Off The Grid (OTG), a cyberpunk-themed battle royale game co-developed by Neil Blomkamp, achieved significant milestones in October 2024. The game briefly claimed the #1 spot on the Epic Games Store’s free-to-play list, surpassing widely popular titles such as Fortnite and Genshin Impact. While currently ranked #11, the game is also available on PlayStation and Xbox, attracting strong attention from gamers across platforms.

OTG's growing visibility extends to Twitch, where a partnership with streamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins has drawn additional viewership. The collaboration includes a cosmetic skin modeled after the streamer and follows an earlier feature from Dr. Disrespect, adding to the game’s popularity. As of now, OTG ranks #32 among all games streamed on Twitch, according to analytics from TwitchTracker.

Off The Grid Top Free-to-Play Game on Epic Games Store

About Off The Grid

Off The Grid (OTG) is a high-end battle royale third-person shooter that also features a 60-hour single-player campaign. A unique aspect of the game is its integration of cybernetic limbs as swappable and tradable NFTs, along with a wide range of customizable weapons. These items can be traded using the game's mobile wallet, which operates with the GUN token.

Gunzilla Games has been developing Off The Grid for more than four years, raising over $100 million to bring this ambitious project to life. Gunzilla Games' co-founder and CEO, Vlad Korolov, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating:

"With the launch of Off the Grid and GUNZ to the public, we are not just advancing towards a new horizon in AAA gaming but also establishing a new standard in the blockchain space." Korolov's vision underscores the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in web3 gaming.

Off The Grid Logo and Key Art

Blockchain Integration and GUNZ

In addition to its gameplay success, Off The Grid is notable for integrating blockchain technology through its use of GUNZ, a customized Avalanche subnet. This network is designed specifically for OTG by developer Gunzilla and is currently operating on a testnet. According to Ava Labs, the GUNZ subnet is built to ensure smooth gameplay by leveraging blockchain elements such as in-game token transactions while minimizing complexity for players.

The game’s digital economy revolves around GUN tokens, used for in-game purchases and trades. Items bought with these tokens are represented as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), giving players ownership over their digital assets. While the crypto elements are still in early stages, OTG plans to fully launch these features in future updates.

Gunzilla has also announced that the GUNZ network is intended to serve other gaming studios, providing access to its software development kit (SDK), companion app, and integrated marketplace. The company has hinted at upcoming collaborations, stating that new projects utilizing the GUNZ infrastructure will be unveiled soon. Forbes wrote about the success, stating: "...most importantly, there is a fun, entirely free to play, game beneath it, with the blockchain stuff seemingly coming as a totally optional extra."

Forbes Article 

Over 3 Million Transactions Recorded

The use of blockchain technology has already demonstrated results. On October 13th, OTG facilitated over 3 million transactions on Avalanche’s Layer 1 network, according to Coop, Head of Gaming at Ava Labs. Emin Gün Sirer, CEO of Ava Labs, praised the achievement, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “Others post announcements of announcements... while Avalanche enables top notch people with incredibly demanding use cases to launch high quality products that just work.” 

The early access launch of the game on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X (through the Insider program) proved to be a massive success. It quickly gained popularity, with players streaming over 1 million hours within a short period. For several days, it ranked among the top three most-streamed games worldwide, demonstrating its strong appeal and widespread engagement. Additionally, the game reached the top spot as the #1 free-to-download title on the Epic Games Store, further solidifying its status as a major hit in the gaming community. 

Over 3 Million Transactions on Avalanche

Final Thoughts

With its unique blend of cyberpunk aesthetics, mainstream appeal, and blockchain-based infrastructure, Off The Grid aims to attract both web3 enthusiasts and traditional gamers. The GUNZ network's development hints at broader ambitions, as the platform looks to support third-party games and expand its blockchain ecosystem.

Although the crypto features are still in progress, OTG’s initial success in both gameplay engagement and blockchain adoption indicates potential for long-term growth. As the gaming industry increasingly experiments with blockchain technology, OTG’s use of the Avalanche subnet offers a glimpse into how future games might bridge the gap between web3 and traditional gaming experiences.

Source: Theodore Agranat