An officially licensed “The Walking Dead” role-playing game based on the popular TV show is set to be shut down after July 31, 2025, as announced by blockchain game publisher Gala Games. The Walking Dead: Empires, a multiplayer survival game that utilized Ethereum NFTs, has been in open beta for the past year since its initial announcement in late 2021.
In a statement released this week, Gala Games stated, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to sunset The Walking Dead: Empires, with the last playable date set for July 31, 2025.” The game provided players with the challenge of crafting weapons, constructing bases, and battling against the undead “walkers” to ensure their survival. To enhance gameplay, users had the option to purchase NFTs of supplies, weapons, or land deeds for base building.
Unlike traditional in-game items that diminish in value over time, the NFT-based items in The Walking Dead: Empires were designed to be indestructible. Although prices have significantly decreased from the NFT boom era, some in-game assets fetched substantial prices several years ago. For instance, legendary land deed claims were sold for as much as $67,000 in 2021 on the OpenSea marketplace.
During the game’s playtesting phase in 2023, NFT owners were still demanding high prices, such as $30,000 for an NFT-based handgun and at least $1,000 for other lower-tier items. However, with the impending closure of the game, all NFTs associated with The Walking Dead: Empires will lose their functionality. As a form of compensation, Gala Games plans to distribute new NFTs with equivalent features from their gaming ecosystem to users who hold The Walking Dead: Empires NFTs.
Despite Gala Games’ efforts to provide alternative NFTs to affected users, some individuals have expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. Crypto gaming personality Jesus Martinez criticized the move on social media, stating, “The Walking Dead: Empires officially rugs on Gala.”
Those who possess NFTs from The Walking Dead: Empires as of an April 29 snapshot will receive a mystery box containing items based on the type and rarity of their Walking Dead NFTs. Gala Games has not yet responded to Decrypt’s request for comment regarding the closure of the game.
The Walking Dead franchise has also been featured in NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain and collaborated with the Ethereum metaverse game, The Sandbox. The post-apocalyptic zombie series, which originated from a popular comic book, aired 177 episodes across 11 seasons, along with multiple spinoff shows.
In conclusion, while The Walking Dead: Empires may be coming to an end, Gala Games is committed to ensuring that NFT holders continue to have utility within their gaming ecosystem. The distribution of new NFTs aims to provide a seamless transition for users from The Walking Dead: Empires to other Gala Games products.
By Andrew Hayward