Gaming Icon John Smedley's Studio Secures $30.5M for AAA Web3 Shooter on Etherlink

Gaming industry titan John Smedley's new venture, Distinct Possibility Studios (DPS), has successfully secured $30.5 million in funding. This significant investment will fuel the development of "Reaper Actual," a highly anticipated AAA open-world shooter. Notably, the game will integrate Web3 components powered by Etherlink, a Tezos layer-2 blockchain, marking Smedley's first foray into the blockchain gaming space.

Gaming Veteran John Smedley Secures $30.5 Million for Web3 AAA Shooter

John Smedley, a renowned figure in the gaming industry, known for co-creating iconic titles like EverQuest and PlanetSide 2, is venturing into Web3 gaming with his new studio, Distinct Possibility Studios (DPS). The studio has raised $30.5 million in a funding round led by Bitkraft and Brevan Howard Digital, with additional participation from Hashed, Delphi Ventures, Shima Capital, North Island Ventures, and Decasonic.

Key Takeaways

• Distinct Possibility Studios, led by John Smedley, raised $30.5 million.

• Funds will develop "Reaper Actual," a new AAA open-world shooter.

• The game will utilize Etherlink, a Tezos layer-2 blockchain, for Web3 integration.

• "Reaper Actual" will feature tradeable in-game assets like characters, bases, and skins.

• The development team comprises veterans from major gaming companies.

"Reaper Actual": A New Era for AAA Shooters

The $30.5 million funding will accelerate the development of "Reaper Actual," an ambitious open-world persistent AAA shooter. The game is set on Marova, an island embroiled in conflict, where players assume the role of "Reapers" engaging in PvPvE scenarios, territorial warfare, resource extraction, and base management. A key innovation is the integration of a sophisticated blockchain-backed economy, allowing players to create and trade rare items within the game's ecosystem and via Etherlink.

Why Etherlink and Tezos?

Distinct Possibility Studios selected Etherlink, an EVM-compatible Layer 2 network built on Tezos, for its Web3 elements due to several key advantages:

• Scalability: Capable of supporting substantial transaction volumes.

• Efficiency: Energy-efficient protocols.

• Security: Robust and secure smart contracts.

• Community-First Approach: Aligns with Smedley's vision of prioritizing the game experience while making Web3 optional and accessible for traditional gamers.

John Smedley emphasized that Tezos and Etherlink's vision aligns with his goal of bringing traditional gamers into Web3 by making the blockchain integration seamless and optional. He highlighted the low fees and the community-first development approach of the Tezos ecosystem as crucial factors.

An Experienced Team Behind the Vision

The development team at Distinct Possibility Studios boasts an impressive roster of industry veterans from companies such as Sony Online Entertainment, Amazon Game Studios, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Epic. Their collective experience spans global hits like Call of Duty, Valorant, Fortnite, EverQuest, and PlanetSide 2, promising a high-quality gaming experience for "Reaper Actual."

"Reaper Actual" is slated for release on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and its official website, reaperactual.com. The studio plans to announce a "Foundation" Alpha release in the coming weeks, which will provide early access to the game and its on-chain tradeable assets.

Sources

• John Smedley Raises $30.5M For New Game On Etherlink, Cointelegraph.

• John Smedley’s studio raises $30.5M for new shooter built on Etherlink, mx.advfn.com.

• John Smedley Raises $30.5M For New Game On Etherlink, StartupNews.fyi.

• Distinct Possibility Studios Raises $30.5M and Selects Tezos L2 Blockchain Etherlink to Launch AAA Shooter
  "REAPER ACTUAL”, InvestingCube.

• Former Riot, Blizzard Game Developers Raise $30.5M to Build AAA Shooter on Etherlink, Tezos L2, CryptoRank.

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