Open Loot Pivots to In-House Games and Player Perks in Bid for Web3 Sustainability

Open Loot, the blockchain-based gaming platform powering the popular title Big Time, is narrowing its focus to internal development and select partnerships, signaling a maturation in the volatile Web3 gaming sector. The company announced this week a strategic overhaul aimed at bolstering long-term viability amid low success rates for many crypto-infused games.

Founded in 2020, Open Loot has positioned itself as a pioneer in blending true digital asset ownership with engaging gameplay. Its flagship game, Big Time, has distributed over $467 million in player rewards, logged 4.3 million hours of playtime, and seen users craft 7.8 million items. But not all ventures have fared as well. After years of backing a wide array of third-party titles, the platform is now curtailing external collaborations to concentrate resources on first-party intellectual property and aligned studios.

"Web3 gaming is still in its earliest phase, and success rates remain low across the board," said Ari Meilich, Open Loot's chief executive, in a statement. "Now, it's time to apply our lessons and sharpen our focus."

The shift comes as the broader Web3 industry grapples with post-hype realities. Early enthusiasm for nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain economies has waned, with many projects failing to launch or sustain player interest. Open Loot's move echoes strategies adopted by traditional gaming giants like Activision Blizzard or Riot Games, which emphasize vertically integrated ecosystems. But here, it's tailored for Web3: seamless onboarding without wallets, gas-free trading through proprietary Vault technology, and integration with the platform's native $OL token.

To ease the transition for loyal users, Open Loot is introducing a $2.9 million discount credit program. Players who made primary purchases in non-Big Time games between Aug. 24, 2023, and Sept. 22, 2025, will receive credits redeemable for up to 25% off single purchases in Big Time when paid with $OL. These credits, stored in a dedicated balance, will also apply to future Open Loot titles.

For example, a user who spent $10,000 on the now-discontinued game WorldShards would get $2,500 in credits. Applying them to a $100 Big Time item would reduce the cost to $75. The initiative aims to redirect early investments away from underperforming titles and toward the platform's core offerings, preserving player value in an ecosystem prone to project sunsets.

Internally, Open Loot is ramping up its studio pipeline. A mobile pet-collecting adventure set in the Big Time universe is in development, alongside a competitive strategy game for mobile and browser platforms. Both will leverage the company's infrastructure for interoperable NFTs, real asset ownership, and cross-game progression, potentially creating a more cohesive player experience.

As part of the restructuring, several partner titles will lose platform support, including Boss Fighters, Shatterpoint, The Desolation, and Kokodi. Affected studios will manage asset withdrawals and community updates independently. Open Loot stressed that the decision stems from a need for strategic alignment rather than fault-finding.

This pivot marks a departure from the "Web3 publishing network" model that proliferated during the 2021-2023 crypto boom, when platforms like Open Loot onboarded dozens of games in hopes of building expansive ecosystems. Instead, the company is evolving into a curated hub where infrastructure, gameplay, and economics are more tightly controlled.

Industry observers see this as part of a wider trend toward sustainability in Web3 gaming. "The experimental chaos is giving way to deliberate strategies," Mr. Meilich said. With deeper $OL token usage and in-house titles on the horizon, Open Loot aims to emerge as a resilient full-stack ecosystem, where developers and players can build lasting value.

The changes underscore the challenges of Web3 adoption: balancing innovation with economic realities. As traditional gaming revenues soar—global industry sales topped $180 billion last year—crypto games must prove they can deliver beyond speculation. Open Loot's bet: Quality over quantity, with player rewards at the center.