Earn NEON while climbing the ranks
Cyberpunk role-playing game Neon District is attracting renewed interest a year after launching amidst a surge in play-to-earn games on the blockchain. The free-to-play game, which features collectible NFTs on Polygon and Ethereum has seen an almost 89% surge in unique active wallets over the last 30 days. Taking the dapp to an all-time-high number of active wallets and pushing it to become a top 20 Polygon dapp according to DappRadar data.
Neon District is a multichain game operating across Ethereum and Polygon created by Blockade Games. Importantly, it’s the Polygon Network version of the dapp that’s attracting users right now. Presumably due to its simple onboarding, cheap and fast transactions. Which, for a dapp game, are vital.
In the last 30 days, Neon District has attracted 5,640 unique active wallets that completed 225,120 transactions. This represents a more than 88% increase in active wallets month over month as older play-to-earn titles appear to be regaining relevance and attention. We also observe that user interest was trickling along at a very low level up until the end of April. Although that spike in activity was caused by users unlocking the ability to transfer tokens to another wallet.
Ethereum NFTs Left Behind
Season Zero Neon District NFT assets were originally released as Ethereum NFTs, back in 2019. In August 2021, the game announced a portal to allow players to port these assets over to the current version of Neon District on the Polygon blockchain. Hence the increased activity observed through the smart contracts.
There are more than 400 Neon District Season Zero assets on the Ethereum mainnet. Users will need to bridge those assets to Polygon using a custom-built feature built into the Neon District website. Blockade Games pledged to reimburse gas costs for transferring the assets. Not in Ethereum mind you, in Neon, the in-game currency of Neon District. So finally, gamers will be able to use the items they purchased in 2019. Moreover, the dev team states they have been working in overdrive. Neon District will get a new user interface, including an improved NFT marketplace. Furthermore, players will be able to bind and unbind NFTs to their character. This will allow them to transfer or sell a character with all their gear attached.
What is Neon District
Neon District is a free-to-play cyberpunk role-playing game featuring collectible NFTs on Polygon and Ethereum. Players collect characters and gear, craft and level up fully-equipped teams, and battle their teams against other players through the Neon Pizza competitive multiplayer missions or in real-time turn-based combat.
In Neon Pizza, players send their pizza delivery teams out to earn more Neon, Juice, and Parts to buy loot boxes and level up characters and gear. Players choose between being law-abiding members of Neon District and delivering pizzas to hungry citizens. Or you can exploit the system and ambush other players to steal their earnings. Or both! No matter which you choose, you earn Neon and achievement badges, while climbing the ranks.
Thanks to the integration with the Polygon blockchain, in-game NFT assets can be traded directly in the in-game marketplace. That way gamers don’t have to deal with gas fees while playing. Players can also acquire gear through gameplay which they need to progress in the game.
Play-to-Earn
As a slew of play-to-earn dapps arrives across multiple blockchains, all promising players the chance to earn tokens while playing. Older games, with perhaps more solid communities, are just approaching the exciting parts of their road map. Neon District has been in existence for over 2 years already, however really just started to become truly playable recently. The same is true of many other titles. Games such as Blankos Block Party have been quietly going about their business. Importantly, building awareness and a community as they go.
In Q4 2021 the dev team states they will give Neon District Trophy and Keyholders early access to Version 2.0 of the game. With a public release scheduled for shortly after that. Additionally, Blockade Games will launch the first Neon District expansion set – End of Days – where there will be a limited edition loot box containing only weapons. Next year looks more exciting for Neon District and its players. The team is actively hiring extra developers to work on new game modes. In addition, Neon District wants to work with a designer to launch limited edition fashion items, allowing game characters to up their game and look their best in the Neon District world.
The opportunities afforded to players in the play-to-earn model appear to be breaking through the noise. Moreover, whilst the games may not be at the same level as those hardcore gamers are accustomed used to. The opportunity to make money appears to be superseding that. Additionally, as the excitement of a world entrenched in digital assets and virtual worlds grows, speculators are starting to circle.
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The above does not constitute investment advice. The information given here is purely for informational purposes only. Please exercise due diligence and do your research. The writer holds positions in ETH, BTC, ADA, MATIC, SAFEMOON, HEX, LINK, GRT, CRO, OMI, USDT, SOL, SHIBA INU, AVASTR, RAY, BOSON, AND OCEAN
