Proof of Play shuts down, open-sources Pirate Nation assets

Proof of Play, the a16z‑backed Web3 game studio behind the on‑chain title Pirate Nation, announced on August 4 that it will cease operations after failing to build a scalable and sustainable business model. The company said it could not validate its blockchain gaming thesis at scale despite raising $33 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz and Greenoaks.

All public repositories for Pirate Nation’s code, smart contracts, artwork and the studio’s development tools have been released under a CC0 public‑domain license. The Pirate Nation Foundation will remain independent and continue supporting the PIRATE token, providing continuity for token holders. A separate mobile title, Shiba Story Go, has been acquired by an undisclosed third party and will continue operating independently.

Proof of Play did not disclose the number of employees affected, its remaining financial position, or the terms of the Shiba Story Go acquisition.