Zentry announces the acquisition of game publisher Maxion, IP "Ragnarok Online" and more games will be blockchainized.

On June 20, 2024, Zentry announced the acquisition of a majority stake in leading game publisher Maxion. Maxion will join the Zentry team as its Web3 game issuance department, further enriching Zentry's flagship product lineup, including Nexus, Radiant, Zigma, and Azul.

Background of the acquisition

Zentry is a platform focused on bringing games and other digital experiences into the Web3 world, aiming to change the gameplay and economic model of traditional games through blockchain technology. The acquisition of Maxion marks an important step for Zentry in achieving this goal. Maxion is a leading hyper-localized game publisher and studio with a formal partnership with Gravity, the creator of "Ragnarok." This acquisition not only brings popular game IPs to Zentry, but also provides strong publishing and development capabilities.

Maxion will become the dedicated Web3 game issuance department of Zentry and will be an important part of its universe. Through this integration, game developers will be able to release games on-chain more conveniently, and users will also be able to participate in the blockchain ecosystem more safely and conveniently. Through its Web2-Web3 bridge and game market, players will truly own in-game assets and unlock a brand new gaming experience.

Maxion's Roles and Objectives

As the Web3 game issuance department of Zentry, Maxion will play a key role. It is not just a game publisher, but also a bridge between games and blockchain technology, from Web2 to Web3. Maxion's goal is to enable game developers to easily bring their games into the Web3 world, while ensuring that players can safely and conveniently manage and trade their in-game assets.

The benefits of this integration are obvious. Firstly, game developers can quickly put their games on the chain and use blockchain technology to achieve decentralized management and operation through Zentry's platform. This not only reduces the technical burden on developers, but also provides them with more business opportunities. Secondly, players will truly own their in-game assets, rather than just having the right to use them as in traditional games. This will greatly enhance player engagement and stickiness, and drive the long-term development of the game.

Introduction and Innovation of Web3 Technology

By introducing Web3 technology, Zentry and Maxion will greatly enhance the playability and player engagement of the game, making the game no longer limited to traditional forms of entertainment, but becoming a whole new way of life. Web3 technology not only brings more transparency and security to the game, but also provides new possibilities for the construction of the game economy.

Zentry's Metagame Layer is the core of this strategy. By integrating games with social networks, e-commerce, and other consumer applications, it provides a new cross-platform experience. For example, users can receive game-related rewards while using social platforms, attracting them to download and participate in the game. This cross-platform promotion will greatly enhance the issuance effect of the game, while also providing users with more interaction and entertainment opportunities.

Solving the main problems in the gaming industry

By building a "game of games," Zentry solves two major challenges in the gaming industry: game issuance and monetization.

(1) Issuance problem

Through its meta-game layer, Zentry integrates games with consumer application platforms such as social networks and e-commerce, increasing the exposure and user acquisition efficiency of games. For example, users can receive game-related rewards while using social platforms, thereby attracting them to download and participate in the game. This cross-platform promotion method will greatly enhance the issuance effect of games.

(2) Cash-out Problem

Zentry introduces a new way to monetize, enriching the traditional in-game purchase and advertising model. The resources obtained by players in the game can not only improve the game experience, but also be exchanged for items or services of actual value, increasing the user's willingness to pay and retention rate. As a third-party platform, Zentry can also introduce monetization mechanisms such as limited-time loot boxes or sweepstakes without affecting the user experience and brand image of the original game, while improving the game's monetization capabilities. For example, every time a user hits an opponent in Valorant or completes a game in Axie Infinity, the user may receive additional rewards from Zentry's tier, which can be used to craft items, gift cards, or boost profiles, among other things.

By integrating games with other applications, Zentry improves the efficiency of game issuance and increases user willingness to pay and retention rate through various monetization methods, bringing new development opportunities and business models to the gaming industry.

Future Outlook of Zentry

Zentry's founder and CEO, Jarindr Thitadilaka, said, “Zentry's acquisition of Maxion is an important milestone for us to achieve the goal of the Metagame Layer, dedicated to bringing MMORPG experience into real life. By putting 'Ragnarok' and other legendary games on the chain, we aim to create an immersive interactive experience that combines the advantages of traditional games with the benefits of Web3.”

This strategic initiative will not only promote the expansion of the Zentry product portfolio, accelerate its "game within a game" plan through the integration of multiple games, but also serve as a catalyst for bringing popular games and Web2 players into the Web3 space. We are taking an important step towards uniting 3 billion players worldwide in a unified game economy (Play Economy).

Zentry's goal is to become a leader in the blockchain gaming sector by introducing more popular game IPs, attracting more players and developers to participate in its ecosystem. This will not only help increase the platform's user engagement and retention rate, but also drive the development of the entire blockchain gaming industry.