Gala Games has made the announcement that it will be discontinuing The Walking Dead NFT game by July 31. The publisher stated that this role-playing NFT game, inspired by the well-known television series, will no longer be accessible to users after this date. The Walking Dead: Empires operates as a multiplayer survival game utilizing Ethereum-based NFTs. It entered its beta phase last year following initial development announcements made back in 2021. In a recent statement, Gala Games remarked, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to sunset The Walking Dead: Empires, with the last playable date set for July 31, 2025.”
### Gala Games to Halt The Walking Dead NFT Game
The Walking Dead NFT game was open for playtesting in early 2023, requiring players to create weapons, construct shelters, and engage in survival tactics. Participants needed to maintain a safe distance from zombies, referred to as “walkers.” To enhance gameplay, users had the option to purchase NFTs representing supplies, weapons, or property deeds for their bases. Unlike certain in-game items that could vanish, the NFT-based items in The Walking Dead: Empires were designed to be permanent. While the value of many items has significantly decreased since the peak of the market, some in-game assets still experienced considerable price increases over the years. For instance, data from the OpenSea marketplace indicated that legendary land deed claims fetched prices as high as $67,000 in 2021. Even in 2023, during its playtest phase, some items retained high value; an NFT-based handgun was reportedly sold for approximately $30,000, with other lower-tier items priced around $1,000. With the impending shutdown, however, these items will soon lose their functionality.
### Users Show Displeasure at the Development
In an effort to compensate players, Gala Games plans to distribute alternative NFTs from its gaming ecosystem to existing users. The company asserts that these new NFTs will provide “equal functionality” to those players currently holding The Walking Dead: Empires NFTs. “While the game’s journey is coming to an end, we remain committed to ensuring that these NFTs continue to have utility,” the statement elaborated. “As part of the sunset process, we will be distributing new NFTs of equal functionality in other Gala Games products to TWD:E NFT holders.” As anticipated, player reactions have been mixed, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the announcement. Crypto gaming influencer Jesus Martinez commented on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The Walking Dead: Empires officially rugs on Gala. People paid upwards of $10K+ for lands and are now getting $2 mystery boxes.” Other players echoed similar sentiments, with one user remarking, “Gala mastered the art of frontend extraction and backend non-delivery. Beyond blatant at this point. Add this to the list of money grabs with no intention to fulfill.” Additionally, the platform indicated that holders of The Walking Dead: Empires NFTs, as of the snapshot taken on April 29, will receive mystery boxes containing items that correspond to the type and rarity of their NFTs. The Walking Dead intellectual property has also been utilized in NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain, alongside a partnership with the Ethereum-based metaverse game, The Sandbox. The NFT game was inspired by the acclaimed post-apocalyptic zombie series that originated from a popular comic book, airing for 11 seasons and 177 episodes, with various spin-offs emerging from the original storyline.
