
The next great virtual economy will not come from a metaverse nobody asked for, it will emerge from the worlds players already love. For years, millions of gamers have traded rare items in secret, navigating gray markets, scam risks, and permanent bans, all to exchange the things they worked hard to earn. Traditional publishers call it “protecting players,” but it’s really about control. Every sword, pet, or cosmetic you grind for still belongs to the company, not you.

## What is MineX?
<https://x.com/MineXsol/status/1979126380861493300?s=20>

MineX is a Minecraft-based MMORPG built on Solana, designed to introduce a real, open, and sustainable in-game economy. Players can explore, craft, trade, and battle across a persistent online world while truly owning the items they earn. Every sword, armor piece, or artifact can be freely traded using USD with no middlemen, no bans, no fake ownership.

Unlike most GameFi titles, the game doesn’t aim to rely on a speculative token model. Instead, the game’s economy runs on simple marketplace mechanics: players trade, and MineX takes a small fee on each transaction. It’s a design that mirrors real-world markets with sustainability, transparency, and player-driven designs.

## Built on Familiar Worlds, Powered by Invisible Tech

MineX doesn’t ask players to learn about crypto. There are no seed phrases, no wallet setups, no gas fees. Players simply join the server, play the game, and trade freely.

The game uses GameShift-powered wallets that are automatically created for each user. Transactions are instant and gasless, and players can deposit or withdraw funds through simple card payments or bank transfers.

When a player defeats a boss and earns a rare item, that asset automatically becomes an NFT stored in their in-game wallet. It can be viewed or sold directly on the MineX marketplace, or examined through the Item Scanner at [scan.minex.gg](http://scan.minex.gg), where every transaction and ownership history is publicly verifiable. It’s proof that no admin can spawn or duplicate items, and that every trade in the world is fair.

## The Game and Its World

MineX isn’t just a modded Minecraft server but a fully-fledged MMORPG built inside Minecraft. Players can level up through quests, unlock skill trees, and battle world bosses for unique loot drops. Each item comes with randomized attributes, from damage to life steal to elemental effects ,creating a deep, evolving hunt for the perfect build.

Every item drop in MineX is unique, and every trade contributes to the larger economy. Like many classic MMORPGs, players shape the world through supply, demand, and specialization. The project is building a real, functioning digital economy where players can earn, reinvest, or simply enjoy the game without the fear of losing progress or ownership.

## The Team Behind MineX

Behind MineX are Roberto and Yeray, long-time collaborators who have spent over a decade in the Minecraft ecosystem. Roberto, an OG Minecraft YouTuber, and Yeray, an experienced server developer, began building Minecraft worlds long before discovering Web3.

The founders later transitioned into Web3 gaming, launching a play-to-earn version of Minecraft on BNB in 2021\. Although initially successful, the project struggled to sustain its token model and was sunset in late 2023\. Drawing on these lessons, they founded MineX with a clear mission: no more token dependency, no speculative loops and only gameplay-driven value.

They’re not crypto founders trying to make a game. They’re game developers using blockchain to fix what’s broken.

## The Vision: Fairness, Freedom, and Partnership

MineX isn’t trying to replace Minecraft or build a new metaverse, it’s expanding what’s already there. The founders believe that if open economies are to exist in the future, they will thrive inside the games that already have millions of active players, not in new worlds built from scratch.

“Traditional games treat players like resources to extract value from,” Yeray explains. “We treat them as partners in building something bigger than any of us.”

That philosophy defines every design decision in MineX, from transparent item histories to player-owned economies. It’s about giving back control and embracing the community.

## Vision Ahead

MineX is currently in active development, with the alpha version already live for players to explore. The game will soon be available across PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and consoles, ensuring accessibility for gamers everywhere.

The team plans to launch a public beta in Q4 2025, introducing the full marketplace, gasless trading, and improved progression systems. A full release is targeted for Q1 2026, bringing an expanded world, deeper MMO features, and a more refined player-driven economy.

Looking ahead, the team's goal is to blend the familiar fun of Minecraft with the fairness and permanence of Web3, creating a world where effort, creativity, and ownership truly matter. The broader vision is to redefine open economies in gaming, making them seamless for Web2 players, transparent for Web3 users, and enjoyable for anyone who simply loves to play.

## Conclusion

If MineX succeeds, it could stand as proof that open economies don’t need speculation or endless token loops to thrive, they can grow from the passion, creativity, and effort of real players.

