unaware of the blockchain integration, allowing them to focus solely on gameplay.
Source: Off-gridGradual integration of blockchain
Behind the scenes, Gunzilla operates on the Avalanche blockchain, and the game’s final plan includes integrating an item marketplace and token economy onto the GUNZ network. However, this integration is being rolled out gradually, with blockchain aspects remaining discrete in the initial release of the game.
Gunzilla’s move reflects a broader trend in Web3 development, which emphasizes full gaming experiences before introducing tokenized elements.
Although Off the Grid has received positive reception from traditional gamers, challenges remain. Despite the game’s promising Early Access release, player feedback highlighted performance issues, particularly on PC, as well as some underdeveloped gameplay elements.
The “early access” model, however, allowed developers some leeway to address these issues through continued updates.
Why is this important for blockchain gaming?
Off the Grid could set a precedent for other blockchain-based games seeking to appeal to the general public.
“Thousands of Web3 games have been announced, and few teams are actually capable of delivering them,” said Nicolas Pouard, vice president of Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab and head of the Blockchain initiative.
Industry observers believe that Off the Grid’s incremental approach to blockchain elements could indicate a viable path forward, helping to bridge the gap between traditional and Web3 players.
The game’s presence on major platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X could also influence the industry. While these platforms have yet to fully integrate cryptographic elements, the availability of Off the Grid on such systems demonstrates the potential reach of Web3 games into traditional gaming ecosystems.
