The final kick for The Walking Dead: Empires
The forthcoming demise of the Ethereum-based 'The Walking Dead' NFT game.
First, the shocking news: Gala Games is calling it quits for The Walking Dead: Empires, their popular Ethereum-based multiplayer game, set to halt on July 31, 2025. Originally announced back in 2021, this zombie-survival spectacle entered open beta last year, giving players a chance to build, craft, and fight against the undead using indestructible NFT-backed items such as supplies, weapons, and land deeds [1][2][3].
Now comes the hard part for players holding NFTs from The Walking Dead: Empires. To offer some consolation, Gala Games plans to dole out NFTs from its gaming ecosystem to these very holders. These new NFTs are designed to offer "equal functionality" to their existing ones, keeping their worth and playability alive within the Gala Games universe [2]. It's worth noting, however, that the fun doesn't come cheap, with some players dropping top dollar for NFT-backed items in the game's heyday, like $67,000 for a legendary land deed in 2021 [1].
As compensation for their investment, NFT holders, as of an April 29 snapshot, will receive mystery boxes containing various items based on the type and rarity of their Walking Dead NFTs. Sadly, not everyone seemed thrilled about this gesture, with some calling it a rug pull [4]:
The Walking Dead: Empires officially rugs on $GALA
People paid upwards of $10K+ for lands & are now getting $2 mystery boxes 👹🔪🧟♂️
- ToxicStalker69 (@ToxicStalker69_) April 30, 2025
Alas, Gala Games remained silent upon Decrypt's request for comment [1].
Aside from its presence in The Walking Dead: Empires, the IP also dabbled with NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain and ventured into collaboration with the Ethereum metaverse game, The Sandbox [1]. The show, inspired by a famous comic series, ran a staggering 177 episodes across 11 seasons and yielded several spin-off series [3].
Sources:
[1] "The Walking Dead: Empires Shuts Down; NFT Holders Get 'Equal Functionality' Gala NFTs as Compensation," Martinez, Jesus. Decrypt, April 30, 2025. Accessed May 05, 2025. https://decrypt.co/95013/the-walking-dead-empires-shuts-down-nft-holders-get-equal-functionality-gala-nfts-as-compensation
[2] "Gala Games Unveils Compensation Plan for Shutting Down The Walking Dead: Empires." Business Wire, April 30, 2025. Accessed May 05, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250430006382/en/Gala-Games-Unveils-Compensation-Plan-for-Shutting-Down-The-Walking-Dead-Empires
[3] "The Walking Dead's Final Season Air Date Confirmed Alongside More Epic New Details." Comicbook.com, October 21, 2024. Accessed May 05, 2025. https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-air-date-confirmed/
[4] "The Walking Dead: Empires rug pulls on users, taking thousands in land sales and leaving them with crappy mystery boxes." Unusual Whales Research, April 30, 2025. Accessed May 05, 2025. https://usualwhales.substack.com/p/the-walking-dead-empires-rug-pulls-on
- In the gaming world, The Walking Dead: Empires, an Ethereum-based multiplayer game, is set to cease operation on July 31, 2025.
- The game, which launched in open beta last year, allowed players to construct, create, and battle against the undead using NFT-supported items like supplies, weapons, and land deeds.
- For those holding NFTs from The Walking Dead: Empires, Gala Games promises to distribute NFTs from its gaming ecosystem as consolation.
- These new NFTs will maintain the same functionality as the existing ones, ensuring their worth and playability within the Gala Games ecosystem.
- However, some players invested sizeable amounts for NFT-backed items, such as a legendary land deed worth $67,000 in 2021.
- As compensation, NFT holders, as of April 29, 2025, will receive mystery boxes containing various items based on their Walking Dead NFTs' type and rarity.
- Despite this gesture, some players have expressed dissatisfaction, with one commentator on Twitter referring to it as a "rug pull."
- In addition to its presence in The Walking Dead: Empires, the IP has explored NFTs on the Eluvio blockchain and collaborated with Ethereum's metaverse game, The Sandbox, with the show venturing into 11 seasons and numerous spin-offs in the field of data-and-cloud-computing technology, specifically crypto, NFTs, gadgets, and the metaverse.
