Neon Machine, the developer of the blockchain-based first-person shooter Shrapnel, has announced a significant leadership transition as it moves toward the full launch of its free-to-play game in 2025. The studio has appointed video game industry veteran Ken Rosman as its new CEO, with co-founder and former CEO Mark Long stepping into an advisory role.

The leadership changes come as Neon Machine aims to refine its focus on execution during the critical final stages of Shrapnel's development. The studio also revealed its plans for a new fundraising round, led by the Blizzard Avalanche Ecosystem Fund, with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners and Polychain Capital.

Shrapnel Logo

What is Shrapnel?

Shrapnel is not your typical Early Access multiplayer game. This first-person extraction shooter features a single operator, a limited selection of weapons, and an unfinished map set in a futuristic Japanese city. The game currently exhibits missing textures on buildings and surfaces, with basic geometric shapes serving as placeholders for future content.

It represents a greybox environment, an early development stage rarely available for public play. However, for Seattle-based developer Neon Machine, this approach is intentional. The goal is to involve the community early in the development process, allowing player feedback to shape both the map and Shrapnel’s extraction gameplay. 

New Leadership to Drive Execution

Ken Rosman brings over three decades of industry experience, including notable roles at Microsoft’s Xbox division, where he contributed to games like Halo Wars and Sunset Overdrive. Rosman will oversee the studio’s overall operations while ensuring Shrapnel's successful rollout.

Mark Long, who co-founded Neon Machine in 2020, reflected on the transition, stating, “When we started Shrapnel, we had a dream to break the mold of the traditional game development cycle. Now that we are getting close to launching, it’s time for new leadership.”

Rosman will focus on global live-ops, retention mechanics, feature evolution, and marketplace partnerships as the studio prepares for the game's full release. Supporting him, Dave Johnson will lead the Shrapnel project, and CTO Don Norbury will manage the studio’s Moonshot suite of web3 game development tools.

Shrapnel Gameplay 1

Fundraising Efforts Underway

To support its ambitious plans, Neon Machine is raising additional funds in a round led by the Blizzard Avalanche Ecosystem Fund. The studio, which previously raised $20 million in October 2023, plans to disclose full details of the new funding round in early 2025.

This financial backing will bolster the development of Shrapnel, a PC shooter centered around securing and extracting resources in competitive online matches. The game leverages the Avalanche blockchain, utilizing NFTs and the SHRAP token to create a player-driven economy where users can design and trade unique in-game assets.

Shrapnel Gameplay 2

Legal Challenges on the Horizon

The leadership shifts occur against the backdrop of an ongoing legal dispute between Neon Machine and Cort Javarone, CEO of investment firm 4D Factory. Studio founders alleged in November 2023 that Javarone attempted to stage a “coup” to take over the company. Javarone, in turn, accused the leadership of refusing to collaborate with the board.

Neon Machine has declined to comment on the lawsuit’s current status but emphasized that the legal proceedings are not detracting from its focus on delivering a high-quality game. An update on the case is expected in early 2025.

Shrapnel Gameplay 3

The Path to Launch

Shrapnel entered early access on the Epic Games Store in February 2024, allowing players to engage in limited-time events and explore its evolving features. The game’s integration with Avalanche blockchain technology underscores its unique approach to blending web3 mechanics with traditional gameplay, positioning it as a standout title in the competitive gaming landscape.

Source: Decrypt