Web3 Game Studio DPS Secures $30.5 Million in Funding to Launch Open World Shooting Game

Amid the overall downturn in the Web3 gaming industry, an independent game studio named Distinct Possibility Studios (abbreviated as DPS) recently completed a $30.5 million funding round. This amount is rare in the current Web3 gaming sector. The round was co-led by the gaming-focused venture capital firm Bitkraft and the European hedge fund Brevan Howard, along with participation from several well-known institutions.

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

DPS's ability to secure such large-scale financing in the current environment is primarily due to the strong background of its core team. The studio was founded by several industry veterans who have extensive experience in traditional MMOs and large-scale shooting games.

Founder John Smedley is one of the representative figures in the American gaming industry, having served as the CEO of Daybreak Game Company for a long time, where he led the development and operation of several classic games, including EverQuest and PlanetSide 2. Before joining DPS, Smedley also served as the general manager of Amazon's gaming division.

Other core members of DPS also have impressive backgrounds. 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 is a key art member of the "Fallout" series and has served as art director at several top studios.

"Reaper Actual" is an open-world persistent first-person shooter that combines tactical shooting gameplay with an MMO-style progression system and strategic faction dynamics. The game is set on the fictional island of Marova, where players take on the role of a mercenary warrior named "Reaper" and engage in ongoing conflicts with other players and AI-controlled faction forces.

Game features include an open world and faction conflict, base building and resource management, a player-driven economic system, as well as dynamic quests and collision objectives. These mechanisms are designed to create a continually evolving game world, where players' decisions and actions will directly impact the game's progress.

It is worth noting that DPS does not fully position "Reaper Actual" as a Web3 game. The game will offer optional Web3 asset market features upon launch, allowing players in need to utilize blockchain technology for in-game asset trading, while retaining the free-to-play and social experience of traditional games.

DPS chose Etherlink as its blockchain infrastructure mainly for its low transaction fees, fast confirmations, and high security. Etherlink is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 scaling network based on the Tezos blockchain, combining the advantages of the Ethereum ecosystem's toolchain with the high-security architecture of Tezos.

Despite DPS receiving significant funding and industry attention, "Reaper Actual" is still in the early stages of development. The overall environment for Web3 games still faces many challenges, including players' acceptance of on-chain assets, regulatory risks, and the integration of on-chain and off-chain gameplay.

In the coming years, the open beta progress of "Reaper Actual", the on-chain economic model, and user retention rate will be key indicators to assess whether it can truly break through. At the same time, the design of DPS with Web3 features as optional modules also indicates that the team has considered the risks; even if the on-chain version does not meet expectations, players can still enjoy a complete gaming experience.