šŸ“… Maplestory N Release Date Revealed | GAM3S Grid Weekly

Solana Game Pass: Season 0 week 3 kicks off, Maplestory N receives May 15th release date, Gala Games shuts down The Walking Dead, Pixels reveals major economy changes, and more!

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GAM3S.GG
May 02, 2025

šŸ”„Top headlines from this weekā€™s digest:

āš”ļø GAM3 Quests

Solana Game Pass: Season 0 is your access to the biggest and most active web3 gaming ecosystem. Built for both new players and veterans, the Game Pass connects you with the top games, studios, and gaming experiences.

Complete the missions below to claim a Raffle Ticket W3 for a chance to win a portion of the $10K+ total prize pool, which includes SOL, NFTs, game assets, and more.

Start Quest | Ends May 8th

Set sail in Golden Tides, a fast-paced, pirate-themed Adventure MOBA where strategy and teamwork lead to treasure. Engage in 25ā€“30 minute matches, battling across dynamic terrains and treacherous seas. Choose your hero, customize your playstyle, and outmaneuver rival crews to claim victory.ā€‹

šŸ”ø Engage in thrilling battles on land and sea, facing off against enemy crews and formidable sea creatures.ā€‹
šŸ”ø Select from a diverse roster of pirates, each offering unique skills and playstyles to suit your strategy.
šŸ”ø Complete quests and gather clues to locate and secure hidden treasures before your rivals do.

Golden Tides Demo is available through Epic Games so give it a shot.

Join the adventure, assemble your crew, and carve your legend on the high seas!ā€‹

šŸŽ® Solana Game Pass Season 0 Goes Live!

Solana Game Pass: Season 0 is your access to the biggest and most active web3 gaming ecosystem. Built for both new players and veterans, the Game Pass connects you with the top games, studios, and gaming experiences.

Whether you're here to explore, compete, or collect, it is time to play games and LEVEL UP!

Complete quests to collect raffle tickets for the $15K+ prize pool, including USDC, Tokens, NFTS, and in-game items.

šŸ“ How Web3 Enhances Game Monetization

Discover how web3 technologies are reshaping game monetization and player engagement through sustainable play-to-earn models, NFT economies, community governance, and new revenue strategies.

Whatā€™s Going On Here?

Web3 technologies are reshaping game monetization by introducing blockchain-based models that allow true digital ownership, player-driven economies, and community governance. The industry is moving from unsustainable play-to-earn models to more balanced play-and-earn strategies, while exploring new monetization paths through NFTs, DAOs, and DeFi-powered funding. This shift is driven by rising acquisition costs, player demand for deeper engagement, and the search for sustainable revenue.

What Does This Mean?

  • Play-and-Earn > Play-to-Earn: Developers are now prioritizing fun-first gameplay, with economic rewards as bonusesā€”not the core loopā€”to avoid token inflation and unsustainable economies.

  • NFTs Evolve: NFTs are being used beyond collectiblesā€”now enabling crafting systems, asset rentals, dynamic in-game utility, and fractional ownership.

  • Decentralized Governance: DAOs give players a say in development and economics, aligning community incentives with the gameā€™s success.

  • New Revenue Models: Programmable royalties, decentralized marketplaces, and in-game DeFi protocols are unlocking fresh income streams and funding models.

  • Mainstreaming Web3: Developers are embracing hybrid models to appeal to both web2 and web3 players, while hiding blockchain complexity through smart UX and tech like layer-2 scaling.

Why Should I Care?

If you're a developer, web3 offers tools to lower costs, increase player retention, and generate revenue beyond upfront sales. If you're a player, it gives you ownership, participation in governance, and even the chance to earn from gameplay or item trading. For investors and publishers, this space signals where the next wave of gaming innovation and monetization will emergeā€”rewarding early adopters who balance innovation with sustainable design.

Read the full report breakdown here

āœļø Reviews of the Week

Step into an intense battlefield of a fast-paced FPS followed by a nostalgic charm of classic 2D MMORPG in our two featured reviews:

Shatterline is an ambitious FPS that blends the intensity of roguelike PvE with fast-paced PvP, offering something unique for players looking for a fresh experience. While the game currently faces challenges, such as occasional bugs, cross-region latency, and a relatively small player base, itā€™s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by more gamers.

MapleStory N truly feels like a blast from the past, bringing back the nostalgic charm of classic 2D MMORPG gameplay while weaving in modern web3 integration. Sure, there are some areas that could use improvements, like onboarding accessibility and loot collection mechanics, but the gameā€™s strengths shine through.

šŸŽ® Fresh Games

From a fast-paced multiplayer with high-stakes and a new take on the classic snake game to a relaxing island-building game reminiscent of Animal Crossing, check out the latest games added to our platform!

SOL Arena is a fast-paced multiplayer snake game where players compete to collect, extract, and secure in-game rewards while representing their favorite crypto communities.

Cosmocadia is a relaxing island-building game where players gather resources, craft items, and customize their paradise while exploring new areas and collecting unique features.

šŸ“ŗ The Gaming Revolution You Canā€™t Ignore

Kevin Lambert is the Co-Founder and CPO of Koin Games and Project O.

On this episode of Press Play, Kevin shares insights from his career, including his time at Monolith and Microsoft, and explains the vision behind Project O, a trading card game that leverages blockchain for unique ownership experiences.

Let us know who you want to see next and leave your thoughts in the comments section below šŸ‘‡

Please remember that we will give you ample time in advance and clear notice on all of our major announcements. Make sure you practice extreme caution, do not click any suspicious links, and exercise extra diligence.

šŸ’šThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this weekā€™s recap, weā€™d appreciate it if you shared it with a friend.

Until next time, happy gaming!