French developer Lattice has made waves in the gaming industry with the launch of its long-awaited L2 blockchain Redstone mainnet. After a year of meticulous development, this Ethereum L2 rollup, based on the Optimism OP Stack, marks a significant milestone in the realm of fully on-chain gaming.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about fully on-chain games vs blockchain gaming. We will also cover the latest news from Lattice and Redstone, details on the mainnet launch, and lastly how Small Brain Games and CCP Games are among the notable developers leveraging the innovative infrastructure.

Fully On-Chain Games

Blockchain games are gaining prominence as a novel and enhanced method for attracting and engaging players, with major gaming companies like Square Enix, Nexon, and Ubisoft exploring this cutting-edge technology.

It's essential to note that blockchains may not be a universal solution for all games. For instance, most first-person shooter (FPS) games face challenges in running on blockchains due to their slow processing speed, making it impractical to handle sub-second player reaction times.

Consequently, the majority of blockchain games utilize the technology for specific aspects of their tech stack, particularly for the distribution and movement of digital assets representing in-game items and currencies. Nevertheless, there exists a niche yet expanding community of web3-native developers and players who are pioneering games and gaming experiences entirely built on blockchains, commonly known as "fully on-chain games."

What Are On-Chain Games?

On-chain gaming refers to the growing ecosystem of games and NFT primitives that operate entirely on blockchains. This implies that every element of the game, excluding the front end (the visible part of the game for players), is executed solely through blockchain technology.

The key distinction between an on-chain game and a traditional blockchain game lies in the integration of game logic directly into smart contracts and the storage of game state (such as player names and ranks) on the blockchain, rather than relying on a centralized gaming server connecting only with an NFT smart contract. For a game or game-like experience to be categorized as an on-chain game, all its game logic and data must be stored on-chain.

Redstone By Lattice

Unlike traditional web3 games that merely integrate optional blockchain features, Redstone's mainnet hosts games with all their logic stored directly on the blockchain. This move aims to enhance robustness, composability, and the potential for infinite composition within the gaming ecosystem.

While acknowledging the current challenges and complexities associated with operating fully on-chain games, industry pioneers remain optimistic about their future. Many foresee these games as the inevitable evolution of web3 gaming, despite the anticipated time required for widespread adoption.

Web3 IP Sky Strife

Accompanying the mainnet launch is a two-week community spotlight campaign, showcasing a diverse array of projects deployed on Redstone. Among the standout titles is Sky Strife, a real-time turn-based strategy game developed by Lattice. Players engage in fierce competition on islands, vying to establish the last remaining settlement while strategically capturing mines and summoning units to bolster their armies.

The inception of Sky Strife played a pivotal role in motivating Lattice to develop the Redstone infrastructure, enabling cost-effective deployment of fully on-chain gaming experiences. Additionally, Downstream, dubbed as the "world's first Post Singularity Civilisation Simulator," has also debuted on the network, with a daily spotlight scheduled for May 10th.

In a bid to capture the essence of player creativity, the Minecraft-inspired sandbox platform Biomes has also made its debut on Redstone. Offering players the freedom to create, mine, and craft items, Biomes integrates the on-chain quest generator ggQuest, allowing players to embark on diverse quests.

Future Roadmap

Looking ahead, Icelandic PC game developer CCP Games is set to commence a closed playtest of Project Awakening, a fully on-chain iteration of EVE Online built on Lattice's MUD framework, starting May 21st. Emphasizing an open-source and community-driven approach, CCP aims to create a game with infinite potential.

Rounding out the roster of games launching alongside the Redstone mainnet are revamped classics like DF Ares (formerly Dark Forest), ARPA-incubated mobile game DEAR, and Small Brain Games' Words3, along with the intriguing title This Cursed Machine. For enthusiasts eager to delve into the Redstone community campaign and explore its burgeoning catalog of games, staying informed is just a click away.