Web3 Game Studio DPS Secures $30.5 Million in Funding to Develop Large Open World Shooter Game

Against the backdrop of the current downturn in the Web3 gaming industry, the independent game studio Distinct Possibility Studios (DPS for short) recently completed a $30.5 million financing, a figure that is quite rare in the current industry environment. This round of financing was jointly led by the game-focused venture capital firm Bitkraft and the European hedge fund Brevan Howard, with participation from several well-known institutions.

It is reported that the funds will be used to develop DPS's first project - a large open-world persistent first-person shooter (MMOFPS) titled "Reaper Actual". The game is planned for release on mainstream gaming platforms and will integrate a certain Ethereum layer 2 network to enable on-chain trading of game assets.

The ability of DPS to secure such a scale of financing in the current environment is closely related to the background of its core team. DPS was founded by several seasoned professionals from the gaming industry, and the core leadership team consists of heavyweight figures from the traditional MMO and large-scale shooting game sectors.

John Smedley, the founder of DPS, is one of the leading figures in the American gaming industry, particularly renowned in the field of online games (MMO). He served as the CEO of a well-known gaming company for a long time, leading the operation and development 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's most recent public position was as the general manager of the gaming division of a large technology company.

Other core members of DPS are also experienced. Chief Creative Officer Matt Higby has over 20 years of experience in the online gaming industry and has been involved 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 an art director at several top studios.

"Reaper Actual" is an open-world persistent first-person shooter game. The game is set on the fictional island of Marova, where players take on the role of a mercenary warrior, continuously clashing with other players and AI-controlled factions. Core gameplay elements include base building, resource gathering, faction alliances, and large-scale raid battles, with the game world evolving continuously based on player actions.

The game features the following:

1. Open World and Faction Conflict
2. Infrastructure Construction and Resource Management
3. Player-driven economic system
4. Dynamic Tasks and Collision Targets

It is worth noting that DPS has not fully positioned "Reaper Actual" as a Web3 game, but rather provides optional Web3 asset market features. Players can choose to trade in-game assets on a certain blockchain network while retaining the free-to-play and social experience of traditional games.

The blockchain network chosen by DPS is an EVM-compatible second-layer scaling network based on a certain public chain, offering advantages such as high speed, low cost, and security. This choice takes into account both technical performance and may also be related to the strategic investments of the foundation behind the network.

Despite having a luxurious development team and considerable financing scale, "Reaper Actual" is still in its early stages. The overall environment of Web3 games still faces many challenges, including player acceptance, regulatory risks, and the integration of on-chain and off-chain gameplay. Therefore, although this financing has injected some confidence into the industry, a cautious attitude towards the project's prospects is still necessary.

In the coming years, the public testing progress of "Reaper Actual", its on-chain economic model, and user retention rate will be key indicators for assessing its success. At the same time, the design of Web3 features as optional modules also provides a certain degree of risk hedging for the project.