Whether or not you care about blockchain, the idea behind MineX feels familiar: the belief that time spent in a game should mean something. That the gear you earn, the progress you make, and the friendships you form should have real, lasting value.

MineX isn’t trying to reinvent gaming, it’s trying to make it fairer.

MineX is a Minecraft-based MMORPG built on Solana where players truly own their items, trade freely with no middlemen, and shape a sustainable in-game economy.

MineX: Building a Fair Player-Owned Economy in Minecraft


## Intro

Star Atlas represents one of the most ambitious blockchain gaming projects in the Web3 ecosystem. The space-themed metaverse aims to create a fully immersive world where players can explore, trade, and earn real rewards. While the journey has been long and challenging, recent developments demonstrate that the project is accelerating toward its vision of a next-generation AAA gaming experience.

## What Is Star Atlas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaX7WB_20es

Set in the year 2620, Star Atlas is a grand strategy MMO where players navigate a vast intergalactic universe controlled by three competing factions: the MUD (humans), ONI (aliens), and the USTUR (robots). Players can form factions, command fleets of spacecraft, extract resources, craft assets, and engage in territorial control across multiple game modes. The ecosystem operates on a dual-token economy powered by ATLAS (in-game currency) and POLIS (governance token), enabling players to earn tangible value from their gameplay while maintaining ownership of in-game assets as NFTs tradable on the Galactic Marketplace.

## Background and Rise

Star Atlas launched its token in August 2021 and quickly became one of the most hyped Web3 gaming projects. The project began development in 2020 with the vision of creating a true AAA-grade metaverse experience. However, like many Web3 projects, Star Atlas faced significant headwinds with the [broader market downturn and the collapse of FTX in 2022\.](https://www.theblock.co/post/186241/star-atlas-cash-runway-sliced-in-half-by-ftx-catastrophe) Daily active players peaked at approximately 20,000 in 2022 before declining as the Web3 gaming hype cooled. Despite these challenges, the project's strong foundation and loyal community have sustained the development effort.

## Star Atlas SVM Layer 1: Z.ink

https://x.com/staratlas/status/1955703888763580862

In August 2025, ATMTA unveiled [z.ink](https://z.ink), a Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for decentralized gaming. Z.ink introduces revolutionary identity-focused features including zProfiles, which use zero-knowledge proofs to provide users with secure on-chain profiles, global permission settings, and the ability to automate transactions across multiple applications while maintaining privacy.

The $ZINK token serves as the network's native utility token, powering transactions, validator staking, and consensus mechanisms. Beginning in October 2025, players earn XP through various gameplay activities, including Star Atlas MMO gameplay, SAGE browser gaming, Holosim, and trading on the Galactic Marketplace to accumulate toward an airdrop campaign distributing 10% of the total $ZINK token supply. The mainnet launch is tentatively scheduled for end of Q1 2026, after which all Star Atlas game logic will migrate to the z.ink ecosystem, providing superior scalability, lower fees, and enhanced performance.

## Gameplay Evolution: From SAGE Labs to Holosim and Beyond

https://x.com/staratlas/status/1930380671010385958

A major recent development is the launch of [Holosim](https://holosim.staratlas.com/), a free-to-play, browser-based version of the [SAGE Labs strategy game](https://based.staratlas.com/) that has become the active backbone of Star Atlas gameplay today. Launched in May 2025, it has shown steady growth in user engagement within just weeks of release, serving as both an effective onboarding platform for new players and a key driver of long-term activity within the Star Atlas ecosystem.  
![][image2]

![HoloSim](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1763521658833-hc0rbh.webp)

Holosim operates as a top-down, grand strategy MMO set in the Galia Expanse where players can deploy fleets, mine resources, engage in combat, and participate in faction-based activities. Unlike the token-based gameplay mode like SAGE, Holosim offers completely free-to-play access with rewards, making it an effective onboarding platform for new players. The game features seasonal gameplay with chapters that reset progress and distribute prizes to top performers, creating dynamic competition and variety across different seasons and faction interactions.

