Crypto Crash Gets Pokemon-Like MMORPG With "Play-To-Earn" Mechanics Canceled
Untamed Isles, a monster-catching MMORPG with “play-to-earn” mechanics, has been placed on indefinite hold after the crypto crash caused developer Phat Loot Studios to run out of funds. Kickstarter backers also won’t receive a refund for the same reason.
Announced in a Kickstarter last August, Untamed Isles is a Pokemon-like MMORPG. Like Temtem, the game takes a more "adult" approach to the genre, adding in online multiplayer functionality and more grown-up avatars. Unlike Pokemon, however, there are no specific species of monsters to catch. Instead, monsters are procedurally created with a number of different body parts and unique personalities, all of which offer different perks and aesthetics.
Related: Final Fantasy NFTs Cement Square Enix As The Worst Publisher In Gaming
The game seems solid enough on its own without the need for crypto shenanigans, but buried in the middle of the Kickstarter description is a "play-to-earn" section that sheepishly admits you can tokenize any monster or item and sell it as an NFT on an online marketplace. Phat Loot says Untamed Isles is "game-first, crypto-second" and there's no requirement to engage with blockchain integration from players.
While Untamed Isles the game might not have leaned too hard into the metaverse, Phat Loot the studio unfortunately did. In a statement, studio head Josh Grant admitted Phat Loot relied on backing from crypto investors, and the recent crypto crash has caused those investors to bolt.
"Since we started the journey in 2020, the economic landscape has changed dramatically both generally and specifically for cryptocurrency, and we are not confident in the current market. We ran out of financial resources and we can’t carry on the development at this
Read more on thegamer.com
