Ethereum’s Ember Sword has officially closed, ending a years-long attempt to launch a blockchain-based MMORPG. Developers confirmed the shutdown early Thursday, citing a lack of funding and unfavorable market conditions.
The announcement follows the upcoming closure of The Walking Dead: Empires, another Ethereum-based title scheduled to end in July.
Developed by Denmark’s Bright Star Studios, Ember Sword was first introduced in 2018 with a promise of a decentralized gaming experience. The studio said the game would allow players to buy, trade, and own in-game assets using NFTs. The project has stopped despite raising over $203 million from virtual land sales and millions more from investors.
Investors backed the game, but progress stalled
Bright Star Studios launched Ember Sword under its previous name, So Couch Studios. It secured $700,000 in a 2020 pre-seed round by Play Ventures and Galaxy Interactive. In 2021, it raised another $2 million from investors including Dr Disrespect, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, and Rob Pardo, the former creative lead for World of Warcraft.
Later that year, the studio held a land NFT sale that generated over $203 million. The sale attracted over 35,000 participants and positioned Ember Sword as a significant title in the metaverse gaming space. Bright Star Studios added industry experts like Dennis “Thresh” Fong to its advisory team. The studio could not sustain development or meet user expectations despite strong financial backing.
Player feedback highlighted issues early on
Between 2021 and 2024, Ember Sword conducted several closed beta tests. Users expressed disappointment with the game’s graphics and gameplay mechanics. The July 2024 beta faced sharp criticism, with many players saying the game lacked polish and substance.
Social media users responded to the shutdown with little surprise. One user wrote that the game’s decline began after the poor reception of its early beta versions. The developers addressed the closure on the game’s website, noting that all funding options had been exhausted and that no viable path forward remained.
Token value plummets as shutdown confirmed
The EMBER token tied to the game has dropped more than 2 percent in the last 24 hours. It now has a market cap of just $82,000, a sharp decline from its peak value. In May, blockchain publisher Gala Games also confirmed it will shut down The Walking Dead: Empires by the end of July.