In a notable development within the blockchain gaming industry, the popular Web3 game Pixels is making a significant migration from the Polygon blockchain to the Ronin blockchain network, operated by Sky Mavis. This move carries substantial implications, as Pixels currently holds the top position among games on the Polygon blockchain, signaling Ronin’s resurgence after a hacking incident that occurred a couple of years ago.
Pixels Finds a New Home in Ronin
Sky Mavis, the creator of the groundbreaking blockchain game Axie Infinity, which played a pivotal role in igniting the blockchain gaming craze in 2021, is at the helm of this strategic maneuver. Axie Infinity has generated an impressive $1.3 billion in revenue and boasts a staggering $4 billion in trading volume to date. Sky Mavis’s decision to transition Pixels to Ronin promises several advantages, including reduced gas fees, access to marketing and advisory support, and the utilization of the Mavis hub—a distribution platform tailored for Web3 games, which Ronin offers.
Ronin: The Blockchain Designed for Gaming
Ronin distinguishes itself as an Ethereum virtual machine blockchain purpose-built for gaming applications. Its scalability has enabled it to cater to a vast user base, with millions of daily active users. As part of its expansion strategy, Sky Mavis extended an invitation to game studios in March, granting them the opportunity to harness Sky Mavis products and expertise in creating successful Web3 games. Among the first wave of game studios set to build on Ronin are Directive Games, Tribes, Bali Games, Bowled.io, SkyVu, and Zillion Whales.
Exploring the World of Pixels
Pixels, originally conceived as a social browser game, immerses players in an open-ended world of farming and exploration. In this virtual realm, participants collect resources, enhance their skills, establish connections, and embark on quests. By various metrics, Pixels has achieved impressive milestones on the Polygon blockchain, boasting over 1.5 million monthly on-chain transactions, more than 100,000 monthly active wallets, and a solid user base of 5,000 daily active players.
The Rationale Behind the Move
Luke Barwikowski, CEO of Pixels.online, expressed the rationale behind the migration to Ronin. He stated, “Sky Mavis is the only company that has achieved scale in Web3 gaming, so partnering with the team and migrating to Ronin naturally made a lot of sense. Collaborating with a team that operates not on assumptions but hands-on, proven experience was a no-brainer. Migrating to Ronin and leveraging their wisdom simply felt like the next logical step in our journey.”
Sky Mavis Welcomes Pixels to Ronin
Aleksander Larsen, COO of Sky Mavis, shared his excitement about the migration of Pixels to Ronin. He noted, “After Axie Infinity, Pixels is the second most popular Web3 game by real users. We are thrilled to welcome the team to Ronin and offer them our infrastructure and technology. This deal is also a big value add for our community, and Pixel’s open world allows for NFT collections to have their own spaces. In the future, we envision a world where our community has the opportunity to build an Axie space, enabling more social interaction.”
A Pivotal Transition for Pixels
The decision to migrate Pixels from the Polygon blockchain to Ronin represents a pivotal moment for the game and the broader blockchain gaming industry. With Ronin’s robust infrastructure and the support of Sky Mavis, Pixels aims to continue its growth trajectory and offer players an even more immersive and efficient gaming experience. The move underscores the dynamic nature of the blockchain gaming landscape, where strategic partnerships and migrations can shape the industry’s future.
