Sky Mavis Accuses RMW of Breaching Contract, Ends Partnership

Sky Mavis, the developer behind the popular blockchain game Axie Infinity, has accused Ragnarok: Monster World (RMW), a mobile fantasy title, of secretly making a deal with another blockchain. This move is alleged to have violated a preexisting agreement between the two parties. The controversy stems from RMW's use of both the Ronin and Cross protocols, which has raised concerns about the game's compliance with its contractual obligations.

Aleksander Larsen, co-founder of Sky Mavis, expressed his disappointment in a post on Saturday. He accused RMW of ignoring Sky Mavis' advice and losing favor with the community. Larsen also revealed that RMW had secretly signed a deal with a separate blockchain, breaching their agreement. This revelation led to the termination of the professional relationship between Sky Mavis and 0x&, the team behind RMW.

Initially, Larsen stated that RMW's assets would be removed from Sky Mavis products, including Ronin Market. However, in a subsequent post, he clarified that the assets would remain on the Ronin marketplace but would lose their checkmark, indicating a lack of endorsement from Sky Mavis. Larsen concluded by stating that this would be the last statement from Sky Mavis on the matter.

RMW, on the other hand, denied any wrongdoing and asserted that it had upheld all contractual obligations with Sky Mavis. The game's Genesis Land Launchpad and Presale are still prominently featured on the Ronin Market's homepage, and its Landverse collection still has a gold check.

The controversy has sparked discussions within the blockchain gaming community. Some have suggested that RMW's decision to integrate with another blockchain was a strategic move to secure more funding. Blockchain foundations, DAOs, or leading labs often offer substantial grants to game developers to integrate their chains, and RMW may have chosen to go "multichain" to secure additional funding.

Hantao Yuan, co-founder of Moku, predicted that this trend of game developers moving to other ecosystems for grants would become more common. He noted that while this move might help RMW survive in the short term, it raises questions about the long-term sustainability of such strategies.

The dispute between Sky Mavis and RMW highlights the complexities and challenges of partnerships within the blockchain gaming industry. As the industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for developers to navigate these challenges carefully to maintain trust and collaboration. The incident underscores the importance of transparency and adherence to contractual agreements in fostering a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for blockchain gaming.