Avalanche Subnet: A Custom Chain Revolution for Gaming

Table of Contents

1. Blockchain: Transforming the Gaming Industry

2. Subnet 101: Your Custom Chain Guide

3. Subnet Utilization Strategy: Tooling and Collaborative Programs

4. Amazing Web3 Games Coming to Avalanche Subnets

5. Outlook for the Avalanche Gaming Ecosystem with Subnets

 

 

1. Blockchain: Transforming the Gaming Industry

Blockchain is introducing a new paradigm to the gaming industry, specifically by innovatively enhancing the rights and benefits of ecosystem contributors. The goal is to establish a transparent and trustworthy gaming ecosystem. As a result, blockchain games incorporate more sophisticated user participation, economic systems, and operational methods compared to traditional games.

Enhancing Rights and Benefits for Ecosystem Contributors

• Rewards: Blockchain games extend rewards to all contributors within the ecosystem, encompassing developers, content creators, and players. By providing incentives tied to participation and contributions, blockchain games actively stimulate the gaming ecosystem. 
• Decision making: Token-based governance enables users to participate in the decision-making processes of the game. This democratic approach incorporates diverse perspectives not only from developers but also from various users, influencing the development and operation of the game.  

Establishing a Transparent and Trustworthy Gaming Ecosystem  

• Blockchain games autonomously manage the supply and distribution of in-game assets through smart contracts, recorded on the blockchain and transparently shared with all users. This improves the transparency of in-game asset flows and transactions, leading to a more accurate valuation of goods. Moreover, users can validate their in-game activity records using publicly available on-chain data, thereby reducing fraudulent activities within the game, and cultivating a fair gaming environment.

 

2. Subnet 101: Your Custom Chain Guide

While blockchain games bring innovation, they also face technical challenges such as network reliability issues, transaction delays, and scalability concerns. For example, transaction delays due to network overload can negatively impact in-game interactions. Additionally, the high cost of transactions resulting from network scalability limits or the complexity of creating a blockchain tailored to the game's characteristics can present obstacles.

To address these challenges, Avalanche introduces an effective solution called Subnets. Subnets are independent and self-governing networks that enable each project to build a customized chain based on its specific requirements. Blockchain game developers can choose between Avalanche's main chain (C-Chain) and one of its subnets to deploy smart contracts. This decision depends on the desired features and scenarios they intend to develop, providing flexibility and customization.

When game development demands a flexible, tailored environment and prioritizes stability and security, leveraging subnets becomes the ideal choice.

Subnets function as independent chains, enabling developers to establish game-specific logic and create an autonomous operational environment. For instance, customizable features such as gas payment systems and EVMs can be tailored to the game's unique requirements. This adaptability empowers game developers to efficiently integrate the features essential for their games, leading to cost and resource reductions.

Moreover, subnets enhance scalability and service quality with their distinct transaction processing capabilities. By operating without reliance on the main chain for transaction finality, game services remain unaffected by transactions from other projects, ensuring a consistently stable user experience. Additionally, access control and privacy features can be configured to guarantee robust security and the integrity of user data.

In cases where there is uncertainty about subnet adoption but a need to economize resources and costs, a strategic approach could involve commencing development on Avalanche's main network, C-Chain. Later, if required, assets can be flexibly migrated to subnets.

 

3. Subnet Utilization Strategy: Tooling and Collaborative Programs

While the Avalanche Subnet inherently offers significant technical convenience, it also extends additional advantages to game developers through a diverse array of tooling and support programs. This approach simplifies the process for game developers to harness the capabilities of the Avalanche Subnet in creating and managing creative and groundbreaking games.

Game Tooling Ecosystem

• Avalanche CLI: Simplifies intricate processes like setting up airdrops, customizing gas costs, and adjusting gas parameters, enabling developers with limited knowledge of blockchain infrastructure to swiftly deploy subnets.

• AvaCloud: A Web3 launchpad developed by Ava Labs that facilitates the deployment and scaling of subnets without the need for coding, saving game developers considerable time and resources.

• Stardust Game Toolkit: Stardust offers a straightforward solution for game developers to seamlessly integrate NFTs into their games with just a few lines of code.

• Moralis Unity SDK: Moralis's Unity SDK empowers game developers to effortlessly integrate data from the Avalanche blockchain into their games. This SDK allows real-time blockchain data from the Avalanche Network to enhance in-game interactions, offering players a more immersive experience..

