"Ethereum NFT Game Based on 'The Walking Dead' Prepares for Demise"
A Bite From the Past: The Walking Dead: Empires, The Fate of NFT Gamers, and Gala Games
Roll up, roll up! It's game over for the Ethereum NFT role-playing game, The Walking Dead: Empires, courtesy of blockchain game publisher, Gala Games. The dark curtain falls on this multiplayer survival game on July 31, 2025, abruptly ending the last year of open beta.
Yes, you heard it right. Fans of The Walking Dead, the iconic TV show that caught our imagination and churned our stomachs, can no longer scavenge for supplies, forge alliances, and battle zombies (walkers, if you're proper) in this official licensed game. But, before you toss your mouse with disgust, head out to the sunlit plazas of other Gala Games, for a surprise awaits!
Surprise in the Sun
Empires NFT holders, consider your digital loot bags ready to be filled with new treasures from the Gala Games ecosystem. The publisher has promised to distribute these NFTs with "equal functionality," ensuring your characters, land assets, and crafting stations will still provide the thrill you've grown accustomed to. While the specifics of these tokens or eligible games aren't fully disclosed, it's a step towards continued utility of your prized possessions despite the curtains closing on The Walking Dead: Empires.
That Sinking Feeling
As the year drew to a close in 2023, when the game was available for playtest, the demand for some NFTs was jaw-dropping. Take, for instance, the legendary land deeds selling for a whopping $67,000 on the OpenSea marketplace in 2021. Even in 2023, these digital items fetched astronomical prices, like $30,000 for an NFT-based handgun and at least $1,000 for lower-level items. With the final play date inching closer, however, the value of these NFTs plummets into virtually nothing. Making matters worse, the compensation comes in the form of mystery boxes whose contents are as uncertain as the contents of Negan's Lucille.
A Shot in the Dark
NFT holders as of an April 29 snapshot can look forward to claiming their mystery boxes containing items, the details of which depend on the rarity and type of their Walking Dead NFTs. While you may find a rare weapon or a highly-prized piece of land, the ick factor attached to this entire ordeal leaves a sour taste.
The Last Word
Gala Games did not immediately respond to Decrypt's request for comment. The Walking Dead IP found a home in NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain and even collaborated with Ethereum metaverse game, The Sandbox, pre-Empires. However, the post-apocalyptic zombie show that mesmerized us for 177 episodes over 11 seasons has left many disappointed. It remains to be seen whether Gala Games can turn this caveat emptor situation into a victory that leaves players grinning, even if it's the grimace of fear.
By Andrew Hayward
[1] - Gala Games Offers Equal Functionality NFTs as Compensation for Shutting Down The Walking Dead: Empires - [Source][2] - The Walking Dead: Empires to Remain Operational Until July 31, 2025, with NFT Conversions during Sunsetting Process - [Source]
- Gala Games, the publisher, plans to provide NFTs with equal functionality to Empires NFT holders, offering a chance for continued utility.
- The specifics of these NFTs or eligible games are not yet fully disclosed by Gala Games.
- In 2023, during the playtest period, demand for certain NFTs in The Walking Dead: Empires was staggeringly high.
- In 2021, legendary land deeds in the game sold for $67,000 on OpenSea, and even in 2023, they fetched prices reaching $30,000.
- As the final play date approaches, the value of these NFTs has plummeted nearly to nothing.
- The compensation for NFT holders comes in the form of mystery boxes, which contain items of unknown rarity and type.
- The contents of these mystery boxes depend on the rarity and type of the original Walking Dead NFTs.
- Gala Games has yet to comment on Decrypt's request for information regarding this transition.
- The Walking Dead IP has found a place in NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain and collaborated with Ethereum metaverse game, The Sandbox, before Empires.
- As the game shuts down, many players are left feeling bitterly disappointed.
- Artificial Intelligence and data-and-cloud computing technology continue to evolve, shining new possibilities on the landscape of the gaming industry, including NFTs.
- In 2023, the gaming industry saw growing investment in real-estate, gadgets, and finance sectors, influenced by technologies such as blockchain and crypto.
- With the evolution of technology and the growth of the crypto and NFT industries, it remains uncertain whether platforms like Gala Games can find success in navigating the cyberspace landscape, especially regarding user satisfaction, cybersecurity, social media integration, and entertainment offerings, such as movies, TV shows, and sports.