Core gameplay activities include mining resources from various sectors (with central sectors offering better discovery rates), engaging in deterministic combat where outcomes depend on ship statistics and tactical decisions rather than randomness, and data running through Survey Data Units (SDUs) scanning operations. Holosim also features fleet management, automation tools, and crafting systems, providing both casual and hardcore players with diverse engagement opportunities.​

## Major Milestones and Development Progress

In 2023, Star Atlas achieved critical milestones that reinvigorated the ecosystem. The Q4 2024 release of SAGE Starbased represented a significant evolution of the platform's core game mechanics. Throughout 2024, the team focused on stabilizing and refining the browser-based gaming experience while simultaneously advancing Unreal Engine 5 development.

The summer 2025 campaign, which began in July 2025, delivered the largest overhaul to date. Major updates included a completely redesigned progression system that provides meaningful rewards for combat achievements, a totally reworked loadout system fundamentally changing combat strategy, and the massively polished release of Paizul's Arena. Additionally, ATMTA introduced fleet rental mechanics on March 3rd allowing players to earn passive rewards.

## Roadmap and What's Next

The official Star Atlas roadmap outlines ambitious development across multiple phases. Short-term priorities focus on Fleet Command mechanics, the C4 expansion introducing new galaxy regions, expanded hackathons and community events, and enhanced DAO governance systems. SAGE Starbased continues receiving gameplay refinements including new crafting recipes, enhanced scanning mechanics with faction-based rewards, and planned PvP combat in the Galia Expanse. Looking ahead, the roadmap also highlights major multiplayer initiatives, with Guild Wars with guild-based territorial conflicts, ATLAS rewards, and rare NFTs, targeted for Q4 2025.

The full AAA MMO developed in Unreal Engine 5 remains on track for core mechanics release by the end of 2025. The team is simultaneously planning mobile gaming expansion and new gameplay modes to broaden accessibility. The Z.ink Layer 1 mainnet set to launch Q1 2026 represents the infrastructure cornerstone enabling all future on-chain game systems to operate with superior performance and player onboarding capabilities.

## Conclusion

Star Atlas stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution. From the early hype of 2021 through the challenging bear-market years, the project has maintained its momentum and delivered exceptional gameplay experiences.

The launch of Holosim showcased Star Atlas’s ability to attract a wider player base, while the introduction of Z.ink represents a commitment to advancing identity, reputation, and scalability for Web3 games. With major upgrades arriving throughout 2025 and 2026, the launch of Z.ink, and continuous SAGE enhancements delivering hands-on gameplay experiences, Star Atlas stands as proof that ambitious Web3 games can not only survive market cycles but also set new standards for innovation and resilience.

The Star Atlas ecosystem now offers multiple entry points for players and users alike, from casual Holosim participants to dedicated blockchain gamers, positioning Star Atlas as an ongoing exploration of how AAA-quality gameplay can intersect with decentralized economics and true player ownership.

Deep dive into Star Atlas - the AAA space MMO built on Solana. Learn about ATLAS/POLIS tokens, z.ink Layer 1, SAGE Labs, Holosim gameplay, and the roadmap to 2026.

Star Atlas: More Than A Game


## Introduction

Portals represents a paradigm shift in Web3 gaming and entertainment, positioning itself as the leading no-code platform for creators, players, and investors on Solana. With a recent token launch that sold out in 11 seconds and institutional backing from top-tier investors, Portals is reshaping how people create, play, and monetize digital experiences in the decentralized ecosystem.

## What is Portals?

<https://x.com/_portals_/status/1758923518027485551>

Portals is a no-code game creation platform that enables anyone to play, collect, and create within a shared virtual ecosystem. Unlike traditional gaming platforms, Portals leverages blockchain technology to give users true ownership of their digital assets. The platform operates directly in web browsers, requiring no downloads or installations, making it accessible to a broad audience.

At its core, Portals functions as the Web3 equivalent of Roblox, combining gaming, NFTs, and token launches into a unified platform. The platform allows users to build custom virtual rooms and spaces, play mini-games with friends and participate in a creator-driven economy. 

## Background and Rise

Portals began its journey as an early-stage metaverse project on Solana, initially focused on virtual land and user-generated spaces. However, the project pivoted toward game creation and entertainment, recognizing that the broader market's interest lay in accessible creation tools rather than land ownership models. By focusing on creator empowerment and composable entertainment experiences, Portals distinguished itself from other blockchain gaming projects that suffered from poor capital efficiency and unsustainable models.

