Quick Take
- Pixel Heroes launches $13M LandZ Arena event with Play2Mint rewards and NFT-based multipliers
- Spellborne sets August 29 launch for $BORNE token on Avalanche’s Blackhole DEX
- Ex Populus sues Elon Musk’s xAI over ‘Xai’ trademark tied to blockchain gaming platform
This Week in Play-to-Earn and Crypto Gaming
The crypto gaming space saw a wave of token launches, legal battles, revenue updates, and ecosystem expansions. Ronin’s migration toward Ethereum Layer 2 continues to reshape its infrastructure, while major studios like Ubisoft and Immutable ramp up cross-platform integrations. Multiple games pushed forward with new monetization layers, avatar mints, and event-based airdrops. At the same time, high-profile Web3 builders are stepping away from play-to-earn mechanics altogether.
Pixel Heroes Launches LandZ Arena Event With $13.3M $MGT Prize Pool
Pixel Heroes has launched its latest limited-time campaign, LandZ Arena, which runs through September 17 and offers blockchain rewards through daily dungeon access and NFT-driven multipliers. The starting prize pool of 10 million $MGT has already grown to 13.3 million tokens, currently worth around $46,000. Players who purchase and activate an Arena Seal can participate in daily Carnium dungeon runs, earning PlayPoints that determine their share of the prize pool.
Staking, guild events, monster fights, and resource gathering all contribute to rewards. Additional NFT collections, such as LandZ and Genesis HeroZ, provide multipliers to increase potential earnings. There is also a milestone system that adds $CROSS token rewards as players complete objectives. According to the official Play2Mint dashboard, multiple prize layers are tracked live, and rewards will be finalized after the campaign ends.
Spellborne’s $BORNE Token Goes Live on Avalanche’s Blackhole DEX
Spellborne announced the launch of its $BORNE token on Blackhole DEX, an Avalanche-based decentralized exchange. The now confirmed to release on August 29, the $BORNE token acts as the core utility asset for the game, enabling crafting, monster minting, peer-to-peer trading, and guild systems. Players will also be able to earn $BORNE through PvP and in-game events. No specific tokenomics or staking plans have been announced yet.
The launch follows Spellborne’s recent expansion to mobile platforms and its roadmap to integrate with Abstract Chain, a zkSync Layer 2 built for social and gaming applications. Spellborne has logged over 3.5 million monster captures and 30 million battles to date. The token’s launch marks the next step in the game’s broader economic rollout.
John Smedley Funds Reaper Actual Through Web3, Despite Disliking “Play-to-Earn”
John Smedley, best known for EverQuest and PlanetSide, has confirmed that his upcoming shooter Reaper Actual is being funded through Web3 infrastructure, even though he said he “hates labels like play-to-earn.” In a recent interview, Smedley admitted the blockchain elements were not part of the original plan. After struggling to secure traditional funding, the team turned to crypto capital, raising over $30 million from backers like Bitkraft Ventures, Brevan Howard, and Tezos.
Reaper Actual will include optional NFTs and blockchain trading, though these elements will be hidden on platforms like Steam and Epic Games. The game’s base-building mechanics will support digital ownership and asset speculation, but wallets and token access will remain optional for most users. Smedley’s approach reflects a growing pattern of Web3 adoption as a financing tool rather than a gameplay philosophy.
Immortal Rising 2 Reaches 1.17M Users and $730K Monthly Revenue
Planetarium’s mobile RPG Immortal Rising 2 has crossed 1.17 million cumulative users, with over 400,000 monthly active players and more than 38,000 paying users. Monthly revenue currently exceeds $730,000, according to updated stats shared by the studio. The game recently reached the top of South Korea’s Apple App Store rankings and continues to grow within the mobile RPG space.
The original Immortal Rising recorded over 2 million downloads. The sequel builds on that performance with deeper progression mechanics, visual upgrades, and continued narrative content. Both titles remain popular within South Korea’s mobile-dominated gaming landscape. Immortal Rising 2 is available on iOS and Android.
Ex Populus Files Trademark Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s xAI Over ‘Xai’ Brand
Ex Populus, the gaming studio behind the Xai blockchain network, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s AI venture xAI, citing brand confusion between “Xai” and “xAI.” The complaint, filed this week, claims that xAI’s growing media presence and crossover into gaming has led to misattribution of Ex Populus’ crypto gaming products. Screenshots of chatbot output and social posts were included in the filing to show confusion.
The studio says Xai has operated under its brand since 2023 and now serves as a Layer 3 network for indie developers. The platform supports blockchain-native games and runs an ecosystem of tools and token services. The lawsuit argues that failure to defend the Xai trademark could jeopardize ongoing partnerships and future game launches. Ex Populus said it will share future updates through official channels only.
Other Play-to-Earn Headlines This Week
- MEXC Adds Direct IMX Support for Immutable zkEVM
Users can now deposit and withdraw IMX without bridging from centralized exchange to Layer 2. - Proof of Play Shuts Down Pirate Nation, Says Play-to-Earn Is Broken
Studio sunsets $PIRATE rewards and chains after citing unsustainable economics. - Arbitrum and Optimism Compete to Host Ronin’s Ethereum L2 Migration
Both ecosystems offer custom chains and grants to power Ronin’s Layer 2 upgrade. - SCOR Cricket Game ‘Sixer Smash’ Goes Live With Athlete Rewards
Mobile mini-game launches with $SCOR token rewards and real-world memorabilia prizes. - Basejump Launches Solarpunks Mint With $ACTION and IMX Gem Rewards
Avatar mint ties into validator system and Amazon rainforest conservation. - Star Atlas Holosim Season 1 Debuts With $35K in Rewards
Simulation title opens free-to-play season with leaderboard and questline payouts. - Meta Toy DragonZ Saga Hits 500K Pre-Registrations Ahead of August 27 Launch
Free $100 reward pack offered as Immutable and MARBLEX prepare full rollout. - Cambria Launches Ronin Trials Event After $2M Duel Arena Wagers
Competitive PvP mode expands with seasonal progression, tournaments, and staking incentives.
Want more crypto gaming news recaps? Read last week’s Play-to-Earn Weekly Recap to see what you missed.
