Off the Grid, the latest project from Gunzilla Games, has captured players' attention by becoming the most downloaded free game on the Epic Games Store just three days after its early access launch. By blending elements of traditional shooters and blockchain technology, the game offers players a unique opportunity to engage with assets in the form of NFTs.
What Makes Off the Grid Unique
Set in a dark cyberpunk world where corporations and augmented humans fight for survival, Off the Grid immerses players in the Extraction Royale mode, where, in addition to eliminating enemies, they must collect valuable items — known as loot. These items can include cosmetic skins, weapons, and skill upgrades, all stored on the blockchain as NFTs.
Notably, blockchain technology is used here not to create the main gameplay but to support the NFT marketplace. Off the Grid operates on its own Avalanche L1, allowing for the management of game assets without overwhelming gameplay with financial aspects.
How the Game Has Impacted the Market
Since the launch of Off the Grid, there has been a noticeable increase in activity within the GUNZ L1 network. In the three weeks leading up to the launch, the game processed around 1.4 million transactions per day. Shortly after its release, this number surged to over 3.1 million transactions per day. On launch day, the network processed approximately 622,000 transactions, a 350% increase from the previous day.
Active addresses in GUNZ L1 also saw a dramatic rise: before October 8, the daily average was 112,000, but in the week following the launch, it reached 506,000, peaking at 846,000 on October 10.
While Off the Grid successfully combines gaming and blockchain elements, there is a risk that financial aspects could overshadow the core gameplay, similar to the recent Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles by Ubisoft. Experts suggest that the success of blockchain games requires careful balancing between gameplay mechanics and NFTs. Activity metrics indicate that Off the Grid has the potential for long-term success, especially if developers can avoid creating a divide between profit-driven players and those seeking entertainment.