## Portals NFT Collection
![Collection Multipliers](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1761973733471.jpg)
Portals NFTs serve as the foundational identity layer of the Portals Network by rewarding early supporters, aligning incentives across the ecosystem, and granting privileged access to future content. Each NFT represents membership in a distinct faction with its own reward multiplier, protocol integrations, and access benefits.

<https://x.com/_portals_/status/1856132164078973001>

The collection is divided into four Factions, ranging from 1× to 600× multipliers, which determine each holder’s share of ecosystem rewards and airdrops. To strengthen long-term alignment, 10% of the total $PORTALS supply is distributed to NFT holders within the first year following $PORTALS TGE, scaled according to faction tier. The complete guide can be found here: [https://prtls.gitbook.io/portals-buyers-guide](https://prtls.gitbook.io/portals-buyers-guide)

Beyond this token allocation, Portals NFTs are the preferred distribution channel for new tokens and assets launched within the ecosystem, positioning holders as a high-signal audience for future releases. Holders also receive ongoing exclusive drops, including in-game assets, access passes, and collectibles, further reinforcing their role as core participants in the network’s growth.

Over time, NFTs will expand in functionality, offering early access to incubator programs, game launches, and specialized staking or liquidity opportunities, solidifying their place at the center of the Portals ecosystem.

## Major Milestones & Development Progress

<https://x.com/_portals_/status/1965851981307850771>

Portals has experienced remarkable growth, firmly establishing itself as a leading force in Solana's gaming ecosystem. In October 2024, the project underwent a major transformation as all previous Portals NFTs, including The New Explorers Club, Ivory, Onyx, and Vision, were converted into the current NFT collection (resource-generating character PFPs), with strong backing from the Solana community.

<https://x.com/metaplex/status/1968385733301096947>

The next major milestone came in September 2025 with the launch of the $PORTALS token. The presale sold out in just 11 seconds, raising 3,700 SOL at a $90 million valuation. Before the launch, Portals had already secured strong institutional backing from leading venture firms, including Multicoin Capital, Greylock, Solana Ventures, and Foundation Capital.

A standout success within the ecosystem was $CHRONO, a token launched through the Portals platform. The token powered the idle minigame Chrono Rush, where players spent millions of $CHRONO on ship upgrades, and those tokens were subsequently burned to create scarcity. Subsequently, A DAO was formed around $CHRONO to fund game jams and new community-driven experiences.

## The $PORTALS Token and Ecosystem Expansion
![Portals Tokenomics](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1761973283500.jpg)

The $PORTALS token serves as the liquidity backbone of the Portals gaming ecosystem. Its core function is to enable liquidity provisioning for tokenized game assets. When creators pair their assets with $PORTALS, they bootstrap real-time markets with price discovery, tradability, and full onchain transparency. This mechanism provides user liquidity while locking $PORTALS out of circulation, creating deflationary pressure as activity scales.

To reward early participation, $PORTALS is distributed through decentralized ecosystem programs, including grants for creators, marketplace rewards, and community contests. This structure supports both developers and players, encouraging sustainable ecosystem growth. Over time, rewards will shift toward outcomes-based incentives that reflect long-term value creation.

Portals currently continues to expand creator tools, launchpad capabilities, and ecosystem partnerships while onboarding new games through incubators, strategic grants, and NFT-based distributions. Builders now can launch tokens, NFTs, and full gaming experiences on Portals with minimal friction. The platform has established an unique economic layer in gaming, where user-generated content is ownable, liquid, and economically aligned with creators and players. As games on the platform evolve, Portals will serve not just as a platform but as the protocol powering the next generation of game-native assets and digital trade.

## Conclusion

Portals has become a leading platform for decentralized entertainment and gaming infrastructure, enabling games to be built, played, owned, traded, and scaled within a single platform. By combining a no-code creation environment with a tokenized economic layer, it supports a new class of user-generated content that is composable, investable, and aligned with the long-term interests of creators and players.

Focusing on creator empowerment and genuine player value over speculative tokenomics, Portals demonstrates that crypto-powered entertainment can generate meaningful engagement and adoption. Its growth and diverse ecosystem position the platform to engage the next generation of users seeking true ownership and monetization of digital creations.

Explore Portals - the leading no-code Web3 gaming platform on Solana. Learn about NFT factions, $PORTALS token, creator economy, and how it sold out in 11 seconds with backing from Multicoin and Greylock.

