The blockchain gaming sector has often faced skepticism, especially after a prolonged market downturn that saw many projects fade away. Despite this, industry players continue to bet big on gaming’s potential. A notable example is Gunzilla Games, the developer behind the upcoming AAA title Off The Grid (OTG), which has attracted significant venture capital and industry attention.
Recently, Binance Launchpool introduced GUNZ (GUN), the native token of Off The Grid, marking another major entry into the crypto-gaming space. With a total supply of 10 billion tokens and an initial circulating supply of 645 million, GUN is positioned as the core of OTG’s in-game economy. This piece explores the game's background, mechanics, and what it could mean for the future of web3 gaming.
Development Backing and Team Strength
A successful game often relies on two critical elements: a skilled team and sufficient funding. Gunzilla Games, though established only in 2020, boasts a team of around 340 professionals. Many core members previously worked at Crytek’s Kyiv studio, contributing to major titles like Warface, Far Cry, and Crysis.
Adding to their credibility, Gunzilla enlisted Neill Blomkamp—director of sci-fi hits like District 9 and Elysium—as Chief Visionary Officer. The game’s narrative was penned by Richard K. Morgan, author of Altered Carbon. This high-caliber involvement signals a focus on quality and storytelling often absent in earlier blockchain games.
On the funding side, Gunzilla secured $30 million in a round led by CoinFund and Avalanche’s Blizzard Fund, with participation from Republic Capital and Morningstar Ventures. Earlier, Delphi Digital invested $6 million, making it one of the project’s largest validators.
Gameplay: Battle Royale Meets Blockchain
Off The Grid is a battle royale shooter set in a dystopian future on “Teardrop Island.” Players compete in a lethal reality show, using advanced cybernetic enhancements for mobility and combat.
A key innovation is the “Extraction Royale” mode. Players collect HEX cubes—representing weapon blueprints or cosmetic items—and must safely extract them to designated zones. Successful extraction mints these items as NFTs on the GUNZ chain, a custom subnet built on Avalanche.
This “play-to-own” system avoids traditional in-game stores. All items enter the economy via player effort, promoting true digital ownership. The game is designed with optional blockchain features, allowing players to engage with web3 elements at their own pace.
The GUN Token and Its Economic Role
GUN serves multiple purposes within OTG’s ecosystem:
- Medium of Exchange: Used for buying, selling, and trading NFT items.
- Governance: Token holders can vote on game updates and economic changes.
- Staking Rewards: Players earn rewards by staking GUN.
- Creator Incentives: User-generated content creators are paid in GUN.
- In-Game Utility: Certain actions, like speeding up crafting, require GUN.
The game runs on the GUNZ chain, an Avalanche subnet capable of high throughput and low transaction fees. The testnet has already processed over 27 million transactions with more than 2.2 million registered wallets.
Node Operations and Ecosystem Support
The network is supported by 10,000 validator nodes. These nodes:
- Validate transactions and secure the network.
- Participate in governance decisions.
- Earn fees from item minting and secondary market commissions.
Gunzilla also offers a full suite of tools including a mobile wallet, NFT marketplace, and blockchain explorer, making the ecosystem accessible even to non-core players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GUNZ?
GUNZ is the native utility and governance token of Off The Grid, a AAA battle royale game integrated with blockchain technology. It facilitates in-game transactions, staking, and community-led governance.
How does blockchain integration work in the game?
Blockchain elements are optional. Players can earn NFT items through gameplay, which are minted on the GUNZ chain—a fast and low-cost Avalanche subnet. These assets can be traded or used across supported platforms.
What platforms will support Off The Grid?
The game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This multi-platform approach is rare among blockchain games and may attract a broader audience.
Can I try the game before release?
Gunzilla is running a “Pioneer Program” where interested users can sign up via their website for a chance to receive early access.
Is GUNZ a good investment?
The value of GUN depends on the game’s adoption and economy design. While the project is well-funded and ambitious, all investments in crypto-gaming carry inherent risk. Always do your own research.
Where can I learn more about the project’s development?
You can explore more strategies and track real-time updates through the official GUNZ blockchain explorer or the project’s whitepaper.
Closing Thoughts
Off The Grid stands out for its high production value, experienced team, and thoughtful tokenomics. By making blockchain features optional, it may appeal to both traditional gamers and crypto enthusiasts. If the game delivers on its promises, it could help redefine the play-to-earn model into a more sustainable play-and-own experience.
The upcoming launch on major consoles could also help bridge the gap between web2 and web3 gaming communities. For those interested in the future of gaming and digital ownership, Off The Grid is certainly a project worth watching.