Neon Machine Raises $20 Million in Series A Funding for Shrapnel: Redefining Gaming with Blockchain Integration

Neon Machine, the Seattle-based game studio, recently announced that it has raised $20 million in Series A funding for its upcoming first-person shooter game, Shrapnel. The funding round was led by Polychain Capital, with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Franklin Templeton, IOSG Ventures, and Tess Ventures. This significant investment will be used to further develop Shrapnel, as the game team prepares to release an early access version in December, followed by a full launch in 2024.

Shrapnel is described as a sci-fi extraction shooter game, where players will have the opportunity to own and create in-game assets. The game will offer a substantial amount of in-game content, such as weapon parts, weapons, and cosmetics, as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Shrapnel's Avalanche subnet. Shrapnel has also introduced its own ERC-20 token, SHRAP, on its Avalanche network.

The multiplayer game will cater to both solo and team-based gameplay, with a focus on user-generated content (UGC). Shrapnel aims to empower gamers by allowing them to generate their own game items using the studio's technology, which can then be minted as NFTs.

Neon Machine's CEO, Mark Long, expressed his excitement about breaking the mold of traditional game development and creating a blockbuster-quality shooter that embraces player ownership and creativity. The company currently boasts a team of over 70 employees who are dedicated to delivering an immersive and innovative gaming experience.

The involvement of prominent investors like Polychain Capital and IOSG Ventures highlights the potential of Shrapnel in leveraging blockchain technology to redefine the traditional extraction gameplay. The funding not only provides financial support but also validates Neon Machine's vision and strategy for Shrapnel.

Neon Machine's journey began as part of HBO Interactive and has since evolved into an independent game studio. With the successful Series A funding round, the company is well-positioned to continue pushing the boundaries of player experience and ownership through the integration of blockchain technology in gaming.