A16z-Backed Web3 Studio Proof of Play Shuts Down, Open-Sources Pirate Nation Assets

Proof of Play, the a16z-backed Web3 game developer behind Pirate Nation, announced it will cease operations after failing to build a scalable and sustainable business model, according to the original report.

The studio, which raised funding from the heavyweight venture firm to create on-chain gaming experiences, is now open-sourcing as much of its code and artwork as possible and releasing key intellectual property under a public license.

Founder Pirates NFT and Pirate Nation assets, including artwork, IP, and logos, have been released under a CC0 license, effectively placing them in the public domain.

The Pirate Nation Foundation will remain independent and continue supporting the PIRATE token, giving token holders a thread of continuity. Meanwhile, a separate title, Shiba Story Go!, has been acquired by a third party and will keep operating independently.