Portals: Building the Onchain Playground for Players and Creators


## Introduction

Most Web3 games fail not because the tech is bad, but because the economics don’t work. And now OG Protocol thinks it has the solution to fix the problem. Launched by Zynga co-founder Justin Waldron, Open Game (OG) Protocol aims to fix that. Its mission: make it easy for any game to integrate any crypto token as a reward; what Waldron calls “Gaming Capital Markets,” where players, developers, and token communities all benefit.

## Background and Founders

After co-founding Zynga in the early 2000s and later launching FarmVille in 2009 and Playco in 2020; Waldron turned to Web3 to solve a big problem for game developers: it’s hard to grow and make money from games without giving up a huge cut to app stores, wasting money on marketing that might not work, and losing control to big platforms. OG Protocol aims to remove those barriers by offering a complete plug-and-play system centered around gamecoins.

Incubated by venture studio ICMrun and backed by prominent web3 VCs like 1kx, Sora Venture, etc; OG Protocol launched in October 2025 with a focus on simplifying blockchain integration as a monetization service for gaming studios.

## What is Open Game Protocol?

OG Protocol claims to be Stripe for tokenized gaming. It lets any developer reward players with any cryptocurrency, without needing to understand how blockchain works. Developers can create and launch custom gamecoins to reward both players and contributors, using any existing token as collateral.

![Tokenomics for all gamecoins launch on OGP platform](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1761093884696.jpg)

*This is the token economics model for each Gamecoin launched on OG Protocol.*

### How the OG Protocol "Gamecoin" System Works (Step-by-Step)

1. **Stake Existing Tokens:**  
   Launch a gamecoin by staking 2% supply of an existing token (e.g., $FARTCOIN) on the platform.  
2. **Gamecoin Launch:**  
   Once the staking cap is reached:
- A new gamecoin (e.g., $GFARTCOIN) is minted with a fixed supply of 1 billion tokens.  
- The staked FARTCOIN is handled as follows:  
+ 80% of the staked tokens (e.g., FARTCOIN) are refunded to participants.  
+ 20% of the staked tokens (e.g., $FARTCOIN) are swapped to SOL to provide initial liquidity for the gamecoin pair (e.g., GFARTCOIN/SOL).  
3. **Gamecoin Supply Distribution**  
- The newly minted 1 billion $GFARTCOIN is distributed as follows:  
+ 20% is distributed proportionally to participants, based on their stake and referrals.  
+ 20% is added to a liquidity pool (e.g., GFARTCOIN/SOL) paired with SOL from selling the staked tokens.  
+ 25% allocated to the OG Protocol reward pool, held in custody. These tokens are also manually deployed by the protocol to games with high traction to reward both users and developers.  
+ 35% allocated to a bonding curve.

*Note: The implementation of the bonding curve, including how it works, how tokens are distributed, and how they are vested, is not public yet.*

4. **Earn with OG Protocol and boost rewards:**  
   Gamecoin holders can stake their tokens to boost specific games, directing more rewards from the protocol reward pool to those titles.   
   In return, gamecoin stakers earn a daily yield, although the source of that yield is not yet disclosed by OG Protocol. This mechanism is intended to align token incentives with real player engagement and developer success.  
5. **Revenue model:**  
   The main source of profit comes from the 20% of tokens allocated to liquidity pools for each gamecoin pair. As the primary liquidity provider, they earn a portion of the 2% trading fees generated from all gamecoin trades on these pairs.

## Future Roadmap

While OG Protocol is initially launching on Solana, they plan to be chain-agnostic, with support for EVM and other networks currently in development. Future plans include expanding to EVM-compatible chains, enhancing wallet integrations, and forming partnerships with game studios both within and beyond the Solana ecosystem through hackathons, grants, and other community initiatives to grow the ecosystem.

## Conclusion 

The Open Game (OG) Protocol introduces a new model for crypto gaming, one that attempts to align the incentives of players, developers, and communities. Instead of launching a new token for every game, the protocol leverages the momentum of strong existing communities, like meme coin ecosystems, to create Gamecoins aka speculative assets tied to the growth of entire gaming ecosystems.

At the core of this model is a flywheel built on founder Walron’s belief: that traders will speculate on the success of Gamecoin ecosystems. This speculation, in turn, funds reward pools that pay developers and incentivize players, creating a self-sustaining loop of engagement and growth.

After receiving significant feedback and questions from the community, the team has paused new Gamecoin launches to rework and refine the protocol. This pause is a necessary step but also a reminder that Web3 gaming is still a tough problem to solve. 

