It’s tough to keep tabs on the ever-changing crypto gaming space, thanks to the constant flow of news: everything from big game launches and fun degen experiments to token price swings and occasional project collapses. It’s a lot to follow.
Luckily, we’re plugged in at Decrypt’s GG. We cover the biggest happenings throughout the week, and then this weekly roundup provides a quick way to catch up, as well as find a bunch of other little bits of news from throughout the week.
Reaper Actual revealed: Game industry veteran John Smedley has launched Distinct Possibility Studios with a new blockchain-integrated first-person shooter called Reaper Actual. The PC-based open-world multiplayer game features what Smedley said is the largest FPS map ever created — four times larger than Call of Duty: Warzone’s Al Mazrah.
Set on the war-torn island of Marova, players become “Reapers” who upgrade and defend bases while navigating conflicts between five AI-controlled factions. The game combines elements from Call of Duty: DMZ, Escape from Tarkov, and Rainbow Six Siege, Smedley told Decrypt.
Following a $30.5 million funding round, the pre-alpha Foundation version is set to release soon, requiring players to purchase a limited-edition base — either as an NFT on Tezos layer-2 network Etherlink, or via supporting Web2 platforms. The full release arrives early next year with a similar access scheme, before going free-to-play approximately six months later. Items will be tradable on both Web3 and Web2 marketplaces.
“This is the type of game that can bring millions and millions of people in, if the history of the games I’ve worked on are any evidence,” said Smedley. “We’re going to be able to sell Web2 players on this idea of Web3 done right.”
MapleStory moves ahead: MapleStory Universe is the crypto-powered evolution of the beloved 20-year-old MMORPG franchise. The ecosystem centers around MapleStory N, a PC-based game that recreates the original side-scrolling experience for its 260 million-strong player base, with in-game items as NFTs on the Avalanche-based Henesys L1 network.
Developer Nexpace plans to release over a dozen mobile and web experiences by Q1 2026 to complement the core game, Nexpace Head of Strategy Keith Kim told Decrypt. These lighter applications will allow players to grind, level up, and enhance items during commutes or breaks, addressing the reality that the original fanbase has grown up and has less time for intensive PC gaming.
The vision mirrors EA FC’s Ultimate Team model, where mobile apps support console gameplay. A web app for item enhancement launches in late July/August, followed by a character rental system by Q1 2026. Kim said that third-party developers will help build some of these experiences using API keys, with the game eventually transitioning to a permissionless system with NXPC token rewards.
