John Smedley raises $30.5M for new AAA shooter game featuring Tezos layer-2 blockchain Etherlink

From Cointelegraph

July 3, 2025 08:30 AM:

John Smedley, former CEO of Daybreak Game Company, is venturing into Web3 gaming with a new AAA shooter featuring Tezos layer-2 blockchain Etherlink. Distinct Possibility Studios raised $30.5 million in funding from Bitkraft and Brevan Howard to develop Reaper Actual, an MMOFPS integrating Etherlink for tradeable Web3 components.

Smedley is known for co-creating EverQuest and developing PlanetSide 2. The latest funding round supports the accelerated development of Reaper Actual, a new AAA shooter set to launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, and reaperactual.com. Smedley teased the game in a post with Matt Higby and Tramell Ray Isaac.

The DPS team will soon announce the “Foundation” Alpha release, offering access to the game and onchain tradeable assets. A recent magazine article covers MapleStory apologizing for cheaters, Tokyo Beast popularity in Japan, and FIFA Rivals in Web3 gaming.

Read more at Cointelegraph: John Smedley Raises $30.5M For New Game On Etherlink