Deep dive into OG Protocol: how Zynga co-founder Justin Waldron is building gaming capital markets to fix Web3 game economics with gamecoins and token rewards.

What is OG Protocol? Gaming Capital Markets Explained

Open Game Protocol: Gaming Meets Capital Markets?

[PlaySolana](https://www.playsolana.com/) has quickly established itself as a leading force in Web3 gaming, a project that bridges blockchain technology, handheld gaming, and digital collectibles into a cohesive ecosystem.

### Origins and Vision

PlaySolana began as a community-driven project, with no venture capital involvement. Development started more than a year before the project’s public debut, relying entirely on NFT sales and device pre-orders for funding. Through this model, PlaySolana initially raised \~$2 million, fueling its steady growth and product pipeline.

At its core, the vision is to build a dedicated gaming layer on Solana, one that revives the nostalgia of handheld gaming while integrating on-chain features such as digital ownership, rewards, and DeFi. This vision aims to restore utility to NFTs by connecting them to real-world gaming products and experiences, making Web3 not just speculative, but fun and functional.

### The Founders and Team

At the heart of PlaySolana is a team of experienced builders who combine backgrounds in gaming, hardware, and Web3. Their shared goal is simple: to build the best possible product for the community:

- [**Jay:**](https://x.com/0xjaynfts) A recognized figure in the Solana ecosystem since 2021, Jay is the founder of Non-Fungible Wear and co-founder of FOMO Magazine, with prior contributions to major NFT communities including DeGods. His background blends culture, branding, and community building, the foundational pillars behind PlaySolana's grassroots rise.  
- [**Vítor Ribeiro**](https://x.com/vitorhsr99) A Web3 researcher and developer with a strong track record in software innovation, Vítor is the co-founder and CTO of Publed, and previously founded AIO Studio, a software development firm. His deep technical experience plays a key role in the development of PlaySolana's software stack.  
- [**Sandro Pinto:**](https://x.com/sandro2pinto) An expert in embedded systems and security, Sandro holds a PhD in Electronics and Computers with a specialization in Embedded Systems. He is the co-founder of Zero-Day Labs and brings extensive knowledge in secure hardware architecture, helping to ensure PlaySolana’s devices meet the highest standards in performance.

### <Player1> and <Player2>

![PlaySolana Player NFTs](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1760471527969-1760471528643.webp)

Before diving into hardware, it’s worth noting how PlaySolana first introduced its ecosystem through NFTs, designed not just as collectibles, but as playable assets with real in-game functions.

The first collection, <Player1>, featured 2,000 limited-edition NFTs that sold out instantly, serving as avatars in PlaySolana: Origins and unlocking XP boosts, exclusive rewards, and cross-game features. Building on that momentum, <Player2> followed with upgraded designs, enhanced traits, and deeper integrations, expanding the project’s lore and progression systems.

Both collections introduced a staking mechanism that rewarded long-term holders with XP multipliers and ecosystem perks. PlaySolana also collaborated with communities like MonkeDAO and Claynosaurz, enabling partnered NFT holders to earn XP and access unique rewards.

These early collections laid the foundation for PlaySolana’s broader vision, turning NFTs into evolving, functional game assets that seamlessly connect players across games and devices.

### Devices: The PSG1
![PlaySolana PSG1 Console](https://cdn.gameshift.gg/files/files-1760471490546-1760471491352.webp)  

https://x.com/playsolana/status/1849485280262164873

At the heart of PlaySolana’s innovation lies its hardware, particularly the PSG1, the first-ever Solana-powered handheld gaming console.

Announced in September 2024, the PSG1 is a retro-futuristic handheld designed to merge gaming and blockchain seamlessly. It comes equipped with a built-in crypto wallet featuring fingerprint authentication, and runs EchOS, a custom operating system optimized for blockchain-native interactions.

Key specifications:

- Rockchip RK3588S octa-core SoC  
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB eMMC storage  
- 3.92-inch OLED touchscreen (1240x1080 resolution)  
- WiFi 6.0, Bluetooth 5.4  
- 5000mAh battery  
- Native Solana functions: token swaps (via Jupiter), staking, and in-game DeFi integrations  
- Priced at $329, the PSG1 was developed fully in-house, leveraging the Solana Mobile SDK for Web3 compatibility.

