Telegram mini-games reached a zenith in 2024, but the TON blockchain still averages over 2.1 million active wallets.
Pudgy Penguins is launching a skill-based Web3 game called Pengu Clash for The Open Network (TON) blockchain, joining the competitive mini-game space.
According to Pudgy Penguins, the game will operate under a play-to-win model, allowing players to compete and be rewarded for game mastery rather than speculation. “Play-to-win, in essence, is a skill-based game,” Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz told Cointelegraph.
“Users wager against one another vs play-to-earn, [in which] you’re earning tradable currency that the game provides. This is a user-vs-user-based system.” The project said the game will feature game modes with different rules and objectives, along with skill-based challenges.
Pudgy Penguins is developing Pengu Clash on the TON blockchain, citing Telegram’s large and distinct user base as a factor. According to Netz, the messaging platform has “a whole different user base than we’ve had access to in the past,” including users from Northern Europe and other regions.
“Most platforms are not positioned for that type of gameplay. We see this as an opportunity to scale,” he said.
Netz sees the game as a vehicle to grow the Pudgy Penguins brand, with commercial gains considered a secondary outcome. “Money is made, but that is a byproduct of our IP [intellectual property] reaching the masses.”
Launched as a non-fungible token (NFT) collection in 2021, Pudgy Penguins quickly gained popularity for its cartoon-style penguin avatars. The collection includes 8,888 unique NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, with a total market capitalization of nearly $200 million as of June 17.
The project plans to release more games in 2025. The next, Pudgy Party, is set for release in August.
Related: What are Telegram-based tap-to-earn crypto games?
Telegram games promised Web3 adoption
The TON network has been the exclusive blockchain for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem since January.
According to TonStat, the TON blockchain has over 44 million activated wallets. However, the network has seen a sharp decline in monthly active wallets, which have dropped 82.3% since October 2024. Despite the decline in activity, it still processes approximately 19,500 transactions per day.
Telegram games reached a peak in 2024, with projects like Hamster Kombat and Catizen quickly reaching hundreds of thousands of players.
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