In a rapidly evolving Web3 gaming landscape, Off The Grid (OTG) is making waves. In just five days since its early access launch on PS5, Xbox, and Epic Games Store, the game has become a sensation, topping download charts on Epic Games and landing the #7 spot for most played games globally. This is a significant achievement, positioning it just behind Valorant and ahead of titles like Naraka: Bladepoint and Farming Simulator 22.

Limit Break’s Gabe Leydon, a prominent figure in Web3, is already calling Off The Grid Web3’s new “Axie moment,” referring to the early success of Axie Infinity that kickstarted a massive wave of interest in blockchain-based games.

A Game-Changing Launch

Off The Grid‘s early access launch has stirred up unprecedented excitement in the Web3 gaming world. According to reports, Gunzilla Games, the studio behind OTG, has already spent over $1 million a day on marketing, with top streamers like Ninja promoting the game to their massive audiences. This strategic push has driven massive player engagement, with over 1 million hours of gameplay streamed by 3,200 mostly organic streamers since the game’s debut.

The game’s success goes beyond numbers. The massive surge in downloads and streaming hours indicates a real appetite for Web3 games that focus on fun, immersive gameplay rather than relying solely on blockchain elements like tokens.

A Cautious Response From Industry Leaders

While Off The Grid has sparked excitement, not everyone in the Web3 space is ready to declare it a full-on revolution. Sky Mavis co-founder and COO Aleksander Larsen, one of the minds behind Axie Infinity, offered a more reserved take. While he acknowledged that OTG is “interesting to follow” and has the potential to bring new attention to the industry, he pointed out that the game doesn’t fully leverage the benefits of blockchain technology.

Larsen noted that many Web3 games face challenges in onboarding new users and offering tangible advantages of blockchain integration. He emphasized that at Sky Mavis, the focus remains on building games with deeper in-game economies and better foundational systems before investing heavily in high-end graphics and mainstream marketing.

The Role of Blockchain in Off The Grid

Interestingly, Off The Grid hasn’t yet leaned heavily into its blockchain features. Its GUN token, built on Avalanche’s Gunz mainnet, has not gone live, and the game’s success so far hasn’t been tied to tokenomics, a strategy that stands in stark contrast to the way other Web3 games like Axie Infinity rose to fame.

Gunzilla Games has focused primarily on creating an engaging gaming experience, with blockchain serving as an additional layer rather than the core focus. However, the game’s blockchain metrics are still impressive. Since its launch on October 9th, the game has seen a spike in daily on-chain transactions, hitting 3.6 million, up from 140,000 just two days before launch. Additionally, 5.5 million wallets have been created on the blockchain—a testament to the growing interest in OTG’s potential.

Looking Ahead: Will OTG Be Web3’s New Phenomenon?

The hype surrounding Off The Grid suggests that it could be a turning point for Web3 gaming, especially if it continues to attract both traditional gamers and blockchain enthusiasts. However, the game’s future success will largely depend on how it evolves its blockchain features and whether it can sustain the current level of player engagement.

With industry figures like Gabe Leydon backing the game as Web3’s next big moment, and with growing metrics on both downloads and blockchain activity, Off The Grid could well be the title that brings Web3 gaming closer to the mainstream.

The next few months will be critical as Gunzilla Games looks to capitalize on its early success and further develop the game’s blockchain elements, potentially creating a more robust play-to-earn economy. Whether this is truly Web3’s new “Axie moment” or just the beginning of a much larger trend remains to be seen.