Pixels Online has emerged as the frontrunner in Web3 gaming for 2024, boasting over 1.8 million Monthly Active Users (MAU) and a market capitalization that surpasses $3 billion for their $PIXELS token. This impressive achievement has positioned Pixels as the definitive leader in the sector, outperforming in all significant metrics.
This success is attributed to the vision of Founder and CEO, Luke Barwikoswki, who along with his outstanding team adopted a religiously community-first approach to building. Before long his approach began paying dividends for Pixels players, and his team developed an enviable reputation for iterating quickly and publically, in a manner that most have been unable to emulate.
It was in early 2023 that Forj were introduced to Luke and his team at Pixels. In this case study we reflect on Pixels’ extraordinary journey over the past year, and explore some of the lesser-known ways in which our team played our own part in this inspirational story.
Funding
In early 2023, during the depths of the crypto winter, VC funding for Web3 games was much more difficult to secure than in 2021. At a pivotal stage of growth the Pixels team were able to turn to Forj to support them in securing their lead investor Blocore, giving Luke and the team the opportunity to focus on what they do best: building.
Tokenomics
One of the most challenging aspects to any successful web3 game is creating a sustainable token economy, rewarding players for their contribution to the ecosystem whilst promoting gameplay over financial incentives. Forj’s team provided Pixels with guidance on the tokenomics for both the $BERRY and $PIXEL tokens, including the play-to-airdrop mechanic that saw the $PIXEL token achieve a market cap of over $3bn.
Burgerz Challenge, Web3 IP Activations with BAYC
Recognising that Pixels had already established themselves as one of the most open platforms for Web3 PFP holders to explore using their avatars, the Forj team planned for the most ambitious integration yet: Bored Ape Yacht Club!
Using the Bored & Hungry brand as inspiration for the Bored Burgers restaurant, the team worked with Pixels on a unique activation in April 2023 that saw Forj’s Bored Ape IP being utilized in a TasteMakerz story-led game experience. Dubbed the Burgerz Challenge, Pixels players were tasked with flipping as many burgers as possible for Chef Wabi-san in return for big prizes including $BONDLY token and in-game items.
The results were outstanding, with over MILLION burgers flipped, and 25,000 players with over 60% retention over the 4 week period. All of this, in a bear market…
An additional easter-egg for the activation was the in-game brand integration of the BAYC energy drink brand Serum, which saw users experience energy-replenishment when they found the hidden can behind the restaurant. Refreshing!
Otherspeck: The Otherdeed Integration
Following the success of the Burgerz Challenge the Pixels team plotted yet another Yuga IP activation with Forj, more ambitious than the first. Otherspeck!
The game allowed holders of an Otherdeed NFT to utilize and farm their land whilst following the journey of Pixie and a number of characters based on Koda IP owned by Forj, as well as an Animoca Brands MegaKoda!
The collaboration, which boasted a player retention rate of 27% over the course of an entire month, cemented Pixels as the most progressive web3 gaming ecosystem, and helped grow DAU to become the #1 game on Polygon prior to their move to the Ronin chain.
About Forj
A subsidiary of Animoca Brands, Forj delivers leading Web3 ecosystem growth for projects and entrepreneurs in the blockchain space. Our network includes Forj Launchpad and $APE Accelerator, a community-driven Web3 accelerator and launchpad funded by the ApeCoin DAO, supporting and launching projects that seek to add value to $APE holders and the wider ecosystem.
