Can Off the Grid survive Steam’s crypto ban? Rage over Maplestory cheaters.

Off the Grid Navigates Steam’s Crypto Ban

Gunzilla Games’ Web3 battle royale shooter Off the Grid has launched on Steam, raising eyebrows given the platform’s 2021 ban on crypto and NFT games. The game, often likened to Call of Duty, made history last year as the first blockchain title on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Now in early access, its full console release is slated for later this year. Theodore Agranat, Gunzilla’s Web3 Director, expressed excitement about reaching Steam’s vast audience but offered no specifics on how they bypassed the ban. Some gamers, like content creator Dad Mode on X, speculate if this signals a policy shift by Steam, potentially opening the door for more Web3 games. Off the Grid has faced challenges, including past criticism of cheating issues, though recent updates have aimed to address these concerns, boosting player engagement to 4.9 million monthly wallets.

MapleStory Universe Battles Cheater Crisis

Avalanche-based MapleStory Universe is under fire from its community for rampant cheating, with players demanding swift action. Popular gamer ETH.Apple posted on X on May 23, urging developers to tackle the issue, a sentiment echoed widely on Discord. X user

@winterfyre001 highlighted additional frustrations, including nerfed drop rates and slow item enhancement, questioning the game’s playability just two weeks after launch. The backlash underscores a broader challenge for Web3 games: balancing accessibility with security to maintain a fair and enjoyable experience for legitimate players.

LOL Land: A Surprisingly Addictive Web3 Board Game

LOL Land, a browser-based board game on the Abstract Chain by Yield Guild Games, offers a Web3 twist on Monopoly. Despite its simple premise—roll dice, move around maps like Ice World Wonderland featuring Pudgy Penguins—its flashing lights, lively music, and slot-machine-like energy make it surprisingly engaging. There’s no tutorial, which may confuse new players, but the game hooks you quickly with its casual, no-strategy-needed vibe. It’s free to try with unlimited rolls, making it accessible for those wary of upfront costs in crypto gaming. While it won’t revolutionize the industry, LOL Land delivers quirky fun for fans of board games and Pudgy Penguins.

Shifting Trends in Web3 Gaming

The Web3 gaming space is evolving, with Notcoin declaring the “tap-to-earn” genre “probably dead” as focus shifts to more engaging projects. Meanwhile, Sleepogotchi on Telegram is hiring “professional sleepers” for up to $50 an hour to test sleep patterns, showcasing the sector’s experimental nature. As Off the Grid gains traction and games like LOL Land find their niche, the industry continues to grapple with challenges like cheating and player retention, but growing user bases—potentially hitting 50 million monthly gamers this year—signal a maturing market.