In a bid to accelerate mainstream adoption of Web3 gaming, Polygon and Immutable have announced a collaboration that is set to change the game for gamers and developers alike. By leveraging their respective strengths, the two companies will work together to create a new network that is specifically designed to make Web3 gaming accessible and appealing to a wider audience.
The result of this partnership will be the creation of Immutable zkEVM, a new Ethereum scaling network that will utilize Polygon’s zkEVM technology and Immutable’s platform for blockchain-based games. This is a significant move in the industry, as it is expected to make gaming more accessible to the masses by providing a fast and secure solution that is natively compatible with Ethereum.
It is worth noting that Polygon and Immutable X are Ethereum scaling networks that have previously competed against each other. However, the two networks will not be merging and will continue with their respective projects and initiatives. Instead, they will work together to develop Immutable zkEVM, which will run alongside the existing Immutable X scaling network.
The initiative pairs transaction rollups based on zero-knowledge proof cryptography, utilizing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) support. It is touted as a fast and secure solution that is natively compatible with Ethereum smart contracts. By maximizing transaction throughput and reducing costs and time, the goal is to make Ethereum more useful for gaming, large-scale NFT projects, and other decentralized apps.
Immutable co-founder Robbie Ferguson believes that this collaboration is “how the next billion users will be onboarded into Web3”. The partnership between Polygon and Immutable is seen as an “obvious move” that allows developers behind both networks to work together and try to speed up Web3 video game adoption.
Immutable co-founder Robbie Ferguson believes that this collaboration is “how the next billion users will be onboarded into Web3”. The partnership between Polygon and Immutable is seen as an “obvious move” that allows developers behind both networks to work together and try to speed up Web3 video game adoption.
Polygon Labs President Ryan Wyatt has stated that Web3 gaming is inching closer to mainstream adoption. He pointed to a recent live event for the Polygon-powered shooter Deadrop as an example of how Web3 games can appeal broadly. Wyatt reiterated that his team is determined to “abstract away a lot of the crypto and tech jargon” around Web3 games and focus on “really fun games where I own assets that I pay for, I can trade them easily, and I can have this really seamless experience.”
The network will use Immutable’s IMX token for gas fees and transaction payments. Immutable zkEVM is slated to start rolling out towards the end of Q2 2023, but developers can start building on software development kits (SDKs) today to explore the tech. The network will tap into the gaming infrastructure that Immutable has built, providing an attractive place for developers to work on as the Web3 gaming market expands.
Overall, this collaboration between Polygon and Immutable is an exciting development for Web3 adoption, particularly for the gaming industry. By integrating Polygon’s zkEVM technology with Immutable’s platform for blockchain-based games, the partnership has the potential to revolutionize Web3 gaming and bring it to the next level.