In the dynamic realm of web3 gaming, Ronin Network emerges as a game-changer, providing an innovative solution to longstanding challenges in the blockchain gaming space.

Developed by Sky Mavis, the visionary mind behind Axie Infinity, Ronin is a blockchain designed to enhance the gaming experience, tackling issues such as high gas fees and sluggish transaction speeds on Ethereum. 

In this article we dive into the essence of Ronin Network, its impact on web3 gaming, and how it’s shaping the future of digital entertainment. We will also cover all the key milestones from 2023, as well as looking at 2024 and beyond.

Top Games on Ronin

In a bold assertion during its 2023 recap, Ronin proudly declared itself as "the fastest-growing gaming blockchain in the world." If you're a gamer looking to dive into the world of web3 games on Ronin, here's a list of some of the best titles you shouldn't miss:

• Axie Infinity: A leading game on Ronin, Axie Infinity allows players to breed, raise, and battle fantasy creatures called Axies. This title pioneered the Play-to-Earn model in 2021 and is still one of the most popular web3 games worldwide.
• Pixels: After continuous updates and migrating from Polygon in 2023, Pixels has grown in popularity on Ronin with its engaging pixel art and strategic gameplay.
• The Machines Arena: Still under development with community participation, The Machines Arena is a cross-platform, team-based shooter offering fast-paced battles.
• Battle Bears Heroes: Upcoming top-down shooter game with a strong community following. Some game modes include Death Match and Battle Royale.
• Apeiron: Card-based action-adventure combat system combined with god game simulation gameplay inspired by classic games like Populous and Black & White.
  

Milestones in 2023

Sky Mavis, the brains behind Ronin, has indeed witnessed substantial growth over the past year, transcending its initial singular association with Axie Infinity. The gaming landscape on Ronin has evolved significantly, with key metrics pointing to a thriving ecosystem. 

Ronin's capability to process 100,000 transactions per second and its transition to Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) underlines its commitment to efficiency. The move from Proof of Authority (PoA) to DPoS enhances decentralization, ensuring both speed and security, essential for a seamless gaming experience.

Whether measured in terms of user base, community expansion, or the integration of third-party games, Sky Mavis has recently achieved significant milestones.

At the outset of 2023, the company was predominantly linked to its flagship title, Axie Infinity: Origins. Other titles like Axie Infinity: Homeland Early Access and Axie Infinity: Raylights were somewhat in the background, garnering less attention but still ever so popular.

DAU and Tokens

As of January 1st 2023, active wallets on Ronin reflected just under 12,000 daily active users (DAU), a stark 99% decline from its peak of 1.1 million daily active accounts at the close of 2021. Conversely, blockchain activity reached a peak of nearly 900,000 daily active user wallets (DAUWs) on February 19th 2024, and currently hovers around 750,000.

While Pixels' migration to Ronin in October 2023 played a significant role in the surge of users, various factors contributed to the network's rejuvenation and expansion. In the case of Axie Infinity: Origins, daily activity more than doubled, climbing from fewer than 7,000 active user wallets in April 2023 to over 15,000 DAUWs in February 2024.

The AXS token, however, has seen a 94% decrease from its peak and an 18% dip in the past year. Nevertheless, with a current market cap of $1.1 billion, Axie Infinity remains one of the leading blockchain gaming projects. The RON token, in contrast, has witnessed a remarkable 650% surge in the last four months and was recently listed on Binance.

Third-Party Games

Around eleven months ago, Sky Mavis announced its decision to expand its network by incorporating games developed by third-party developers.

One such developer, Directive Games, known for the top-down PC shooter The Machines Arena, entered closed beta season 3. While the game is not yet integrated with any blockchain, its skins will become mintable on Ronin from February 29. The Machines Arena is also accessible through the Epic Games Store.

Bali Games, a South Korean mobile game startup, joined Ronin a year ago and recently launched Axie Champions, a PVP match-3 puzzle game leveraging the Axie IP. Currently available for Android APK, it is expected to hit app stores later in 2024.

A collaboration with Tribes Studio resulted in the announcement of Tribesters: Island of Solas, a social open-world MMO. The first playable, Tribesters: Keeper of Secrets, is set for release in April 2024, featuring a single-player RPG with community-driven narratives and opportunities to collect NFTs.

Singapore-based Bowled.io brought its cricket-based mini-games to Ronin two months later, in May 2023. Battle Bears Heroes became the first third-party game to launch on Ronin, a top-down shooter based on the Battle Bears franchise, currently in soft launch.

Migrations to Ronin

In the summer of 2023, the Ethereum NFT collection CyberKongz made headlines by launching a portion of its Genkai NFTs on Ronin. A proportion of its anime-style Genkai NFTs launched Ronin, in addition to migrating its "Play & Kollect" on-chain community from Polygon to Ronin. The team also revealed it was working with Sky Mavis to develop a Genkai-themed game.

Pixels' move from Polygon to Ronin in October 2023 significantly boosted daily activity on the network. The game’s daily active users (DAU) went from 5K to 130K after migrating to Ronin. Pixels was already the #1 web3 game by DAU before its migration. Once they arrived on Ronin, they were able to step on the gas even more.

After migration to Ronin, Pixels Land NFT floor price shot up 1,222% with a clear trend acceleration on the date of migration (October 29th, 2023). Those NFTs will soon be available on Ronin’s generalized NFT marketplace – Mavis Market. On Mavis Market, users can collect the gaming NFTs they need and pay with $RON.

Other developers followed suit, with Zillion Whales announcing the development of the mobile-based card-collecting RTS Wild Forest in September. ACT Games migrated its PC/mobile web3 TCG Zoids Wild Arena from Polygon to Ronin, and Foonie Magus shifted Apeiron from Polygon to Ronin in December.

20

Already in 2024, more games and iconic web2 IPs have announced that they will be building on Ronin. GMonsters, the renowned Japanese game developer, and mobile game publisher MIXI, the owner of the Fight League intellectual property (IP), have joined forces to introduce three exciting games from the Fight League franchise to the Ronin.

The first title to hit Ronin is "Fight League Survivor," a strategic roguelike arcade game. Featuring a unique blend of strategy, fighters, and chips offering buffs, the game introduces weekly challenges and prizes to engage players. Ronin users can anticipate participating in the closed beta of Fight League Survivor, scheduled for Q1 2024. 

Gadget-Bot, the development studio behind the popular Kaidro franchise, announced that its upcoming game, Kaidro, will launch exclusively on Sky Mavis' Ronin Network.

Kaidro, originally recognized for its 2020 webtoon series, has transformed into a multi-dimensional experience, featuring an animation, TV series, and now, a multiplayer action RPG. The decision to collaborate with Ronin aligns with Gadget-Bot's vision for the future of Kaidro.

Final Thoughts

Despite competition from other blockchain gaming platforms, Ronin maintains strong momentum in early 2024. With more game launches on the horizon, it wouldn't be surprising if overall on-chain activity surpasses its previous 2021 peak. In a competitive landscape that includes Immutable, Beam, Arbitrum, Oasys, Skale, and others, Ronin's continued ascent in the bull market remains a force to be reckoned with.