Fractal, the Solana Based Gaming Platform, Expands to Polygon

Fractal, the Web3 gaming platform co-founded by Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, has landed on Polygon, the Ethereum sidechain network. Fractal brings its entire suite of Web3 gaming features to Polygon, including a marketplace for NFTs, a launchpad for new projects, and support for esports tournaments. Developers can even build in-game marketplaces using Fractal's SDK, so players never have to leave the game to buy and sell NFTs.

Polygon is becoming a popular choice for major brands like Starbucks, Reddit, Nike, and Meta, making Fractal's move a smart one. Fractal will launch with support for 30 Polygon-based games, including Sunflower Land, Aether Games, Life Beyond, and Phantom Galaxies. Fractal and Polygon Labs will work together to promote these games through online events ahead of the 2023 Game Developers Conference. Additionally, Polygon Ventures has made a strategic investment in Fractal, though the amount has not been disclosed.

Twitch Co-Founder’s Solana Gaming NFT Platform Fractal Raises $35M

Fractal went on to announce a $35 million seed round in April 2022, which was co-led by Paradigm and Multicoin Capital, and included participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Solana Labs, Coinbase Ventures, and Animoca Brands, among other investors.

Fractal started life on Solana in late 2021 but has since expanded to Ethereum mainnet and now Polygon. The platform has struggled with declining secondary trading volume and NFT buzz, but Kan remains optimistic about the future of Web3 gaming models. Fractal's focus on gaming sets it apart from competitors like Magic Eden, and Kan is waiting for games that will make the case for NFTs, rather than just attract NFT flippers.

Justin Kan, “I’m so bullish on open-economy games,” he said. “I think it's still a future business model of the gaming world. We just need to see more games actually get created in this vein, then eventually one of them will be the next Fortnite or Free Fire that'll change the world.”