Gala Games has officially announced the discontinuation of The Walking Dead: Empires, a multiplayer survival game based on the popular television series. The developers originally planned for the competitive shooter to be launched in 2021. Fast forward two years, and they are finally ready for players to test their beta version. Despite the anticipation and investment in the game, Gala Games has decided to shut it down, offering compensation to holders of The Walking Dead: Empires digital collectibles. This ruling has serious implications for all players who have purchased NFT in-game assets, many of which sold for very high dollar amounts.
The Walking Dead movie trilogy had fans and viewers engaged for eleven seasons and 177 episodes. This success created a loyal fandom and intense craze regarding ancillary digital assets. Gala Games wanted to take advantage of this cash cow by building an engaging, blockchain-integrated gaming experience. Unfortunately, the project did not continue moving forward and found its way to cancellation.
NFT Holders to Receive Compensation
Holders of Walking Dead: Empires digital collectibles will receive boxes filled with items as compensation. These loot crates are determined by the rarity and type of Walking Dead NFTs owned. The snapshot for holders of Walking Dead: Empires digital collectibles was taken on April 29.
The value of these NFTs was all over the place, with some selling for hefty amounts. For example, a handgun sold as an NFT garnered close to $30,000 in proceeds while less high-profile items were fetching around $1,000. As it stands, this compensation provides players with the same in-game utility as existing Walking Dead NFT collections. This is key to guaranteeing that players can continue to protect the value of their investments.
Details of the Shutdown
The decision to stop the game’s development was not made lightly, weighing development progress with the sustainability of the experience. The developers never provided detailed explanation for the closure. As evident from the recent decisions, technical challenges, market conditions and strategic realignment certainly weigh in on these types of decisions.
Gala Games has assured its community that it remains committed to supporting blockchain gaming and exploring new opportunities in the space. The move gives the company more room to pursue smart city projects and other tech initiatives in line with its Railway City long-term vision.
Impact on the Community
The news has undoubtedly impacted the community of players and investors who supported The Walking Dead: Empires. Many had invested significant time and resources into the game, acquiring valuable NFTs and participating in the beta testing phase. The new compensation plan is a step to right the wrongs and losses these people have suffered.
Users can look forward to the same level of in-game utility as the current Walking Dead NFT collections. Gala Games is focused on making this transition as smooth as possible and continuing to support its community throughout the transition.
