In a bold move to cement its leadership in the web3 gaming space, Arbitrum Gaming Ventures - formerly known as the Gaming Catalyst Program (GCP) - has announced its first $10 million investment round, targeting a cohort of trailblazing projects building on the Arbitrum Layer 2 network. Rick Johanson, partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, commented: “This first cohort reflects our commitment to supporting high-quality experiences that are built for the long term—products that attract players, retain them, and expand meaningful engagement across Arbitrum.”

Arbitrum's $10M Investment

Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, formerly known as the Gaming Catalyst Program (GCP), is a strategic initiative launched by the Arbitrum DAO to accelerate the growth of web3 gaming on the Arbitrum Layer 2 network. Initially introduced in March 2024 with an allocation of 200 million ARB tokens (approximately $65 million), the program aims to support game developers, infrastructure providers, and distribution platforms that can drive meaningful engagement and long-term retention within the Arbitrum ecosystem.

Arbitrum Gaming Ventures Unveils $10M

Among the five investment recipients are:

• Wildcard, a 2v2 collectible card action game from veteran founders Paul Bettner (Words With Friends, Age of Empires) and Katy Drake and backed by major venture firms Paradigm and Griffin Gaming Partners, marking Wildcard’s pivot to Arbitrum.
• Hyve Labs, a distribution-first ecosystem enabling social, real-time gameplay across Telegram, Farcaster, X, and browsers. With a focus on frictionless onboarding, Hyve aims to be a breakout hit in casual and social gaming.
• T-Rex, a purpose-built blockchain focused on integrating consumer applications into daily digital experiences. With strong market positioning in Southeast Asia, T-Rex reinforces Arbitrum’s strategic expansion into emerging markets.
• XAI is the world’s first Layer 3 gaming network built on Arbitrum Orbit. It offers open economies and trade in games. XAI aims to bring the scale of web2 giants like Steam and Epic Games into web3, targeting indie developers and mid-tier studios.
• Proof of Play, a fully on-chain game studio founded by FarmVille co-creator Amit Mahajan. Their flagship title, Pirate Nation, is designed to drive long-term engagement on Arbitrum, setting a new standard for blockchain-native game experiences.

Originally launched in March 2024 under the name Gaming Catalyst Program with 200 million ARB tokens allocated, the initiative faced uncertainty after DAO members proposed scaling back unspent funds earlier this year. However, this renewed investment push signals a strong commitment to web3 gaming despite previous turbulence and ecosystem migration - such as Treasure DAO’s controversial departure to ZKsync.

Arbitrum Gaming Ventures

Web3 Gaming Is Just Getting Started

Despite skeptics claiming web3 gaming’s momentum has waned, the numbers tell a different story. According to Precedence Research, the global web3 gaming market is set to grow from $37.5 billion in 2025 to $183 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 19.24%. North America alone generated $11.3 billion in 2024, and similar double-digit growth is projected globally.

With new frameworks like Arbitrum Orbit, strong developer incentives, and strategic venture backing, Arbitrum is positioning itself as a top destination for next-gen blockchain games and infrastructure. As web3 gaming shifts from speculation to utility, these early investments by Arbitrum Gaming Ventures may prove pivotal in shaping the future of decentralized game economies.