Cardano Founder Announces Plan to Launch FPS Game on Hydra

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently revealed plans to onboard Doom, a 1990s first-person shooter (FPS) game, on Hydra, Cardano’s layer-2 scaling solution.

While blockchain technology has penetrated several industries, notably finance, it has not gained as much traction in gaming. This reality has triggered angst among blockchain and gaming enthusiasts such as Charles Hoskinson, who aim to witness the best of both worlds in one offering.

Hoskinson, who doubles as an avid gamer besides his foray into blockchain, is taking a step forward in addressing this issue. The Cardano founder recently posted a 37-second clip featuring gameplay of 1990s gaming sensation Doom, one of his favorite games.

Doom to Launch on Hydra

However, while Hoskinson has always discussed gaming with his large following, the latest disclosure was pivotal, as he confirmed plans to launch Doom on Hydra. Launched last May, Hydra is a Cardano layer-2 solution aimed at bolstering scalability.

The decision to on-board Doom on Hydra further dispels previous circulating rumors that Cardano had abandoned the layer-2 scaling solution. A YouTube analysis channel in March alleged that the Cardano team had pivoted away from Hydra, a claim Hoskinson immediately dismissed as “pure FUD.”

Doom is a first-person shooter video game series known for its fast-paced action and pioneering graphics. Launched by id Software, Doom is often credited with popularizing the FPS genre and has had a significant impact on the gaming industry since its release in 1993.

Cardano Community Reacts

Its launch on Hydra would give Cardano proponents the opportunity to play the game on-chain, an imminent development that has so far sparked a positive response from the community. Industry commentators like Big Pey and Chris O’Connor touted the move as the perfect use case for Hydra.

#Cardano fam, very cool. Doom was and will be a cult classic again!

One of the 1st games I played. Perfect use case for Hydra on @Cardano.$ADA @cardano_whale @ZssBecker @ProTheDoge https://t.co/qkIpaSm5Hv

— Chris O (@TheOCcryptobro) May 8, 2024

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Amid the prevalent excitement, some enthusiasts have questioned the practicality involved in on-boarding the game on Hydra. In response to this query, Hoskinson confirmed that the entire game would run on Hydra heads as smart contracts. For context, every Hydra head serves as a mini-ledger.

As noted earlier, the GameFi industry has seen some turbulence over the years, but this is largely due to a shift in focus from entertainment, playability, and graphics. A CoinGecko report last November indicated that about 2,127 blockchain game projects have died over the last five years, representing a failure rate of 75%.

One of the ways to ensure the imminent Doom project on Hydra does not follow this path is to retain its appeal to everyday users. Trym Måke Bruset, a Product Manager at IOG, also confirmed plans to launch the project on Cardano. However, with details currently scant, it remains to be seen if it will operate as a play-to-earn (P2E) game.