Proof of Play Shuts Down Amid Failing Web3 Gaming Business

Proof of Play, a blockchain gaming studio backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), has shut down. The company cited its inability to build a scalable and sustainable Web3 gaming business as the reason for its closure.

The studio's flagship game, Pirate Nation, will no longer be operated as a live service. However, the code and contracts for the game have been released under public GitHub repositories. The artwork from Pirate Nation has also received broader usage rights, allowing it to be copied, modified, and reused by anyone without needing permission.

The PIRATE token will continue to be supported by the independent Pirate Nation Foundation. Shiba Story Go, another mobile game developed by Proof of Play, has been acquired by an undisclosed third party and will continue to operate independently.