One of the first ones I can remember was mentoring this really bright, ambitious young guy—David was his name. He was just as jazzed about blockchain as you probably are, man – at the prospect of finally, truly owning his in-game assets. He poured a significant chunk of his savings into The Walking Dead: Empires, believing the hype, believing in the permanence of NFTs. But today, he’s just another member of the grouchy-challenger-at-the-microphone club. Gala Games, he becomes another cautionary data point in the company’s saga.

Was this a betrayal? Absolutely, it feels like one. Or is it actually a cruel, albeit essential, education in the ways of Decentralized Darwinism. Maybe.

What Is Decentralized Darwinism Anyway?

Decentralized Darwinism isn’t the new crypto buzzword I made up today. In the unregulated world of blockchain, only the strongest projects will survive. Reduced to its bleak bottom line, this new normal requires us to make it last or perish. It’s just the market brutal faith-based divinely intervening hand of Darwinism weeding out the weak, the poorly conceived and the downright bullshit. It’s like survival of the fittest, but instead of natural selection, you have smart contracts and JPEGs.

And it's happening right now with Gala Games' decision to shutter The Walking Dead: Empires by July 2025. In this NFT Trading Card Game, players such as David go all in on NFTs. Players pour money into these digital deeds, armaments and assemblages, each ensuring permanent possession in this fictional realm. Some of these NFTs, these digital promises, once fetched exorbitant prices: $67,000 for a deed, nearly $30,000 for a handgun! Even lower-tier items traded for around $1,000. That’s real money, real hopes, now suddenly going up in smoke.

Gala’s new compensation plan – distributing NFTs from other games – seems like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. It’s like giving someone a discount at another restaurant after their favorite place unexpectedly goes out of business. Yes, that’s something, but it doesn’t come close to replacing what they lost.

Centralized Control, Decentralized Dreams?

The Walking Dead: Empires, despite its NFT integration, was still fundamentally a centralized game. Gala Games, a company, controlled its fate. They wrote the regulations, they controlled access, and in the end, they flushed it down the drain. This calls attention to a major pitfall in a lot of the so-called “decentralized” gaming ecosystem. Slapping NFTs onto a game doesn’t make it decentralized by necessity.

True decentralization doesn’t just mean owning the assets digitally. It requires a call for decentralized governance and control by communities. In this ecosystem, the players— not a company —will be in charge of the future of the game. Gala Games, despite all its big promises, never really came through.

This isn't just about Gala Games. Instead, an alarming number of companies are profiting off the NFT hype to lure in unsuspecting investors. They aren’t really embracing the spirit of decentralization. It’s less about the ownership versus stewardship argument and more about the ownership illusion versus the control reality. The Walking Dead franchise has caused quite a stir within the new digital collectibles space. It’s working with The Sandbox metaverse and a few blockchains – including Eluvio – to deepen this experience. The Gala Games shutdown brings to light some very real risks built into these centralized systems.

Anger, Disappointment, And A Harsh Lesson

I understand the anger. I feel the disappointment. David’s story is a cautionary tale about investing in NFTs. Thousands more are familiar with his plight, particularly when making purchases within walled gardens.

Yet, even as the pain, frustration, and rage boil over, an opportunity for healing exists, an opportunity to grow from this senseless loss. This is Decentralized Darwinism in action. Its a savage instructor, yet its teachings are priceless.

While Gala Games’ decision is the notable or perhaps the biggest blow, it’s far from the only one. That’s a sobering reminder that the current unregulated, “Wild West” state of blockchain gaming is still very much fraught with dangers. Yet tucked within this massive challenge lies the chance to fortify a more resilient, truly decentralized future. There’s plenty of blame to go around here, but let’s learn from this—and let’s build something better. The ecosystem needs you.

  • Do your research: Don't blindly trust the hype. Understand the underlying technology, the governance structure, and the long-term sustainability of any project you invest in.
  • Support truly decentralized initiatives: Seek out games and platforms that prioritize community control and transparent governance.
  • Diversify: Don't put all your eggs in one basket, especially in a volatile market like crypto.
  • Be prepared to lose it all: As with any investment, there's always a risk of loss. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Gala Games' decision is a blow, no doubt. It's a reminder that the "Wild West" of blockchain gaming is still full of dangers. But it's also an opportunity to build a more resilient, truly decentralized future. Let's learn from this, and let's build something better. The ecosystem needs you.