- Ethereum-based games Realms of Alurya and Wonder Wars are shutting down due to funding shortages and publisher withdrawals.
- This reflects a growing trend of crypto gaming projects struggling to stay afloat amid financial and player engagement challenges.
The once-promising world of crypto gaming is facing a tough reality check, with two more Ethereum-based titles, Realms of Alurya and Wonder Wars, announcing they are going offline due to funding shortages. Both games were built on Ronin, an Ethereum sidechain focused on gaming, and their closures highlight a troubling trend in the blockchain gaming industry this year.
Developers from both projects revealed that despite their passion and effort, securing ongoing financial support to sustain live service operations proved impossible. Hello Monster, the studio behind Wonder Wars, candidly shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the game did not meet critical user engagement or revenue benchmarks, making it unsustainable. Consequently, they decided to shut down the studio and cancel plans for the game’s utility token, emphasizing their reluctance to launch a speculative asset without a solid purpose.
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Meanwhile, Realms of Alurya’s future became uncertain after it abruptly lost backing from Treasure, the blockchain publisher that provided funding under an exclusivity deal. Treasure’s sudden decision to exit the gaming publishing space to focus on AI development left Realms of Alurya without the financial resources it had banked on for the year. The game’s creative director, Oscar Soler, expressed shock and regret over the dependency on a single publisher, admitting that the team now faces “uncharted waters” as they explore potential options.
These closures come amid a wider wave of crypto gaming shutdowns driven by a combination of funding crises and dwindling player bases. Notable examples include the recent closures of Solana’s Nyan Heroes, Ethereum’s Ember Sword, and earlier this year, The Mystery Society. Gala Games also announced the shutdown of its zombie-themed The Walking Dead: Empires. The financial strain extends beyond individual games, with many gaming tokens plummeting in market value—only Immutable’s IMX token remains among the top 100 by market cap.
The fate of Realms of Alurya and Wonder Wars underscores the volatile nature of blockchain gaming, where innovative ideas often collide with harsh market realities. As the crypto gaming space continues to evolve, developers and investors alike must navigate an uncertain landscape, balancing ambition with sustainability.
