In a recent Medium post, Trailblazer, the developer behind the Solana-based deck-building PVP game Eternal Dragons, made the tough announcement of the game's shutdown. Despite initial optimism and significant investment, including an $8.2 million funding round in March 2022, the game failed to gain traction.

In this article, you will learn all about the impending shutdown and the company's plans to utilize remaining funds for a buyback program for NFT holders, offering refunds ranging from $12 to $120 depending on the rarity of the Dragons NFTs.

Ex EA, King, and Microsoft

Trailblazer, founded by an experienced team with backgrounds in EA, King, and Microsoft, initially launched Eternal Dragons on browsers before transitioning to mobile in an attempt to broaden its audience. However, the complexity of adapting a web3 game for both browser and mobile platforms, coupled with challenges such as legal compliance and addressing player manipulation, hindered its success.

According to the post, despite showing steady progress, the game's performance metrics fell short of expectations, leading to the difficult decision to cease development. Trailblazer acknowledged the substantial investment made in the project, with development costs exceeding eight times the funds raised from the initial NFT mint.

Buyback Program

In a move to provide some recourse for NFT holders, Trailblazer announced a buyback program utilizing remaining funds. The NFTs associated with Eternal Dragons, initially valued as high as $300 during Solana's peak in early 2022, now have a floor price of $20. The buyback offer ranges from $12 to $120 based on the rarity of the Dragons.

The decision to shut down Eternal Dragons reflects a pragmatic approach from Trailblazer, opting to allocate remaining resources responsibly. While the closure marks the end of a chapter for the game, it underscores the challenges inherent in developing and sustaining web3 games in a rapidly evolving market. For more details, interested parties can read the full announcement on the Medium post provided by Trailblazer.