New Trend in Web3 Gaming: DPS Studio Secures $30.5 Million Funding

Recently, the Web3 gaming industry is undergoing severe tests. Many small and medium-sized studios are in trouble, and even leading companies are facing pressure from declining market values. In this context, the independent game studio Distinct Possibility Studios (DPS for short) has completed a financing round of $30.5 million, a figure that is quite rare in the current industry environment.

This round of financing was jointly led by the gaming-focused venture capital firm Bitkraft and the European hedge fund Brevan Howard. Several well-known institutions participated, including a certain foundation, Hashed, Delphi Ventures, and others. It is reported that this funding will be used to develop DPS's first game project, "Reaper Actual," which is a large-scale open-world persistent first-person shooter (MMOFPS).

"Reaper Actual" is planned to be released on multiple mainstream gaming platforms and will integrate a certain Ethereum Layer 2 network, allowing in-game assets such as characters, bases, and skins to be traded on-chain. This design retains the advantages of traditional gaming while providing asset trading options supported by blockchain technology for players in need.

The ability of DPS to secure such a scale of financing in the current environment is closely related to the background of its founding team. The studio was co-founded by several industry veterans from the gaming world, and the core team has extensive experience in traditional MMOs and large-scale shooting games.

Founder John Smedley is a well-known figure in the American gaming industry, having served as the CEO of a game company for a long time, leading the development and operation of several classic games, including the 3D MMORPG "EverQuest" launched in 1999 and the large free MMOFPS "PlanetSide 2" released in 2013. Before joining DPS, Smedley served as the general manager of the gaming division at a large technology company.

Other core members of DPS are also highly capable. Chief Creative Officer Matt Higby has over twenty years of experience in the online gaming industry, having participated in the design and operation of several well-known games. Chief Artist Tramell Ray Isaac is a key artistic member of a well-known game series and has served as art director at several top studios.

The game design of "Reaper Actual" is quite distinctive. It 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 will take on the role of a mercenary warrior, engaging in continuous conflict with other players and AI-controlled faction forces.

The core gameplay of the game includes base building, resource gathering, faction alliances, and large-scale raid battles. Players' decisions and actions will directly affect the evolution of the game world, strengthening the persistent world experience. Additionally, the game features a player-driven economy that supports players in producing and trading various game resources.

It is worth noting that DPS has chosen to integrate the game with a certain niche L2 network. This network claims to achieve sub-second transaction confirmations, and the transaction costs are extremely low, with each token transaction fee typically not exceeding 0.001 USD. This gives it a certain advantage in small in-game transactions.

Despite DPS securing significant funding, "Reaper Actual" is still in the early stages of development. The current Web3 gaming industry faces numerous challenges, including player acceptance of on-chain assets, regulatory and compliance risks, as well as the integration of on-chain and off-chain gameplay. Even with a team of experienced professionals, these challenges remain.

In the coming years, the open beta progress of "Reaper Actual", the on-chain economic model, and user retention rate will be key indicators of its success or failure. It is worth mentioning that the game offers Web3 functionality as an optional module, which provides a certain degree of risk hedging for the project. Even if the on-chain version does not meet expectations, players will still be able to enjoy a complete gaming experience.