Off the Grid is a battle royale game that is picking up serious steam with players. Off the Grid topped the Epic Games Store’s list of the most popular free-to-play games soon after release, plus it commanded huge crowds on Twitch.
In short: It’s a hit. And it was GG’s 2024 Game of the Year pick.
But what you might not know is that Off the Grid is a blockchain game built on Avalanche, with plans for a crypto token and the ability to trade rare items as NFTs. While these features aren’t yet fully implemented, it’s fair to say that Off the Grid has already made a bigger splash with mainstream gamers than any previous blockchain game—and the future looks bright.
Here’s what you need to know about Off the Grid, the current early access release, the GUNZ network, and the GUN token.
What is Off the Grid?
Off the Grid is a third-person battle royale shooter that has launched into early access on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
A screenshot from Off the Grid in early access. Image: Decrypt
Set in a fictional future where cybernetics can augment humans to make them even more deadly, you and two teammates will jump onto the sizable city map and fight it out against other trios to be the last ones standing, just like any good battle royale game.
However, Off The Grid touts itself as an “extraction royale,” adding in some extraction shooter style mechanics as well. In matches, you can find what are essentially loot boxes, and if you either hold them as you win, or manage to extract them at certain locations on the map, then you can use them to unlock cosmetic items or new weapons and skills for your loadouts.
Off the Grid is developed by Gunzilla Games, a studio co-founded by “District 9” and “Chappie” film director Neill Blomkamp—and as the studio’s chief creative officer, his style is strongly felt throughout the game.
The game is built around a future competition that essentially turns the battle royale premise into a televised competition between cybernetically augmented humans. And unlike battle royale games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, Off the Grid promises 60 hours of narrative-driven gameplay, with cinematics that bookend matches and provide added flavor and motivation to the experience.
How do I play Off the Grid?
To play Off The Grid in early access, you simply need to download the free-to-play game on your chosen platform and boot it up. It’s pretty easy to pick up if you’ve ever played a battle royale before, and there’s already a ton of guides available on the web.
A screenshot from Off the Grid in early access. Image: Decrypt
The early access version contains just one mode (Extraction Royale) and the single, but very large map, though the future full release is expected to pack more modes and content. In February, Gunzilla Games added non-playable characters in specific zones of the map for players to fight with in exchange for loot or even a hex.
Where does crypto come in?
In the current early access build, there’s no obvious crypto integration. But it’s humming along in the background, and there’s more coming on the horizon.
Off the Grid is built on GUNZ, a dedicated L1 (or subnet) on the Avalanche blockchain network. GUNZ just launched its mainnet on March 31, 2025 after previously being on testnet. However, the mainnet isn’t yet integrated into the game.
A screenshot from Off the Grid in early access. Image: Decrypt
Items in the game are denominated in GUN, which you can also earn by completing missions, however it’s effectively an in-game currency for now. Gunzilla has said that the game’s mainnet integration is planned in the coming weeks, by the end of April, with the functionality currently in testing by a small set of players.
All owned in-game items will be migrated from testnet to mainnet, though players’ GUN token balances will be reset.
In the future, once the GUNZ mainnet integration is complete, players will be able to spend the on-chain GUN to purchase items from the marketplace—at least in the PC version. Gunzilla’s Web3 Head Theodore Agranat told Decrypt in December 2024 that the crypto elements in the PS5 and Xbox versions will be “handled differently”—but exactly how remains to be seen.
Ahead of the mainnet integration, there is a thriving black market for Off the Grid skins, with many collectors believing the scene will explode once crypto features are activated within the game.
The GUN token on GUNZ and Avalanche launched on March 31 alongside the L1 network. As of this writing, the price of GUN has already fallen by more than 50% amid a volatile crypto market that has impacted gaming tokens especially hard in recent months.
Gunzilla created the GUNZ network to let other developers utilize the tech, as well, so the ambition is for the GUN token to be usable across multiple games in the future. Future games on GUNZ have yet to be announced, as of this writing.
What’s next for Off the Grid?
As noted above, Gunzilla plans to integrate the GUNZ mainnet within Off the Grid by the end of April, though how the functionality will work on consoles remains unclear. The firm said that it will also use 30% of game revenue to do GUN token buybacks to replenish the community rewards pool for the game.
Agranat told Decrypt in December that the game is looking to add ranked and solo queue modes, as well as open up the remaining 80% of the map to kick off its storyline. As of this writing, only a solo queue has been temporarily added, and a small section of the map was opened up—nowhere near the 80% figure.
[5/9]🛰️ Validator Nodes & Buybacks Incoming
Once the transition to Mainnet is complete, validator nodes will go fully operational and our token buybacks—equal to 30% of monthly revenue—will begin replenishing the community rewards fund.
Gunzilla previously said that following the GUNZ mainnet launch, it aimed to onboard third-party developers to the ecosystem. Following the hyped launch of Off the Grid, the studio plans to pass on its wisdom to other developers in the industry. Agranat even left the door open for a possible Telegram mini app to be launched as a tool to onboard users to the Avalanche L1.
In March, ahead of the GUNZ mainnet launch, Gunzilla acquired and revived the long-running Game Informer video game magazine, which was shut down by previous owner GameStop in 2024. The print magazine is due to return, with the returning staff maintaining editorial independence from the game publisher.
And in April, Off the Grid launched a collaboration with the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT project, with Pro subscribers getting an in-game content pack with two player skins, two emotes, and two gun skins.
We’ll see whether Off the Grid can hold onto its momentum as the game evolves and expands in the near future, and whether mainstream gamers take kindly to the ability to mint and trade NFTs and utilize the GUN token.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on October 12, 2024 and last updated with new details on April 4, 2025.
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