Web3 game developer Neon Machine has secured $20 million in Series A funding to support the development of its highly anticipated extraction shooter, Shrapnel. This funding comes after the company's successful completion of a $10.5 million seed round in June 2021. The Series A round was led by Polychain Capital and featured participation from Griffin Gaming Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Franklin Templeton, IOSG Ventures, and Tess Ventures.
Shrapnel is an ambitious gaming project, which Neon Machine proudly touts as a AAA game, signifying a video game with exceptional production values, budget, and marketing. Shrapnel, a first-person shooter with a multiplayer component, introduces a competitive element in the form of an "extraction" mechanic. Players must escape with any in-game loot they find to retain those items, adding depth to the gameplay.
Early glimpses of Shrapnel's gameplay reveal a loop akin to Call of Duty: Warzone, the popular free-to-play shooter from Activision Blizzard Studios. What differentiates Shrapnel from other AAA competitors is its integration of Web3 and blockchain. While games like The Division 2 include mechanics allowing players to "extract" valuable items, Shrapnel links these assets to the blockchain. Moreover, Shrapnel will provide a modding toolset, potentially enabling players and developers to introduce various blockchain assets into the game world for interaction. This could pave the way for intriguing seasonal competitions and tournaments.
Neon Machine's press release indicates that the game is slated to enter early access testing for paying customers in December, with intentions to release Shrapnel as a free-to-play title "sometime" in 2024 after the initial evaluation period concludes. In addition to the development and launch of Shrapnel, Neon Machine has expressed its plans to eventually license GameBridge, its API platform tailored for Web3 developers, upon release.
