Shutdown: Rogue AI Battles Humanity on The Blockchain

Published: May 01, 2024 at 3:47 am Updated: May 01, 2024 at 7:15 am

In Brief

Shutdown is an action-packed Web3 shooter set in a dystopian universe where AI has gone rogue. There’s panic, resources are scarce, and humans are fighting for what’s left.

Backed by VCs, including Infinity Ventures Crypto, Morningstar Ventures, and Dialectic, the game is a redefinition and an expansion of what modern game design looks like. Players engage in fast-paced battles against virtual opponents as they struggle to claim valuable resources and earn crypto rewards.

About 30 years ago, predictions about an electronic cash system sounded like dystopian nonsense. A world where cash or fiat was not the only way to transact was unheard of until Nakamoto. As soon as Bitcoin launched on the blockchain, everything else became possible.

GameFi, a growing sector in the blockchain space, has seen tremendous growth since Satoshi’s disappearance. Data from Business Research Insights shows that the market stood at $9 billion in 2021. The report predicts that the market is expected to reach $90.51 billion in 2031, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.31% within that period.

In 2024, GameFi is witnessing tremendous growth as the general crypto market recovers. New technologies, the entry of big brands, and overall favorable market conditions have presented opportunities for the industry.

Though Gamefi is the presentation of decentralized financial products in the form of games or the gamification of DeFi rules, in today’s market, it is engaging gameplay over boring prospects of winning some NFTs. The ability to enjoy immersive games, own digital assets, and monetize in-game items is the major selling point of P2E titles over traditional titles.

And the big brands are turning to the exciting world of P2E. Konami Digital Entertainment has open vacancies for NFT and Web3 specialists. Grand Theft Auto maker—Take-Two has announced the release of its blockchain game.

Another studio that should have the limelight is Garage Studios, a visionary hub building out a game set in a dystopian future where AI has turned on humanity. As expected, the game is named Shutdown as a reference to how humanity would naturally be expected to respond. Simply put, would Sam Altman pull the plug on rogue ChatGPT?

Founded in 2018, Garage Studios is a native Web3 game studio with the vision to build a P2E game that adopts the best of blockchain technology. Shutdown is the founders’ answer.

The game comes from a congregation of industry veterans from Ubisoft, Netease, Disney, and Pixar. Houston Song is the CEO of the studio, and Adam McDonald is the Game Director. Wesley Phua, Frank Yang, and Ben Jungwirth are also on the team.

Shutdown is an action-packed Web3 shooter set in a dystopian universe where AI has gone rogue. There’s panic, resources are scarce, and humans are fighting for what’s left.

The game utilizes smart contracts to put a spin on the story narrative. Its NFTs are an assembly of characters, armor, and weapons that players can own, sell, and upgrade their in-game abilities.

Shutdown is a top-down shooter built on blockchain. Hence, all game transactions are transparent, secured, and immutable. In-game NFTs in Shutdown are unique digital assets with traits and abilities representing characters, armor pieces, and weapons.

Characters are the fighters in the gameplay called Mongrels fighting to obliterate the rogue AI. Armor pieces are distinctive armor NFTs with different traits that would aid Mongrels in their fight. Weapons are a customizable arsenal unlocked by the power of NFT to allow Mongrels to fire at will but in unique modifiable modes.

To play, players will team up in a 3-player co-op to take down the rogue AI. Players can customize their character’s weaponry and equipment to fit their tastes. They can acquire in-game assets that are powerful mods to make them stand out on the battlefield.

Shutdown is inspired by classic role-playing game mechanics like Diablo and Path of Exile. However, it trumps the narrative mechanics of these games by providing constantly evolving gameplay through Seasons. Players would be in a world where new storylines, characters, and missions are released frequently. Players would also enjoy a hypnotic narrative built-in with challenges, reward tokens, and in-game assets.

As players continue to explore the Shutdown Immersive world, the Play-to-earn (P2E) model remains at its core. The Shutdown universe is built on the native $FUSE token, which shall power the P2E mechanism.

Players can use the $FUSE in-game to enhance their characters, resuscitate them, purchase battle passes, and access a marketplace for buying and selling in-game assets.

The P2E model allows players to enjoy a value-based game that isn’t just about saving humankind but also earning. The $FUSE token empowers players to unlock the universe of the Shutdown IP. Users will have access to exclusive products and features designed by Garage Studios. Holders of $FUSE would also have governance powers that allow them to partake in shaping the Shutdown universe.

With Shutdown, Garage Studios has set out to outdo its contemporaries. The game is a testament to what the next iteration of the web should look like—immersive gaming, digital asset ownership, seamless payments, and a vibrant community.

Would you join in liberating humanity from the evil grip of rogue AI?

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About The Author

Gregory, a digital nomad hailing from Poland, is not only a financial analyst but also a valuable contributor to various online magazines. With a wealth of experience in the financial industry, his insights and expertise have earned him recognition in numerous publications. Utilising his spare time effectively, Gregory is currently dedicated to writing a book about cryptocurrency and blockchain.