In a remarkable achievement for the blockchain gaming community, Etherscape, a dungeon-crawling MMORPG fully integrated with Enjin Blockchain, has secured its place among the top five trending games on the Epic Games Store. This announcement was made by Enjin, the leading blockchain ecosystem for gaming, marking a significant milestone for indie game developers in the crypto space.
Etherscape’s ascent to the top five is particularly notable as it shares the spotlight with globally recognized titles such as Fortnite, Genshin Impact, and Assassin’s Creed. These games collectively boast an impressive 300 million monthly players, underscoring the magnitude of Etherscape’s achievement in a highly competitive environment dominated by AAA titles.
A Milestone for Indie Developers and Blockchain Gaming
Sam Bayless, the indie game developer behind Etherscape, has leveraged the power of the Enjin Blockchain to distinguish his game from other crypto and mainstream games. By integrating blockchain technology, Bayless has enabled a unique gameplay experience where players can own, craft, and trade in-game items as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This feature has resonated with gamers, helping Etherscape to not only trend on the Epic Games Store but also top several key categories for newly-released titles:
- #1 in Dungeon Crawler
- #2 in MMO
- #2 in Rogue-lite
- #2 in Co-op
- #3 in RPG
The game’s open-alpha was released on August 16, 2024, and has since captivated a growing player base with its innovative blend of traditional MMORPG elements and blockchain integration. Players can team up to conquer dungeon adventures and special events, then use the Etherforge process to turn valuable crafted items into NFTs. These NFTs can be traded on NFT.io, Enjin’s global marketplace, providing players with tangible ownership of their in-game assets.
Building a Strong Community through Enjin’s Spark Program
Etherscape’s success can also be attributed to its early adoption of Enjin’s newly relaunched Spark Program. This initiative allowed Etherscape to build a loyal community of alpha testers and advocates who played a crucial role in refining the game ahead of its Epic Games launch. The feedback and content generated by this community were instrumental in ensuring that Etherscape was well-prepared to make a strong debut.
The open-alpha release was strategically timed to align with the upcoming launch of Enjin’s Multiverse on August 27th. This cross-game experience will enable gamers to use NFTs across ten different games, showcasing the transformative potential of NFTs in the gaming industry.
A New Era for Web3 Gaming with Enjin
Launched in 2017, Enjin has been a pioneer in Web3 development, offering the first gaming-specific development tools on Ethereum and designing the ERC-1155 token standard. Enjin’s ecosystem, designed to support the deployment of scalable Web3 games and applications, has been embraced by hundreds of developers worldwide. The key components of this ecosystem include:
Enjin Blockchain is tailored specifically for gaming and app development, providing scalability, enhanced security, and ease of use, making it an ideal foundation for Web3 projects. The Enjin Platform and API offer powerful tools that enable developers to efficiently integrate Web3 functionalities into their games and applications, often within just a few hours.
Complementing these tools is the Enjin Wallet, a robust digital wallet known for its extensive features and seamless integration with the Enjin Blockchain, Marketplace, Platform, and API, serving a user base of over 3 million. Additionally, the NFT.io Marketplace is an intuitive platform designed for creators, traders, and developers to easily create and trade NFTs within minutes. To further enhance user experience, Enjin Beam introduces a novel way to send NFTs via QR codes, allowing for the effortless distribution of thousands of items with just a few clicks.
Etherscape’s success on the Epic Games Store is a testament to the growing appeal of blockchain-based games. As the first adopter of Enjin’s Spark Program, Etherscape has set a new standard for indie developers in the blockchain gaming space. Other projects looking to replicate Etherscape’s success can learn more about the Spark Program by visiting Enjin’s portal at enjin.io/join.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the integration of blockchain technology promises to unlock new possibilities for both developers and players. Etherscape’s rise to the top of the Epic Games charts is just the beginning of what could be a transformative era for blockchain gaming.
