Neon Machine Inc., the Seattle-based gaming studio behind the popular web3 extraction shooter Shrapnel, has recently announced significant revisions to its SHRAP token unlock schedule. In this article, we will cover the crucial details and everything you need to know moving forward. 

"This comprehensive revision is born from a commitment to responsible stewardship and a firm belief in Shrapnel’s future. The new unlock schedule supports the long-term health of the ecosystem of products and is grounded in independent expert analysis and greater clarity on the product delivery timeline. We are grateful for the enduring support of our community in this process, as true partners and believers in the Shrapnel project."

The New Schedule

Roadmap and Recent Events

The team emphasizes that the new unlock schedule aligns with the product development roadmap. Shrapnel has launched and is now in pre-alpha early access with public gameplay events. Shrapnel’s Creator Tools and Marketplace will be arriving soon and create additional SHRAP utility and more game and ecosystem activities.

Token Unlock

The token unlock will kick off on April 29th (2024) with non-linear segments. While the community reward pool emissions and ecosystem fund unlocks are not changing, the number of remaining tokens unlocking in April 2024 has been reduced by nearly 75%.

The non-linear unlock divides the total unlock period of each pool into four epochs, beginning with a lower unlock rate, and accelerating with an increasing user base and increasing SHRAP utility. Existing unlocked SHRAP tokens remain unlocked. The complete schedule can be found in the new whitepaper here.

Popular web3 influencer and Shrapnel advisor Champ said, “Shrapnel has clear ambitions to become a global entertainment franchise, built on the initial success of the flagship game on PC. The new SHRAP unlock schedule positions the product teams to fully pursue that ambition. We see longevity in the project and its economy, and fully support this road to sustainability for the SHRAP token.”

Shrapnel's STX1 

 Shrapnel took a unique approach with the release of its early access demo, Shrapnel Training Exercises One (STX1), on the Epic Games Store.

STX1 introduced playable characters at the maximum progression level, three guns, a grenade, and the first special Sigma ability, "Sigma Wave." Sigma, a mysterious resource in the Shrapnel universe, enhances gear and abilities. Further expansions in characters, weapons, and Sigma abilities are expected as the game progresses through early access.

Shrapnel aims to empower creators, allowing customization of characters, weapons, and in-game maps. Online leaderboards track player skills based on Sigma extraction, offering rewards from Shrapnel's community pool. The game encourages the creation and trade of in-game content, fostering a robust creator ecosystem with potential income opportunities for players.

Final Thoughts

It’s an exciting time in Shrapnel’s development trajectory with the recent launch of STX1 and STX1.1, the first opportunities for gamers globally to play via the Epic Games Store. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about the early build of the game. Some other major milestones this year include:

• Launched their game on the Epic Games Store for early access, making it available to over 200 million players globally.
• Expanded their pre-launch community to more than 100,000 Discord members and 370,000 X followers.
• Passed the 100,000 Shrapnel account signup mark (if you haven't already you can sign up here).
• Announced a landmark Series A funding round of $20 million USD.
• Unveiled Mercury (formerly Gamebridge), their advanced web3 developer platform.

Mark Long, CEO of Shrapnel, said “We’re fortunate to have one of the most anticipated Web3 games of 2024, driven by our active pre-launch community of players and seasoned partners. We are excited by the feedback we’re getting from early access players of STX, our early version of gameplay, and are proud of the strong road we are building towards free-to-play launch.” 

For information about the new unlock schedule, game economy, and more, please read the updated whitepaper from the Shrapnel team.