This Week in Blockchain Gaming: Reaper Actual Goes Viral, MapleStory Expands Its Universe, and More
The blockchain gaming world is picking up steam with a slew of new projects, strategic upgrades, and surprise events. From AAA titles led by veteran developers to bold experiments with AI, NFTs, layer-2, and the metaverse, the Web3 gaming market is witnessing a remarkable transformation. The first week of July marked many important milestones, here are some of the most notable developments.
Reaper Actual: John Smedley's AAA Ambition Meets Blockchain
John Smedley, co-founder of EverQuest and Planetside, has just launched Distinct Possibility Studios with an ambitious blockchain game project called Reaper Actual. This is a multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) for PC, set in an open world on the war-torn island of Marova.
The game features a map described as “four times the size of Al Mazrah” in Call of Duty: Warzone and incorporates elements from titles like DMZ, Escape from Tarkov and Rainbow Six Siege. Five AI factions control the map creating a dynamic battlefield, while players as “Reapers” build and defend their bases.
Reaper Actual will implement NFTs and tradable assets via blockchain, supporting easy access for Web2 players via the Web2 distribution system or NFT Tezos layer-2 Etherlink. The first alpha is expected to launch soon, with plans to go free-to-play approximately six months after the official release in early 2026.
MapleStory Universe: Bringing the Legendary MMORPG to Web3
MapleStory, the popular MMORPG brand with over 260 million players worldwide, is entering the blockchain era through the MapleStory Universe ecosystem. Flagship MapleStory N reimagines classic side-scrollers on PC, integrates in-game NFTs under the Henesys L1 standard running on the Avalanche network.
According to Keith Kim of Nexpace, more than a dozen mobile and web experiences will be launched in Q1 2026, expanding the way players interact with NFT items and characters even when they are away from their computers. New features will include an item upgrade app, a character rental system, and a permissionless decentralized model using the NXPC token.
This model is reminiscent of EA Sports FC's Ultimate Team mechanic, where mobile apps support gameplay and in-game asset trading.
Ubisoft Tests Self-Governing AI with Captain Laserhawk
Ubisoft has brought AI to its blockchain game Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., allowing NFT characters called Niji to participate in voting and governance decisions in the game. The game is built on the Arbitrum network, using AI from partner LibertAI to simulate character behavior based on player choices. This is a breakthrough in combining artificial intelligence and NFTs into a decentralized gaming model.
Update Other Web3 Gaming Projects of the Week
Ninjas in Pyjamas: Esports team sets up Bitcoin mining unit, expects to generate up to $6.5 million in revenue per month from BTC.
Botanix Layer-2: Mainnet launch with Bitcoin 2100 educational game - rewards players with real BTC.
Yugijo Token: AI-powered coin tossing betting game, running on Ethereum L2 Optimism, allowing USDC staking and using Randcast from ARPA Network to create fairness and transparency.
Flappy Racquet: Flappy Bird-style Telegram game with famous tennis players like Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios as characters.
Valhalla: Floki's metaverse game officially launches, tied to this popular coin meme.
Ronin Realms of Alurya: New online game Ronin announces permanent shutdown due to lack of funding.
Off the Grid: Battle Pass update for US Independence Day with 4/7 themed in-game items.
FIFA Rivals: Hit 500,000 downloads on Android in just one month of release.
Moonray: Special invitation tournament this month.
Frontiers: Minecraft-style MMORPG running on Hytopia officially opens alpha.
Endless Clouds & Treeverse: END token airdrop with criteria announced over the weekend.
Xai Network: $1.25 million worth of XAI tokens airdropped to NFT owners.
Echelon Foundation: Burning 11 million PRIME tokens ($26 million) to scale the PRIME ecosystem and the Parallel card game.
Conclusion
The first week of July confirmed the dynamism of the Web3 gaming market when witnessing a wave of new projects, from famous studios to groundbreaking experiments with AI, NFTs and blockchain reward mechanisms. Despite many challenges from the traditional gaming community, efforts to bring cryptocurrencies into the entertainment experience are clearly opening up opportunities to reach millions of new users.
The world of blockchain gaming is no longer the future, it is present right before our eyes and developing every day.