Key Points – TLDR

• Is Shrapnel broke? An inside scoop






• The Sandbox launched Alpha Season 5 on March 31, 2025, with $1 million in rewards and Jurassic World collaboration, enhancing community engagement.






• Gunzilla Games’ $GUN token launch on Binance on March 31, 2025, is significant, though it faced price volatility, reflecting ongoing interest in crypto gaming tokens.

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Is Shrapnel Out of Funding?

Shrapnel has become the first licensed Web3 game on China’s official RWA Trusted Copyright Chain, partnering with the Chinese government. This move is significant as it could unlock the vast Chinese gaming market, known for its strict regulations on crypto.

The partnership aims to authenticate digital assets like props and characters, with a preliminary agreement for compliant trading and localization, expected to launch officially in 2025. This development is particularly noteworthy given China’s historical caution toward cryptocurrencies, making it a potential game-changer for Web3 gaming expansion.

But, major news came from Kate Irwin of Blockworks:

“Multiple sources familiar with Shrapnel’s financials told Blockworks that Neon Machine has a slew of unpaid debts, owing millions to external vendors.”

SCOOP: I spent weeks investigating what’s happened to the crypto shooter game Shrapnel, including its financials.

After analyzing blockchain data, we also found one cofounder appears to have sold over $670K worth of SHRAP since September.

You’re gonna want to read this one:

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— Kate Irwin (@pixiekate13) April 7, 2025

The Sandbox Alpha Season 5 Launch

The Sandbox kicked off Alpha Season 5 on March 31, 2025, running for six weeks with a theme centered on a collaboration with Universal Pictures, focusing on the Jurassic World IP. This season offers over 40 new experiences, up to $1 million in rewards through in-game quests and a free seasonal battle pass, and introduces new NFT collections like dinosaur eggs and avatar wearables.

It also features virtual events and a revamped Alpha Season Hub, enhancing community interaction. This launch is unexpected in its scale, integrating a major entertainment IP into Web3 gaming, potentially attracting a broader audience.

Gunzilla Games’ $GUN Token Launch

Gunzilla Games launched its $GUN token on Binance on March 31, 2025, integrated with its battle royale game Off The Grid on the GUNZ mainnet. Despite initial hype, the token experienced significant price volatility, dropping over 30% from its peak shortly after launch.

This listing is notable as it marks a major exchange’s renewed interest in Web3 gaming tokens, though the price drop highlights the risks and challenges in this space. It reflects ongoing efforts to blend blockchain with mainstream gaming, with utilities for in-game purchases and marketplace trading.

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Event	Date	Details	Significance
Shrapnel Licensed in China	April 4, 2025	First Web3 game on China’s RWA Trusted Copyright Chain, partnership with government	Potential market expansion, regulatory milestone
The Sandbox Alpha Season 5 Launch	March 31, 2025	$1M rewards, Jurassic World IP, over 40 experiences, NFT collections	Community engagement, major IP integration
Gunzilla $GUN Token Launch	March 31, 2025	Launched on Binance, tied to Off The Grid, faced price volatility	Exchange listing, reflects Web3 gaming interest
Ultra Funding Round	April 4, 2025	$12M for gaming platform, strategic shift	Investor confidence, platform growth
Pixels and Forgotten Runiverse	April 4, 2025	PIXEL token expansion, cross-game utility	Enhanced interoperability in Web3 gaming

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