The eagerly awaited blockchain game, Shrapnel, has recently made its early access debut on the Epic Games Store, marking a significant milestone just a few days ago, on February 9th, 2024.

Upon launching the game, players might encounter an advertisement on the video player, which can be skipped in 5 seconds using a mouse or keyboard, ensuring quick access to the game’s content.

Even though it’s still in its developmental phase on the Avalanche platform, Shrapnel is already showing signs of becoming a standout title in the competitive online shooter genre. The game’s early access was announced by Neon Machine on February 9th, followed by an exclusive preview session for media and content creators.

The true excitement for Shrapnel began to unfold on February 12th, as the servers went live for an intense three-day competitive event, boasting $100,000 in SHRAP token rewards. This event is a pivotal moment for thousands of Extraction Pack owners, who now have the opportunity to dive into Shrapnel, competing for cryptocurrency tokens while influencing the game’s ongoing development.

In the STX1 early access demo, Shrapnel is revealed as a first-person shooter grounded in the Avalanche platform, offering a glimpse into what promises to be a rich gameplay experience centered around survival and extraction tactics.

From the moment players enter the game, it’s clear that Shrapnel is a work in progress. Certain areas of the map, inspired by a futuristic interpretation of Japan and the iconic Shibuya district, show detailed development, while vast sections are still in a basic “gray-boxed” stage, awaiting further detailing.

This stage of development indicates that the game’s environment has been established but lacks the intricate details that will bring it to life. The gameplay, reminiscent of early versions of Mirror’s Edge, is characterized by its speed, cleanliness, and fluidity, albeit missing the final visual touches expected in a fully developed game.

With its early access launch on the Epic Games Store on February 9th, Shrapnel is setting a precedent in the realm of NFT-based gaming. This innovative integration of NFTs and a cryptocurrency token within the Avalanche platform positions Shrapnel as a frontrunner in blockchain gaming. The early access phase, referred to as Shrapnel Training Exercises One (STX1), is currently exclusive to individuals who have secured an Extraction Pack access key, offering a series of three-day gaming sessions, each extending approximately eight hours a day.

Despite the game’s early development stage, the inclusion of dynamic elements like meteor strikes and indicators for extraction sites significantly enhances the immersive survival gameplay experience.

Shrapnel presents a strategic balance of risk and reward, with gameplay mechanics that may remind players of titles such as Escape from Tarkov. Players are faced with the decision to either escape early for safety or risk staying longer in search of valuable loot, all under the constant threat of a no-respawn rule, heightening the stakes of each decision.

The game also introduces the concept of collecting Sigma chunks from meteors, which not only grant players special powers but also factor into leaderboard competitions, bringing an added layer of strategic depth to the game. These meteor drop sites naturally attract players, increasing the potential for encounters and conflict.

Despite its unfinished state, Shrapnel’s core gameplay mechanics are compelling. The current player cap at 12 per map, designed to manage server loads effectively, and the absence of features such as loot retention across sessions are indicative of the game’s preliminary phase. The roadmap for Shrapnel includes the addition of more maps, characters, and the integration of NFT elements for creating and trading in-game content, alongside the SHRAP token.

Shrapnel’s robust gameplay foundation, even in its early stages, is a testament to its potential. Purchasing an Extraction Pack now provides access to a limited demo, offering a preview of the game’s eventual transition to a free-to-play model. This early investment phase presents a unique opportunity for players to contribute to the shaping of Shrapnel, potentially steering it towards becoming a mainstream success in the blockchain gaming landscape.