Revolutionizing Gaming: SHRAPNEL’s Blockchain-Powered Vision

Don Norbury, Co-founder of SHRAPNEL, discusses blockchain’s impact on gaming, player ownership, and the studio’s mission to reshape the industry.

Don Norbury, Co-founder and Studio Head of SHRAPNEL is on a mission to transform the gaming industry through blockchain technology and community-driven development. In this interview, he shares the inspiration behind SHRAPNEL and his vision for a future where players take center stage with user-owned assets and decentralized game experiences. 

From overcoming technical challenges to leveraging emerging technologies like AI and VR, Norbury offers insights into the studio’s innovative approach and the evolving gaming landscape. Dive in to learn more about SHRAPNEL’s journey and its potential to reshape gaming.

Excerpts from the interview;

What inspired you to create SHRAPNEL, and what is your long-term vision for its impact on the gaming industry?

Shrapnel was born out of a desire to create a new AAA FPS franchise that truly belongs to its community. Until recently, the technology to build this type of game was not readily available. But now, with blockchain’s creation and increasing usage, we are primed to do so. Our long-term vision is to redefine the gaming industry and put players at the center of it—with community-led development, user-owned assets, and a general sense of equality. 

How does SHRAPNEL drive innovation in gaming, and which trends or technologies excite you the most?

We are one of the first gaming studios to bring blockchain technology to AAA gaming. This has been no easy feat; we have learned some incredible lessons. I am particularly excited about blockchain’s potential to create truly decentralized, player-owned gaming experiences. 

In our journey to build Shrapnel, we have also discovered the unexpected benefit of developing a suite of APIs to help any product team enable Web3 activities. This is particularly useful for traditional gaming studios wanting to branch into blockchain. We have decided to spin this into its standable business, Moonshot, and are excited to see where that goes. 

Also Read: From Hacker to Defender: Sergey Belov’s Cybersecurity Playbook

What major challenges have you encountered in developing SHRAPNEL, and how has your team addressed them?

Developing such a groundbreaking game naturally comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles has been balancing the technical complexities of blockchain technology with the desire to create a fun and engaging gameplay experience. We want blockchain to complement an incredible FPS experience—not dominate it. Luckily, we have managed to strike a strong balance between the two. 

Operating at the crossroads of two volatile industries—gaming and blockchain- can also be tricky. Fast changes in blockchains, business-wide industry collapses, and skepticism from core gamers about Web3 make the journey harder, but they also push us to develop the best game possible. 

How does SHRAPNEL engage players and build a strong gaming community, and what strategies have been most effective?

We are incredibly proud to be re-writing the studio-player relationship with our community, which is involved in shaping Shrapnel’s direction from day one. We have over 470,000 X followers and 120,000 discord members actively involved in the game’s development through ongoing feedback and votes on design. Our highly successful STX early-access gameplay demonstrations have also allowed us to hear what our players think and make changes accordingly. 

How is SHRAPNEL incorporating blockchain into its games, and what are the most promising applications of blockchain in gaming?

Blockchain can revolutionize the gaming industry by creating a more transparent, secure, and player-centric ecosystem. At Shrapnel, we’re exploring various applications for blockchain technology, including player-owned assets, decentralized marketplaces, and tokenized in-game economies. We believe that blockchain can empower players to take greater control over their gaming experiences and benefit from the value they create. We have made this possible thanks to our technical collaboration with Avalanche and Stardust, who support us at a granular level and align with our vision for web3 gaming. 

Also Read: Markus Bauer’s Blueprint for Cyber Defense at Acronis

As a Co-founder, how do you balance the creative and business sides of running a gaming studio, and what are its challenges?

I have been in the gaming industry for two decades—through all the ups and downs. One of the key lessons I have learned is to focus on creating an exceptional product, whether the customer is a gamer or a developer. If this is achieved, the customers and commercial success will follow. 

How do you see emerging technologies like AI and VR transforming gaming, and what opportunities does SHRAPNEL envision in these areas?

Both are very exciting technologies with the potential to transform the gaming landscape. AI can create more intelligent and responsive game characters and improve workflow for every development discipline. VR can provide immersive and realistic gaming experiences. At Shrapnel, we are closely watching both of these emerging technologies. We also use the incredible Unreal Engine, which offers enormous benefits in building high-quality games—including VR games. While we focus on blockchain, who knows what the future could hold? 

What advice do you have for aspiring game developers entering the rapidly evolving gaming industry?

While the gaming industry undoubtedly has its ups and downs, it is an incredibly rewarding place to work. My advice is to start now and build something you love—the tools and learning resources are free.