Pre-order Waves 0 and 1 sold out swiftly, and Wave 2 is currently open and ongoing. Each order includes a soulbound NFT granting lifetime perks and token allocation. Shipments have already begun in October 2025, right on schedule and a rare achievement in the hardware and Web3 space.

Through PSG1, PlaySolana demonstrates its engineering capability and commitment to bridging traditional hardware with the Web3 economy.

### The $PLAY Token and Ecosystem Expansion

https://x.com/metaplex/status/1977787693200449674

The upcoming $PLAY token serves as the native utility asset powering PlaySolana’s entire ecosystem. It enables payments, rewards governance, and core SuperHUB features like staking, value creation, and in-game economics.

Early community members and contributors are rewarded through airdrop allocations based on XP earned from NFT staking, device ownership, and badges. <Player1>, <Player2>, and PSG1 holders receive guaranteed allocations, with a community pre-sale ensuring fair access.

PlaySolana recently completed its Community Pre-Sale on Metaplex Genesis, selling out in just three minutes. The sale raised $2.6 million from 1,672 on-chain backers, with 150 million $PLAY tokens fully allocated. All tokens from the pre-sale will be claimable at TGE, 100% unlocked with no vesting or cliff.

The Token Generation Event (TGE) will coincide with the conclusion of the Genesis XP Season, marking a pivotal moment for the project’s transition into a fully onchain ecosystem.

### Conclusion

In just a year, PlaySolana has grown from an ambitious idea into one of Solana’s most tangible success stories, bridging hardware, gaming, and blockchain into a unified experience.

As Solana’s ecosystem embraces a wave of hardware innovation, from Solana Labs’ Seeker Phone to the PSG1, PlaySolana stands out for achieving true product–market fit. Its handheld consoles, functioning games, and active player base show what’s possible when real utility meets community demand.

With the upcoming $PLAY token launch, continued device rollouts, and new games on the horizon, PlaySolana is shaping the next chapter of Solana gaming. GameShift will also partner with PlaySolana to feature all their latest titles on the GameShift portal, making them even more accessible across the ecosystem.



How PlaySolana built a community-driven Web3 gaming ecosystem with the PSG1 handheld console, NFT collections, and blockchain-native gaming experiences.

Inside PlaySolana: Where Hardware Meets Blockchain


In an industry where game studios raise millions before launching their first title, [SEND Arcade](https://www.sendarcade.fun/) has taken a different path, quietly building without external funding. Founded with a vision to bring classic arcade-style gameplay to Solana, the studio has developed more than 10 games, built core infrastructure for the Solana ecosystem. All of this has been achieved in just a year, driven by a community-first approach and an emphasis on organic growth.

### Origins and Vision: From Hackathons to Onchain Arcades

SEND Arcade's story began in July 2024, during the hype around Solana's [Blinks](https://www.dialect.to/blinks), a feature for creating interactive, shareable blockchain actions on social platforms like X (Twitter). At the Solana Startup Village in Bengaluru, the two-person team was experimenting with various prototypes when [Irffan](https://x.com/IrffanAsiff) proposed an idea — a community chess game powered by Blinks.

https://x.com/IrffanAsiff/status/1815297525399830698

The team built an MVP in two days at the @Shipyard office and the result was Checkmate, launched in August 2024. With 100 SOL in prizes and modest profits, it wasn't massive, but it was proof of concept. For the first time, users engaged, played, and paid and that initial momentum turned into something bigger. From there, SEND Arcade was born, with a mission to gamify Solana by reimagining arcade classics with real stakes.

The model was simple: players enter games with SOL, which feeds into a pool; winners are rewarded in tokens like $SEND. It created a self-sustaining economy, driving both gameplay and token demand into the $SEND ecosystem.

### The Founders: Young, Resilient Builders

https://x.com/SuperteamIN/status/1891553624737624565

Behind SEND Arcade are [Semi](https://x.com/semi_infiknight) and Blurry, both 21-year-old college dropouts who live and breathe the hackathon culture.

* Semi steers community and gaming direction, sharing insights on real-time onchain gaming and AI.
* Blurry drives engineering and infrastructure, architecting SEND's custom tools.

The two have bootstrapped entirely through hackathon prizes and game revenue, iterating rapidly with a lean, focused team of just themselves. What started as a side project has grown into a profitable venture: SEND now generates steady revenue, has built a loyal and expanding community, and continues to scale with clarity and passion.

