Web3 Game Studio DPS Secures $30.5 Million Funding, Launches Open World Shooter Game

Against the backdrop of the overall downturn in the current Web3 gaming industry, the independent game studio Distinct Possibility Studios (abbreviated as DPS) recently completed a financing round of $30.5 million, a sum that is quite rare in the current Web3 gaming sector. This financing round was co-led by the gaming-focused venture capital firm Bitkraft and the European hedge fund Brevan Howard, with participation from several well-known institutions.

It is reported that the funds will be used to develop the first project of DPS - "Reaper Actual", which is a large-scale open-world persistent first-person shooter (MMOFPS). The game is planned to be released on mainstream platforms and will integrate the Ethereum layer 2 chain Etherlink, allowing in-game assets to be traded on-chain.

The Strength Background of DPS

DPS's ability to secure substantial financing in the current environment is closely related to the strong background of its core team. The studio was founded by several industry veterans, and the core leadership team has extensive experience in traditional MMOs and large-scale shooting games.

Founder John Smedley is a well-known figure in the American gaming industry, particularly renowned in the realm of MMORPGs. He served as CEO of Daybreak Game Company for a long time, leading the development and operation of several classic games, including the 3D MMORPG "EverQuest" launched in 1999 and the large free-to-play MMOFPS "PlanetSide 2" released in 2013. Before joining DPS, Smedley was the general manager of the gaming division of a major tech company.

Other core members of DPS are equally experienced. Chief Creative Officer Matt Higby has been deeply involved in the online gaming industry since 2001, participating in the design and operation of several well-known games. Chief Artist Tramell Ray Isaac (T-Ray) is a key art member of a famous game series and has served as an art director at multiple top studios.

Features of the game "Reaper Actual"

"Reaper Actual" is an open-world persistent first-person shooter that combines tactical shooting gameplay with MMO-style progression systems and strategic faction dynamics. The game is set on the fictional island of Marova, where players take on the role of mercenary warriors, continuously clashing with other players and AI-controlled faction forces.

The core gameplay of the game includes:

1. Open World and Faction Conflict: Supports free exploration and combat in a large map, players can choose to join different factions to engage in large-scale PVP and PVE missions.

2. Base Construction and Resource Management: Players can build and upgrade bases for defense, production, and troop gathering.

3. Player-driven economy: A player-led economic system is established, allowing for the production of weapons, vehicles, and equipment.

4. Dynamic Tasks and Collision Objectives: Supports a mix of PVP and PVE gameplay, where task objectives may overlap or conflict due to the actions of different factions.

It is worth noting that DPS has not fully committed "Reaper Actual" to the Web3 gaming track. The game will offer optional Web3 asset market features at launch, allowing players to trade in-game items via the Etherlink blockchain, while retaining the free-to-play and social experience of traditional games.

The Choice of Etherlink

DPS chose Etherlink as its blockchain technology support mainly based on the following reasons:

1. Performance Advantage: Etherlink can achieve sub-second transaction confirmations with extremely low transaction costs, making it suitable for small in-game transactions.

2. Security: Etherlink inherits the security guarantees of the Tezos main chain and adopts an open verification and dispute resolution mechanism.

3. Strategic Alignment: The vision of Etherlink aligns with the strategy of DPS, which is to optionally bring traditional gamers into Web3.

4. Ecological Support: As a Layer 2 solution strongly supported by the Tezos community, Etherlink needs benchmark projects to be implemented, and the DPS project happens to meet this requirement.

Project Prospects Analysis

Despite having a strong team background and considerable funding scale, the "Reaper Actual" project is still in its early stages and faces many challenges:

1. The overall environment for Web3 games is still in a sluggish period.
2. The acceptance of on-chain assets by players is not yet clear.
3. Regulatory and compliance risks are uncertain.
4. The seamless integration of on-chain and off-chain gameplay still needs exploration.

Therefore, although this financing has boosted industry confidence to some extent, a cautious attitude must still be maintained. In the coming years, the public testing progress of "Reaper Actual", the on-chain economic model, and user retention rate will become key indicators for judging its success.

It is worth mentioning that "Reaper Actual" designs its Web3 features as optional modules, which demonstrates the team's risk-hedging strategy. Even if the on-chain version does not meet expectations, players can still enjoy a complete gaming experience, which is a wise choice for game developers who prioritize quality.