In a strategic decision, Hytopia, the web3 game and creator platform, has opted to migrate its L2 Hytopia Chain from Polygon to Arbitrum. The move follows Polygon's discontinuation of support for their Polygon Edge software in December 2023, leaving Hytopia to address potential fixes and improvements independently. According to a press statement the team stated they are "seeking a reliable partner with continued support, and found a better fit in Arbitrum."

HYTOPIA, previously known as NFT Worlds, also recently raised $3 million in funding with the support of industry leaders Delphi Digital and Delphi Ventures. HYTOPIA is being built to foster the next generation of social play and games made by creators in a familiar voxel-like setting using a new engine built from scratch. The team's goal is to blend long-sought social and modern features for players with a flexible, monetizable game creation toolkit for developers within a Minecraft-inspired playstyle.

Arbitrum's Practical Advantages

The decision to migrate was influenced by Polygon's decision to cease support for its Edge software. In contrast, Arbitrum's AnyTrust/Nitro technology offers tangible improvements, including a 50% reduction in block times. While Polygon's technology provided a 1.1s block time, AnyTrust now boasts 250ms to 500ms block times. Optimistic block production ensures a leaner chain state, with blocks generated only when transactions require processing.

Impact on Users

According to Co-founder ArkDev, the migration to Arbitrum will result in noticeable improvements for players and creators. The AnyTrust stack promises to significantly reduce block times, allowing on-chain transactions, content purchases, and trades to process more than 50% faster than with Polygon's technology. This speed enhancement is particularly crucial for smooth experiences during in-game situations with multiple on-chain actions or high-frequency transactions.

HYCHAIN and HYTOPIA Launch

Looking ahead to 2024, Hytopia has outlined two primary areas of focus. The first centers on the launch and expansion of HYCHAIN, providing game partners with technologies developed over the past two years, including account abstraction infrastructure, cash onramps, and the integration of MetaFab.

The second focus is the launch of HYTOPIA, a creator platform combining elements of Roblox and Minecraft. Backed by blockchain for the underlying economy, HYTOPIA has garnered the interest of over 3,000 content creators and developers from the Minecraft ecosystem, with more than 1,100,000 pre-registered players eagerly awaiting the beta.

Tech Stack Expansion and Ecosystem Integration

The move to Arbitrum aligns with Hytopia's goal of expanding its tech stack for partner games. Beyond facilitating faster and gasless transactions, the switch aims to ensure smoother interoperability of player assets and establish an Ethereum-Hytopia bridge. Additionally, the integration of Hytopia's web3 infrastructure solution, MetaFab, is set to expedite game launches on the Hytopia Chain.

Post-migration, games of substantial size on the L2 chain will have the option to transition to a Hytopia L3 app-chain specific to their game. Hytopia's node operators will be rewarded for operating a node, fostering further growth within the ecosystem.

As part of a significant organizational change, Hytopia has announced the separation of its games division from the game development team. The two entities will operate with distinct funds, marking a strategic shift in the company's approach.

Hytopia's migration to Arbitrum represents a calculated move for enhanced performance, faster transactions, and an improved gaming experience. With practical benefits in mind, coupled with ambitious plans for 2024, the platform is poised for substantial growth and innovation in the evolving web3 gaming landscape.