Despite their age, Semi and Blurry have already made a significant mark in the Web3 space. They’ve contributed to key open-source projects in the Solana ecosystem, won multiple hackathons across blockchain networks, and launched a portfolio of games that together have logged millions of onchain transactions. Their journey is a story of resilience, creativity, and relentless commitment to building at the frontier of gaming and Web3.

### Key Games and Innovations

https://x.com/semi_infiknight/status/1965303037561634970

SEND Arcade's games portfolio showcases a blend of nostalgia and blockchain utility, with each title designed to be quick to learn but hard to put down. Starting with mini-games built on Blinks, the studio expanded to more complex formats while always prioritizing on-chain interactions for transparency and verifiability.

- **Mini-Game Series:**
  - Rock, Paper, Scissors – 90,000+ plays, $1M+ volume.
  - Snakes & Ladders – 200,000 rolls, $100K+ volume.
  - Send Coin Flip – 10,000+ flips, $250K+ volume.
  - Solana Score – 400+ NFTs minted.
- **Squad Game**: An elimination-style competition inspired by *Squid Game*.
- **Arcade Agent**: A Telegram-based AI assistant for swapping, sending, and playing mini-games.
- **Lana Roads (Mar 2025)**: A flagship Crossy Road-inspired endless runner with 9M+ transactions and a sold-out NFT collection on @Magiceden.
- **Send Guys (June 2025)**: Their first on-chain multiplayer title.

### Contributions, Recognition and Achievements

https://x.com/semi_infiknight/status/1965303072013648037

Beyond games, SEND Arcade has contributed to Solana's technical ecosystem. They've been active in the Solana Agent Kit (versions 1 and 2), served as main contributors to Solana AppKit, open-sourced SendRC for rollup-based games, and released Vibegame's game engine. These efforts support broader development in real-time onchain gaming and AI agents.

The team has co-hosted events like the SonicSVM Mobius Hackathon ($1 million prize pool), the Solana SuperGame Jam with @SuperteamVN ($85,000 prizes), and [@vibegamefun](https://x.com/vibegamefun) Jam ($8,000 prizes).

Their hackathon wins include two Blinkathons, the Solana AI Hackathon, Magicblock Realtime Hackathon, fifth place in Colosseum's Breakout Gaming track, first in the Radar Gaming side track, and selection for Helius Startup Launchpad Cohort 1.

Distribution has been entirely organic: via Twitter Blinks, their website (sendarcade.fun), integration in the @Backpack Mobile App, Farcaster (20,000+ plays across 3,000+ users), pre-installation on @Playsolana, the Solana Dapp Store, and campaigns with partners like @magicblock Quests and @Eclipse.

### Why SEND Arcade Matters

SEND Arcade shows what's possible when focus, execution, and community come before funding. By keeping games fun, social, and inherently on-chain, they've built experiences players return to again and again.

Arcade-style games, in particular, resonate strongly in Web3. We've already seen the success of simple yet high-volume formats like Degen Coin Flip, where gameplay mechanics, not lore or graphics, drive adoption. In a market where most GameFi projects chase "AAA" ambitions but fail to ship, SEND Arcade proves that the real alpha lies in gameplay that is easy to pick up, competitive, and endlessly repeatable.

This model also shows resilience in market cycles. While trading activity dries up in bear markets, arcade games provide an alternative on-chain experience where users can still compete, play, and engage. That's why these games tend to keep generating revenue even when liquidity and speculation cool off.

What makes SEND Arcade unique is that they are the only studio on Solana doubling down on this pure gameplay-first model, with proven product-market fit, organic growth, and real revenue. By merging arcade nostalgia with blockchain, SEND Arcade isn't just filling a gap in GameFi, they're pioneering a category that has historically performed well and can onboard the next wave of players who want more than just trading in Web3.

While SEND Arcade's fundamentals remain strong, the $SEND token has faced headwinds in recent months, partly due to downtime across the project's social channels. This has weighed on price performance, but with socials relaunching and renewed ecosystem support, a rebound looks likely as visibility and access improve.

Now, as SEND Arcade prepares to roll out its upcoming titles, the team is entering a new chapter — expanding its mission to deliver fun, resilient, and truly onchain-native games to the Solana community.


How two 21-year-old builders created SEND Arcade on Solana. Learn about their arcade-style blockchain games and community-first approach.

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