Neon Machine, a prominent Web3 gaming developer, has successfully secured $20 million in Series A funding for the advancement of its highly anticipated project, Shrapnel, an ambitious extraction shooter. This financing round comes on the heels of a $10.5 million seed round completed in June 2021 and was led by Polychain Capital, with participation from investors including Griffin Gaming Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Franklin Templeton, IOSG Ventures, and Tess Ventures.
Shrapnel is a high-profile gaming endeavor presented by Neon Machine as a AAA game, denoting its top-tier production value, budget, and marketing efforts. While the game has yet to enter pre-alpha testing, gameplay footage on Neon Machine’s YouTube page and information on the game’s website reveal that Shrapnel is a first-person shooter with multiplayer components. Notably, the game’s competitive aspect revolves around “extraction” mechanics, where players must escape with in-game loot to retain these items.
Early gameplay videos showcase a gameplay loop reminiscent of popular free-to-play extraction shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone, developed by Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard studio. However, what sets Shrapnel apart from its AAA competition is its integration of Web3 and blockchain technology. In Shrapnel, all in-game assets are connected to the blockchain, ensuring full ownership for players. The game also boasts a modding toolset that has the potential to allow players and developers to incorporate other blockchain assets into the game world, creating opportunities for seasonal competitions and tournaments.
Neon Machine has announced plans to offer early-access testing to paid subscribers in December, with intentions to transition to a free-to-play model in 2024 following the initial evaluation period. This strategic move aims to engage a wider player base and capitalize on the growing interest in blockchain-based gaming.
Beyond the development and launch of Shrapnel, Neon Machine has further aspirations to license its Web3 developer’s API platform, GameBridge, after its official launch. This move underscores the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the broader gaming ecosystem within the Web3 space. Neon Machine’s successful funding rounds and its innovative approach to gaming have positioned the company as a key player in the evolving world of blockchain gaming.
