Arbitrum has announced a $10 million investment in blockchain games through its new and formal venture initiative, Arbitrum Gaming Ventures.
Capital is rolled out as part of a broader $200 million program funded by Arbitrum DAO, marking the first major tranche under the program, focusing on supporting early stage projects within the arbitrum ecosystem, including participation from venture capital firm paradigms, framework ventures and bitraft.
Five projects have been selected for fundraising, covering both game development and infrastructure.
Source: ArbitrumWhat is the investment?
The $10 million allocation is intended to support projects working on games, public platforms, and underlying infrastructure. The five selected recipients are WildCard, Hyve Labs, T-Rex, Xai, and Proof of Play.
WildCard is developing a multiplayer game that combines third-person combat with audience interaction. It is led by industry veterans with experience in mainstream game development. HyveLabs creates game-specific rollups designed to allow cross-platform gameplay across social platforms and browsers. T-REX focuses on consumer blockchain infrastructure. Pirate Nation’s most famous on-chain game studio. The company is led by co-creators of Farmville and is supported by the A16Z.
“We’re committed to providing a range of services to our customers,” said Rick Johanson, partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures.
“This initial cohort reflects our commitment to supporting high-quality experiences built over the long term. This is an organism that attracts players, holds them, and expands meaningful engagement across the Kimkai.”
Source: WildCardWhy is this important?
This was the first major investment round to be implemented under the Arbitrum Gaming Ventures programme, previously known as a game catalyst, and represents a shift from grant-based support to direct capital deployment, indicating a more targeted approach to ecosystem development.
The initiative reflects Arbitrum’s strategy to compete in growing markets of blockchain-based gaming and infrastructure. Other networks like Immutable and Ronin are also centred around games, with Arbitrum’s latest move being positioned to keep developers and attract new projects.
The selected projects include a combination of infrastructure providers and game studios, demonstrating efforts to support both the content and the systems that support it. Some funded developers, such as Xai and Proof of Play, are already integrated into the arbitrum ecosystem, while others are new to join.
Source: Play ProofWhat’s next for Arbitrum?
More investment is expected over time, according to Arbitrum Gaming Ventures. The program is part of a long-term strategy funded by Arbitrum DAO, expanding the ecosystem and promoting more sustainable development activities.
In parallel, Arbitrum continues to provide grants to small or early projects through the Arbitrum Foundation. Recent recipients include Tarta Games, Sanko, and L3E7.
The broader purpose is to create an environment where blockchain games and applications can expand and maintain users. This is an area where many Web3 initiatives struggle to provide lasting results.
