The crypto and NFT gaming space is busier than ever lately, what with prominent games starting to release, token airdrops piling up, and a seemingly constant array of other things happening at all times. It’s a lot to take in!
Luckily, Decrypt’s GG is all over it. And if you need a quick way to get caught up on the latest moves around crypto video games, we’re happy to present This Week in Crypto Games.
Our weekend roundup serves up the biggest news from the past week, along with a few other tidbits you might have missed. We also showcase a few of our original stories from the week.
Biggest news
Off the Grid update: Popular Avalanche shooter Off the Grid has released what it is branding as its “biggest update yet” by unlocking a region of the map, adding a new cyberlimb into the game along with a fresh “street event.”
Midtown Harbour, described as an “industrial hell hole,” has been unlocked as a playable region on Teardrop Island—the first step in unlocking the remaining 80% of the map. Inside this region, players can fight it out with the Mexican gang called Nuestros Diablos in an attempt to steal a hex from them—which can then be extracted in exchange for weapons, cyberlimbs, or skins.
Blockchain-driven battle royale shooter Off the Grid has launched what Gunzilla Games is calling its “biggest update yet” by unlocking a region of the map, adding a new cyberlimb into the game, and debuting a new “street event.”
Off the Grid made a major splash when it entered early access back in October, due to its blend of the battle royale and extraction shooter genres, combined with quirky characters in a reality TV-inspired setting. It quickly became the most popular free-to-play game on t...
On top of this, the game's first side mission has been added which will see players attempt to dominate the area surrounding a DJ booth to earn loot and experience points. Plus, the MaxiGun cyberlimb has been added to the game, letting you don what's essentially a mini gatling gun as an arm.
GameStop CEO Bitcoin response: Ryan Cohen, the CEO of GameStop, acknowledged a proposal from Strive Asset Management recommending that the video game retailer convert $5 million from its cash reverses into Bitcoin. This move, Strive claims, would turn GameStop into the “premier Bitcoin treasury company in the gaming sector.”
The letter argues that Bitcoin is a superior alternative to holding cash, which it describes as a “shrinking asset” due to inflation. It points to recent accounting rule changes allowing companies to recognize unrealized Bitcoin gains as profit, making it a more attractive corporate treasury asset.
GameStop has received a proposal from Strive Asset Management recommending that the video game retailer convert nearly $5 billion in cash reserves into Bitcoin, a move it claims would transform the company into the "premier Bitcoin treasury company in the gaming sector."
The proposal, dated February 24 and signed by Strive CEO Matt Cole, was acknowledged by GameStop Chairman and CEO Ryan Cohen, who posted "Letter received" on social media on Tuesday without elaborating further.
GameStop has not...
On Tuesday, Cohen posted on X, “Letter received”—but did not elaborate further. GameStop did not respond to Decrypt’s request for comment. The retailer had a previous dalliance with the crypto world with its short-lived NFT marketplace, plus Cohen recently posted a photo of himself with Michael Saylor of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy)—the leading Bitcoin reserve company with nearly $47 billion worth of the coin.
Hamster Kombat layer-2: Telegram crypto game Hamster Kombat now has its own layer-2 network, called The Hamster Network, which launched on The Open Network (TON) last Tuesday.
The new network claims to offer fast and scalable infrastructure for games and other crypto apps, with a “negligible cost per transaction.” Created in collaboration with TON, the Hamster Network looks to help bring more of Telegram’s nearly one billion users into the crypto world via interactive mini apps and games.
Hit Telegram crypto game Hamster Kombat now has its own layer-2 chain, The Hamster Network, which launched on The Open Network (TON) on Tuesday.
The new network is said to provide fast and scalable infrastructure for games and other apps, with “negligible cost per transaction.” Developed in collaboration with TON, the Hamster Network is designed to help bring more of Telegram’s nearly one billion users into the crypto world via interactive mini apps and games.
"Hamster Network is powered by the...
This comes after the recent launch of the HamsterVerse, which will span multiple games built around Hamster Kombat.
ICYMI
Overwatch-style hero shooter Nyan Heroes announced Thursday that it will return to the Epic Games Store for its next playtest period on March 26. Alongside general improvements and tweaks, Playtest 04 will also see a brand new hero, game mode, and map added to the game.
The free-to-play team shooter—which has a token and NFTs on the Solana blockchain—places the player inside a powered-up mech suit as a cat. Nyan Heroes has been one of the more successful crypto games on the Epic Games Store, as...
GG spotlight
Here are a few of our original stories from this past week that we think are well worth a weekend read:
The Mystery Society, a Web3 game that pairs the casual-friendly gameplay of Among Us with a murder mystery vibe, has suspended development after developer Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow said it struggled to find funding to continue supporting the game.
The web-based game debuted in early 2024 as the studio raised $3 million in a funding round led by Shima Capital. Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow was founded by game industry veterans and led by CEO Chris Heatherly, who previously oversaw Disney’s Club...
March 2025 is a big month in video games, simply for the fact that Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally releasing after a handful of delays.
The game has been controversial with fans, to say the least, but it's also the most anticipated Assassin's Creed game in years.
This month also brings us wrestling, fragging, and living our best virtual lives.
For many gamers, this month is going to be a tough one because we're all busy playing Monster Hunter Wilds, which was released on February 28. If th...
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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