Zed Run is dead. Long live Zed Champions? This fundamental question reverberates throughout the Web3 gaming community in Southeast Asia. Virtually Human Studios (VHS), creators of the once extremely popular NFT horse racing game, are currently doing everything in their power to resurrect it. But forgive my skepticism. I’ve been down this road and that happy ending, that decentralized sunset, is almost never what’s in the cards.

Let’s be frank: the “clean slate” Nir Efrat, VHS CEO, touts feels more like a whitewash. The original Zed Run, which was on Polygon, has vanished. Poof. Vaporized. Those pixelated ponies everyone spent their plethoric cash on have bailed on you. Now, they languish in embarrassment, trading for three cents on OpenSea, so digital dust. This is more than a game reboot, it’s a speculative, digital land grab, and many of the earliest investors feel duped.

VHS intends to grant legacy players a portion of race and breeding horses. We would argue that this is more of a consolation prize rather than a true form of compensation. It’s the same as giving someone a voucher for a free cup of coffee after you’ve knocked down their home. Does it even truly compensate for the loss?

It's like a developer razing a neighborhood to build luxury condos, promising the original residents "affordable housing" in the new development, but then conveniently forgetting to actually build it.

At the center of Zed Champions is the ZED token, which is quickly becoming the lifeblood of this new ecosystem. We’re assured it will pump up initial fees, breeding expenses, and beauty horse enhancements. From there on out, performance would directly influence the amount of ZED token held inside each NFT. Sounds great, right? A super fun, meritocratic system in which creativity and strategy trump everything!

Let's consider the reality. Who stands to gain the most from a system in which performance is what determines how much you make. Those who have access to the most money to spend on the fastest horses, the most effective training regimens and the smartest race strategies. This isn’t really about democratizing access, this is about doubling down on what’s already powerful.

For the average SEA gamer, getting into the industry is an uphill battle. Others encounter a formidable hurdle to access because they have less disposable income. Are we really doing this to democratize and empower the community, or are we building a system that only lets the Web3 whales win?

Here in Southeast Asia, gaming is not merely a hobby but a cultural obsession. From mobile esports to exciting discord servers, gaming is a bigger part of our world than ever before. Most Web3 operators see Southeast Asia as an emerging market, ripe for the picking. This enclave of beautiful culture and history is not only worth saving, it’s worth enhancing.

Will VHS become the partner to local communities they aspire to be, uplifting local creators, and help build a truly inclusive ecosystem? Will Zed Champions be another Web3 company that shoots their shot and moonshots in to extract value? Or will it be here to stay once the hype has worn off?

Think of it as the digital equivalent of Formula 1 racing. Sure, skill matters, but it's the teams with the biggest budgets that consistently dominate.

VHS has previously pledged to create a “sustainable model” founded on those lessons learned. Yet the ghost of last year’s abrupt Zed Run shutdown looms large. It produces a climate of confusion and apprehension for new players. So can we believe VHS to follow through on their promises this go around? Or is Zed Champions just another pump-and-dump scheme in the slick new form of a disruptive gaming experience?

I want to believe. I want to see Web3 gaming succeed. I hope to see more projects that are truly transformative, that start with empowering communities and go on to create real value. Until I see some rock solid proof that Zed Champions is really as different as it claims, my skepticism is going to stay firmly entrenched. The burden of proof lies with VHS. They must demonstrate, not just proclaim, that this latest “fresh start” is not another empty promise. The future of Web3 gaming, and our community’s faith in it here in Southeast Asia, might just be on the line.

Here in Southeast Asia, gaming isn't just a pastime; it's a cultural phenomenon. From mobile esports to thriving online communities, gaming is deeply woven into the fabric of our society. But too often, Web3 projects treat Southeast Asia as an untapped market to be exploited, rather than a vibrant community to be nurtured.

Will Zed Champions embrace the cultural nuances of gaming in Southeast Asia, or will it simply replicate the same Western-centric models that have failed to resonate with our audience in the past?

Will VHS actively engage with local communities, support local creators, and build a truly inclusive ecosystem? Or will Zed Champions become another example of a Web3 company parachuting in, extracting value, and then disappearing when the hype fades?

Awe & Wonder or Anxiety & Fear?

VHS promises a "sustainable model" built on lessons learned. But the shutdown of the original Zed Run casts a long shadow. It creates anxiety and fear among potential players. Can we really trust VHS to deliver on its promises this time? Or is Zed Champions simply another pump-and-dump scheme disguised as a revolutionary gaming experience?

I want to believe. I want to see Web3 gaming succeed. I want to see projects that empower communities and create genuine value. But until I see concrete evidence that Zed Champions is truly different, my skepticism will remain firmly in place. The burden of proof lies with VHS. They need to show us, not just tell us, that this "fresh start" isn't just another broken promise. The future of Web3 gaming, and the trust of communities like ours in Southeast Asia, may depend on it.