In a surprising turn of events, Immortal Game has decided to sever ties with NFTs and play-to-earn cryptocurrency elements, citing prevalent cheating as the primary reason for this strategic move. The announcement was made through a Discord post last week by the pseudonymous Immortal Game developer known as "Luxo."  Built on the Ethereum scaling network Immutable X, Immortal Game will no longer accept its Checkmate token ($CMT), dismantle its NFT marketplace, eliminate crypto references from its website, and cease rewarding tournament winners with crypto prizes. The substantial changes took effect on Monday, marking a significant departure from the platform's initial vision.

The Immortal Game is not just another chess game; it was one of the world's first play-and-earn chess platforms that integrated the traditional game with the innovative world of NFTs. Drawing inspiration from the historic 1851 chess match between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky, the game offered a unique blend of strategy and blockchain technology. Players used to be able to collect, trade, and own Immortal NFTs, which represented chess pieces, adding a layer of depth and complexity to the classic game. These NFTs came with challenges that players could complete during matches, pushing them to explore new strategies and playstyles. Whether a chess enthusiast or a blockchain aficionado, Immortal Game promised an unparalleled experience, merging the best of both worlds - sadly no more.

Despite successfully raising $12 million last year from prominent blockchain investors such as TCG Crypto and Kraken Ventures, Immortal has decided to distance itself from the crypto space. The platform has secured a total of $15.5 million in funding to date. The Checkmate token ($CMT) has witnessed a staggering 73% decrease in price this year, with a substantial portion of the losses occurring in the current quarter, according to CryptoRank data. Previously, players could earn $CMT by achieving victories on the platform. However, in the wake of the recent changes, Immortal chess piece NFTs will only retain functionality in "Immortal mode."

Luxo, the Immortal developer, explained that the team initially introduced crypto elements with the intention of rewarding the community. However, the unanticipated consequence of significant cash rewards with no entry barriers led to an upsurge in cheating, degrading the user experience for legitimate players seeking a fair and secure online chess environment. "We cannot stand by and let this cheating happen any longer," Luxo stated. "While we'll still explore Web3 and decentralized technologies for anti-cheat measures and community engagement, our primary focus is to advance our chess platform, ensuring a fair and enjoyable environment for all players."

Cheating remains a pervasive issue across competitive games both in web2 and web3, and the allure of financial rewards often exacerbates the problem. Immortal's decision aligns with a broader trend, as a recent Game7 report revealed that nearly 50 blockchain games halted development this year. Other web3 games, initially emphasizing NFT elements, have also reconsidered their approach, offering crypto-free versions to comply with Steam store restrictions. The move by Immortal follows similar decisions by Neopets and Gran Saga: Unlimited, emphasizing a growing sentiment among game studios to distance themselves from crypto plans after initial investments. As of now, the Immortal team has not responded to requests for further comments, leaving the gaming community intrigued about the platform's future trajectory in the ever-evolving landscape of blockchain integration in gaming.