NPC Labs has successfully raised $18 million in a funding round led by Pantera Capital. This investment aims to enhance the discovery and development of web3 games while helping developers scale their projects across multiple blockchain networks. NPC Labs CEO Daryl Xu said in a statement: 

“In today’s hyper-competitive gaming world, developers are having a difficult time bringing their games to market. After spending years creating a game, developers are beholden to publishers to deem their games worthy of support, marketing, and distribution. And when they do, developers give up 70% of the proceeds with the risk of the publisher pulling the game if it’s not generating sufficient revenue.”

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Fresh $18M In Funding

The newly acquired capital will accelerate NPC Labs' mission as a core contributor to B3, a gaming ecosystem designed for blockchain discovery, operating on Coinbase's Layer 2 network, Base. The funding also includes contributions from Makers Fund, Hashed, Collab+Currency, Sfermion, Mirana Ventures, Bitscale Capital, and Mantle EcoFund, bringing NPC Labs' total funding to $21 million.

NPC Labs was founded by a trio of former members of Base’s business and ecosystem development team. The company intends to boost gaming on the Base network, contributing to its goal of integrating a billion users into the blockchain ecosystem and supporting economic freedom for both game creators and players. 

NPC Labs Secures $18M Bring Total Funding to $21M

Challenges in the Current Gaming Market

In a statement, NPC Labs CEO Daryl Xu highlighted the challenges faced by game developers in the current market. He explained that many developers struggle to bring their games to market due to dependency on publishers, who often take a significant share of the proceeds and can withdraw support if games do not perform well. Xu emphasized NPC Labs' goal to empower developers and players by restoring control and enabling more equitable revenue sharing.

“On the flip side, players who grind for consumables, cosmetics and badges are at risk of losing it all should publishing studios say they’re done. Our mission here is simple. We want to help build fun games for the mom in Nebraska while making it dead simple for developers to benefit from being onchain. In other words, we’re placing control back in the hands of game developers and gamers.”

NPC Labs Mission

Restoring Economic Freedom

COO Viktoriya Hying elaborated on the company's objectives during an interview. She emphasized that NPC Labs' mission is to restore economic freedom to game developers and players. The company is focused on B3, a horizontally scaled gaming ecosystem being developed on Base. B3 aims to simplify the onboarding process for developers and players, offering a seamless experience without the need for users to switch networks or bridge between chains.

The B3 ecosystem is designed to offer a streamlined experience for both developers and players. By removing the need for users to manage multiple wallets or navigate complex blockchain protocols, B3 aims to create a more accessible and enjoyable gaming environment. This approach includes integration with over 350 wallet providers, data dashboards, and other essential services.

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“We’ve worked closely with gaming developers and studios to understand where their pain points are. Because of our chain abstraction tech, a user never has to switch networks or bridge to a chain they want to interact with. The setup is unique in that way. And that’s for developers, we really want to meet them where they’re at. For devs, we want to make sure that they have the flexibility and ability to use any tools they want on B3.”

Final Thoughts

The funding will support NPC Labs' efforts to hire additional engineers and develop their products further. The company anticipates that the funds will provide sufficient runway to sustain operations through market fluctuations, allowing them to focus on building and refining their platform.

Global Reach

In terms of competition, Hying emphasized a collaborative approach within the web3 gaming space. NPC Labs aims to index and support games from other chains, fostering an ecosystem where the success of one contributor benefits the broader community. The company is also focusing on Southeast Asia as a key region for new game development and player engagement.

Overall, NPC Labs is working to make web3 gaming more accessible and enjoyable by addressing existing challenges and providing a robust infrastructure for developers and players alike. The company's focus on simplicity and inclusivity is expected to play a significant role in advancing the web3 gaming sector. 

Source: venturebeat.com