(Off the Grid) Log in to the EPIC store and jump to the top of the list of popular games

(Crypto City) A new battle royale shooting game (Off the Grid) based on blockchain technology that has been reported many times in the past has launched a trial version on the EPIC Games Store and quickly climbed to the top of the free game rankings. Developed by Gunzilla Games, the game surpassed well-known games such as (Fortnite) and (Rocket League) to become the most popular free PC game in just a few days after its launch, and topped the list of hot trends.

Image source: EPIC Game Store (Off the Grid) is on the EPIC Game Store hot trend list

(Off the Grid) was launched in early access on October 8. According to Gunztoken data, as of October 14, the average daily transactions have reached 3.47 million, and the total number of wallets is approximately 5.61 million. This outstanding result shows players’ enthusiasm for the game and strong interest in blockchain games. At the same time, the success of the game has also brought new possibilities for the application of blockchain technology in mainstream games.

Source: Gunztoken Gunz’s average daily transactions have reached 3.47 million, and the total number of wallets is approximately 5.61 million

Game Features: Combining blockchain with high-quality gaming experience

(Off the Grid) combines traditional high-quality gaming experience with blockchain technology to bring unique gaming fun to players. The game uses the GUNZ subnet of the Avalanche blockchain, allowing players to purchase and trade NFTs of in-game items via the in-game $GUN token. While blockchain capabilities are not yet fully implemented and the $GUN token is currently only used as an in-game currency, it will provide players with true digital asset ownership in the future.

The game combines the features of successful projects such as (Apex Legends), (Fortnite) and (Escape From Tarkov). Players can move and shoot on specific maps alone or with friends to eliminate enemies. The game also introduces a unique mechanical prosthetic system. Players can obtain and replace different mechanical arms and legs in the game, and gain special abilities, such as jet flight, powerful jumping and high-speed movement, etc., which increases the tactical depth and game variability.

In addition, the game also has a unique extraction mechanism. Players need to transport the loot (called Hex) obtained on the map back to their own inventory, which increases the challenge and excitement of the game. This design provides players with another sense of achievement in addition to winning. Even if they fail to win, they can still feel the fun and gain of the game.

Source: (Off the Grid) Win the game and get loot (Hex)

150,000 people watched the live broadcast at the same time, and the live broadcast host enthusiastically participated

(Off the Grid)’s popularity is inseparable from the promotion of many well-known live streamers. Well-known Twitch streamers such as Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag, IlloJuan and others have participated in game live broadcasts, cooperated with Gunzilla Games, and even received exclusive game character looks. According to Twitch Tracker data, on October 11, the number of simultaneous viewers of the game on Twitch reached 150,000, and the total game live viewing time exceeded 1 million hours, which is the same as (League of Legends), (Grand Theft Auto V) Comparable to other popular games.

Image source: Twitch Tracker (Off the Grid) reaches 150,000 simultaneous viewers on Twitch

Spanish streamer IlloJuan attracted more than 28,000 viewers during his live broadcast (Off the Grid). The enthusiastic participation of live broadcasters and the support of fans have greatly increased the exposure of the game. A large number of gameplay clips have gone viral on social media, with many of the content tagged #OTGpartner, indicating that streamers are invited to participate in promoting the game. This large-scale marketing campaign has not only attracted the attention of traditional game players, but also aroused the interest of players who are skeptical of blockchain games.

Application and future prospects of blockchain technology in games

(Off the Grid) not only focuses on gameplay, but also plans to introduce blockchain and NFT functions in the future to provide players with true digital asset ownership. Players will be able to mint rare weapons, costumes, and props as NFTs in the game and trade them securely on the secondary market through blockchain technology. This model is similar to the Steam Market, but leverages the transparency and security of blockchain to bring a better trading experience to players and ensure game developers receive a fairer distribution of revenue.

The GUNZ subnet of the Avalanche blockchain is specifically designed for the game economy. Gunzilla Games hopes to use this platform to provide a friendly blockchain ecosystem for players and other game developers. In the future, other developers can also use GUNZ's SDK, built-in auxiliary applications, market and other components to launch their own projects on the network to promote the development of blockchain games.

However, the popularity of blockchain games still faces challenges, such as players' acceptance of encrypted wallets and the learning threshold of blockchain technology. In order to overcome these obstacles, (Off the Grid) is committed to providing a seamless user experience so that players can enjoy the fun and convenience of the game without having an in-depth understanding of blockchain technology.

(Off the Grid) brings new trends to chain games

The success of (Off the Grid) symbolizes a new milestone for blockchain games. It breaks the over-reliance model of traditional blockchain games on token incentives and puts gameplay first, with blockchain functions as an auxiliary to enhance player experience and participation. This design concept with game fun as the core has been widely recognized by the industry and players.

Former (Counter-Strike) professional player Shroud was surprised during the live broadcast that the game uses blockchain technology to realize players’ ownership of digital assets, and said: “I am surprised that it has taken so long for a game to use blockchain as a tool to achieve this. A little." He also pointed out that traditional game developers can only obtain about 1% of the revenue in the trading market, and the blockchain model can improve this situation, allowing both developers and players to benefit from it.

Source: Twitch former (Counter-Strike) professional player Shroud was surprised during the live broadcast that the game uses blockchain technology to realize players’ ownership of digital assets.

Mathew Sigel, head of digital asset research at VanEck, also said that the success of (Off the Grid) demonstrates how blockchain technology can empower players to have real asset ownership and participate in a decentralized economic system. VanEck reported in September that the blockchain game is picking up.

Source: VanEck VanEck reports that blockchain games are picking up

A brief discussion on the future of blockchain games

The popularity of (Off the Grid) proves that blockchain games have huge potential in the mainstream market. By focusing on a high-quality gaming experience and using blockchain functionality as an enhancement rather than a core, the game sets a new benchmark for future blockchain gaming. As more large-scale games such as (GTA 6) are rumored to introduce encryption technology, blockchain games may usher in a new golden age.

Devin Finzer, CEO of OpenSea, recently said: "Games are my most promising application scenario for NFTs, and the next few years will be very 'crazy.'"

With the emergence of high-quality blockchain games such as (Off the Grid), players are looking forward to more works that can not only bring exciting gaming experiences, but also add new dimensions through blockchain technology. The future of blockchain games is full of possibilities and is worth waiting for.