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Neon Machine secures $20 million in Series A funding for blockchain-driven Call of Duty alternative ‘Shrapnel’
Web3 gaming creator Neon Machine has secured $20 million in Series A funding aimed at advancing the development of its eagerly awaited extraction shooter “Shrapnel.”
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This funding round follows a $10.5 million seed round that was finalized in June 2021. It was spearheaded by Polychain Capital and included investments from Griffin Gaming Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Franklin Templeton, IOSG Ventures, and Tess Ventures.
Shrapnel is an ambitious gaming initiative described by Neon Machine as a “AAA game” — a term used to signify a video game with high production quality, substantial budgeting, and extensive marketing.
As per gameplay footage available on Neon Machine’s YouTube channel and information on the game’s website, Shrapnel is a first-person shooter (FPS) that incorporates multiplayer elements. Competition within the game — which has not yet commenced pre-alpha testing — will reportedly involve “extraction” mechanics that necessitate players to escape with any loot they acquire in order to keep those items.
Initial gameplay videos suggest a gameplay loop reminiscent of Call of Duty: Warzone, a well-known free-to-play extraction shooter developed by Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard-King studios.
What distinguishes Shrapnel from comparable AAA titles is its integration of Web3 and blockchain technology. While other games, such as The Division 2, feature mechanics that allow players to “extract” valuable items for use in their character and profiles, the assets in Shrapnel are linked to the blockchain.
The studio claims this grants players complete ownership of the assets.
Related: Shrapnel Web3 shooter won’t let US users cash out, thanks to Gensler
Shrapnel will also include a modding toolset that could potentially enable players or developers to introduce other blockchain assets into the game environment for player interaction. This could create an interesting dynamic for both seasonal competitions and tournament play.
The game is expected to enter early-access testing for paid subscribers in December, according to a press release from Neon Machine. Following the initial evaluation phase, the company plans to release the game as a free-to-play title “sometime” in 2024.
In addition to the development and launch of Shrapnel, Neon Machine has indicated that it aims to eventually license its Web3 developer’s API platform, GameBridge, after the launch.
