Proof of Play to Shut Down as Blockchain Gaming Bet Falls Short
Blockchain game developer Proof of Play will cease operations after its decentralized gaming thesis failed to produce a sustainable business, according to Cointelegraph.
The a16z-backed studio said Tuesday it was unable to build a product demonstrating that blockchain-based games could help drive a decentralized internet at scale. As part of its wind-down, Proof of Play will open-source much of its code and artwork, including its flagship title Pirate Nation, along with its smart contracts and internal software-development tools, Cointelegraph reported.
An independent group, the Pirate Nation Foundation, will continue supporting the PIRATE token and keep the project’s website online, per the outlet. Proof of Play points, however, will not be redeemable for anything.
The studio also released artwork and intellectual property tied to its Founder Pirates non-fungible token collection and Pirate Nation under a CC0 license, allowing free use without attribution. Separately, Proof of Play’s Shiba Story Go! game has been acquired by an unnamed third party and will keep operating independently, Cointelegraph said.
At their peak, Proof of Play’s Apex and Boss networks ranked as the two largest gas consumers tracked across Ethereum’s rollup ecosystem, according to the report.
The closure adds to a string of setbacks for blockchain gaming studios. Cointelegraph noted that Yield Guild Games recently cut 35 staff and shut down its game publishing arm to redirect focus toward artificial intelligence.
Based on reporting by cointelegraph.com.