Collaborative Programs

• Arcad3: This program extends technical and business support to Web2 game companies venturing into game development using the Avalanche blockchain, providing expertise in NFTs, technical infrastructure, Web3 culture, and blockchain game strategy. Notably, major Web2 game companies like GREE and Neowiz are currently active participants.

• Avalanche Multiverse: Geared towards expanding the subnet ecosystem, this program offers substantial incentives, totaling up to $290 million, for diverse projects spanning gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

• Blizzard: With an impressive funding pool exceeding $200 million from contributors such as the Avalanche Foundation, Ava Labs, Polychain Capital, Dragonfly Capital, and others, this program aims to bolster the development, growth, and innovation of the Avalanche blockchain ecosystem.

Avalanche offers a comprehensive range of technical and business support for projects aiming to strategically develop games on the subnet. Various toolkits, including AvaCloud and Stardust, enhance the accessibility of blockchain technology for game developers, enabling them to create games on the subnet with ease, even with limited expertise. Programs like Arcad3, Avalanche Multiverse, and Blizzard not only educate Web2 game companies on blockchain gaming concepts and strategies but also offer financial support to facilitate the development of imaginative and innovative games without overwhelming costs. These combined factors establish the Avalanche Subnet as a potent tool for game development.

 

4. Amazing Web3 Games Coming to Avalanche Subnets

The Avalanche gaming ecosystem is rapidly evolving with the adoption of subnets. Numerous AAA game studios have embraced the subnet to craft groundbreaking gaming experiences and seamlessly integrate NFT-based digital economy systems. In this section, we are thrilled to highlight some of the exciting games currently in development on the Avalanche Subnet.

SHRAPNEL

Source: SHRAPNEL

SHRAPNEL is an upcoming AAA first-person shooter (FPS) game constructed with Unreal Engine 5. Developed by the team behind renowned titles like HALO, Call of Duty, and Westworld, the game has garnered investments from esteemed venture capitalists such as Polychain Capital and Dragonfly Capital. Set in the year 2044 on Earth, players will engage in resource extraction and battles, contributing to the game's content creation through an NFT-based economic system. The SHRAPNEL team selected the Subnet due to its exceptional customization and security features. The game is slated for launch in 2024.

Off The Grid

Source: Off The Grid

Off The Grid is a cyberpunk battle royale game under development by the AAA game studio Gunzilla Games. Integrated into the GUNZ platform, based on the Avalanche subnet, the game introduces an NFT-based digital economy system, granting players complete ownership. Gunzilla Games, in collaboration with Ava Labs, expresses its intent to "leverage the high scalability and security of the Avalanche Subnet to provide the best possible gaming experience."

MetaDOS

Source: MetaDOS, Avalanche

MetaDOS, a battle royale game from DOS Labs, a game studio boasting 400,000 daily active users (DAUs), allows up to 200 players to compete in a match, striving to survive within a specified time limit. DOS Labs aims to deliver a seamless user experience with no gas fees and rapid transaction speeds through subnets, intending to onboard Web2 players to Web3.

 

5. Outlook for the Avalanche Gaming Ecosystem with Subnets

The Avalanche Subnet has emerged as a compelling choice for game companies worldwide, driven by its impressive performance and flexible customization capabilities. Notably, major players in the gaming industry, such as Crafton, Comptus (XPLA), and WeMade (WEMIX), are directing their efforts toward developing their own chains, aligning with the trajectory of Avalanche's subnet technology. However, in contrast to the labor-intensive and expensive process of building and maintaining proprietary chains, Avalanche Subnet offers a robust alternative that facilitates the deployment of high-performance chains at a relatively low cost. This is exemplified by the adoption of Avalanche Subnet by prominent projects in the Web3 gaming sector, including the Japanese gaming giant GREE and SHRAPNEL.

Avalanche plays a pivotal role in spearheading the evolution of the Web3 gaming market, delivering innovative performance and adaptability through subnet technology, thereby challenging the conventional boundaries of the gaming industry. Our collaborations with major gaming companies and their endorsement of our subnets underscore that Avalanche Subnets represent more than a technological advancement—they stand as a crucial element in shaping the future landscape of the gaming industry. As Avalanche revolutionizes the gaming sector and blurs the lines between Web2 and Web3, we eagerly anticipate the continued growth of the Web3 gaming industry driven by the power of the subnet.