Plus: New DeFi farming game on Blast!

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Here’s what we got for you this week:

• 200 million $ARB gaming proposal

• Massive moves from Immutable

• Hottest game on Blast L2

Let’s get started!

200 Million $ARB Gaming Proposal

The gaming landscape is set to evolve dramatically, thanks to the ambitious proposal from the Arbitrum Foundation. This initiative, known as the Gaming Catalyst Program, pledges a whopping 200 million ARB—approximately $400 million—to fuel gaming projects on Arbitrum's blockchain over two years.

Arbitrum's strategy involves a hefty investment, with the lion's share—160 million ARB—earmarked for game publishers and builders. The remaining 40 million ARB will support crucial infrastructure development, ensuring that the ecosystem has the tools and technology needed to thrive.

This proposal emerged from a recognition of Arbitrum's potential to replicate its success in decentralized finance (DeFi) within the gaming domain. Despite its achievements, Arbitrum has observed that its gaming presence lags behind competitors.

By launching the Gaming Catalyst Program, Arbitrum aims to bridge this gap, leveraging its technological strengths and robust community to foster an environment where game developers can innovate and excel. T

This endorsement underscores the community's belief in the transformative power of gaming on blockchain and its potential to attract and retain users. Looking ahead, the foundation has laid out a comprehensive plan. Beyond simply funding projects, it aims to establish a vibrant ecosystem characterized by high-quality, engaging games.

The program also envisions creating a supportive environment for developers through mentorship, resources, and strategic partnerships. In essence, the Gaming Catalyst Program represents a significant leap forward in blockchain gaming.

Massive Moves From Immutable

Immutable is a Web3 gaming leader, onboarding the best studios and equipping them with the best tools to improve gaming experiences. They are now stepping up the game even further by launching a new fund called Inevitable Games Fund. This fund is all about diving into the booming Web3 gaming scene, looking for the next big thing to invest in.

The IGF aims to invest in high-growth Web3 gaming opportunities, leveraging Immutable and Polygon Labs' expertise to identify potential investments while King River manages the investment process. This move is set to bolster the Web3 gaming sector, which has seen around $19 billion in investments since 2018, highlighting Immutable's commitment to expanding and supporting the ecosystem.

Additionally, Immutable has partnered with OKX, a move that includes launching a GameFi NFT launchpad and integrating Immutable's gaming-focused zkEVM chain into the OKX Marketplace and OKX Wallet.

This partnership is designed to enhance the gaming experience for players by facilitating easier access to NFTs and digital assets, with over 270 games in development on Immutable's platform set to benefit.

Notably, Immutable has reported a 900% increase in signed games year-over-year, emphasizing the growing interest and investment in the Web3 gaming industry. These initiatives underscore Immutable's mission to bring digital ownership to gamers worldwide and its strategy to leverage partnerships and investments to drive growth and innovation in the sector.

Hottest Game on Blast L2

Crypto Valleys is a pixel art game that has quickly caught the attention of gamers since its launch on March 14, 2024, on Blast, an Ethereum layer 2 network. In just a short period, it has amassed over 5,000 players, diving into a virtual world where agriculture meets blockchain technology.

The game allows players to manage their farms, harvest crops, and engage in a community-driven marketplace, turning farming activities into cryptocurrency gains through the game's currency, YIELD tokens.

The gameplay of Crypto Valleys is straightforward yet engaging. Players use YIELD tokens to buy NFT-based seed packs, plant them, and harvest crops to earn more YIELD tokens, with the game featuring a token-burning mechanism to manage its economy.

This cycle of planting and harvesting is intended to keep players returning for more. However, the game has faced challenges with the rapid surge in the price of its YIELD token, making in-game purchases less affordable for players and moving away from its initial goal of low-cost gaming. Despite these challenges, the game's popularity is evident in its trading volume, with YIELD becoming the most-traded token across all of Blast.

The game's mechanics, reminiscent of popular farming and strategy games, combined with the allure of cryptocurrency rewards, have positioned Crypto Valleys as a notable entrant in the growing field of blockchain-based gaming. However, the development team is now faced with the task of adjusting the game's economy to ensure it remains accessible and enjoyable for all players.

• Bitsport is going live with their private sale on 26th March on Safelaunch platform. 

• Hyperplay, a web3-native game store, announced a strategic investment partnership with Square Enix. 

• Oh Baby Games shared a new trailer, showcasing all their upcoming games. 

• Merit Circle announced collaboration with DGI Game and revealed the DAO now owns $DGI tokens. 

• Nyan Heroes pre-alpha is set to go live on Epic Games store after being the 6th most whitelisted game.

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