Pixelmon Abandons Gaming Push After Weak Publisher Test

Pixelmon has ended all game development and cut its gaming team after a three-week publisher test failed to produce a long-term commercial offer. The NFT project gave notice to all members of its gaming team and said the games will be taken offline and their supporting systems dismantled.

The project raised over $70 million by selling 10,000 NFTs in 2022, but the revealed artwork bore little resemblance to promotional animations. Outside publishers used their own marketing budgets and tools to test player acquisition and retention during the publisher test, but the results were too weak to prompt an extended deal.

Pixelmon said that its remaining non-tax escrowed funds will finance another attempt to find product-market fit, and if that effort fails, the alternative is to close the company. A smaller group of senior and multidisciplinary employees will remain to explore businesses that do not depend on game development.