South Korean mobile-first game developer 4:33 Creative Lab has launched a new Web3 gaming venture called Delabs. The firm, which has already amassed over 250M downloads across its games globally, will be focussed on developing and publishing blockchain-native games within the Polygon blockchain ecosystem.

The move is another indicator of how South Korean gaming companies are going all-in with Web3 games as they seek to take advantage of the cutting-edge technology that offers players secure, seamless, and immersive experiences.

To achieve this goal, Delabs has teamed up with Polygon Labs. As a flagship partner of Polygon, Delabs will leverage their fast and cost-efficient transactions combined with Ethereum’s robust security and decentralization to seamlessly onboard new players.

Delabs plans a racing game, an RPG survival game, and an anime-style game. Led by Joonmo Kwon (aka JMK) – former CEO of Nexon – the company is committed to creating fun, engaging & inclusive games for all players tapping into the full power of blockchain at the same time. The aim is to offer exceptional graphics and immersive gameplay experiences to all players.

“Web3 offers a different experience for the average player,” said Kwon in an email. “With Web3, players don’t just get to have a fun gaming experience, they also get to own digital assets that are valuable and tradable.”

Kwon intends for Web3-enabled NFTs available from April will enhance player experience across all of their games with great benefits. 

Gaming has become a popular hobby for people of all ages, with many investing significant time and money into their virtual experiences. However, a growing concern for gamers is the risk of cyberattacks that can compromise accounts and lead to the theft of valuable digital assets. Waffle, an InsurTech solution, has partnered with Blink by Chubb to offer insurance protection for these assets.

Norton reports that nearly half of American gamers have experienced a cyberattack on their gaming account or device, with over three-quarters being financially affected and losing an average of $744. Previously, gamers have had limited insurance protection options for their digital assets, but Waffle aims to change that.

Through Blink by Chubb’s cyber insurance protection, Waffle customers can safeguard their online gaming goods against cyberattacks and other potential risks. Coverage extends beyond gaming to protect various aspects of customers’ digital lives, including identity theft, cyber financial fraud, breach of privacy, and more.

Waffle’s CEO, Quentin Coolen, stated: “As gamers, we know firsthand the thrill of exploring new worlds and achieving epic victories within our favorite games. We also understand the gut-wrenching feeling of losing everything in an instant because of a cyberattack…We’re on a mission to empower gamers to play fearlessly and protect what matters most to them.”

The collaboration between Waffle and Blink by Chubb provides personalized cyber protection to fellow gamers. Laura Bennett, President of the North America Digital Consumer Division at Chubb, said: “We are thrilled to broaden our partnership with Waffle and provide the gaming community with cyber insurance that not only protects their financial investments in digital gaming assets but also keeps their focus on getting to the next level and venturing boldly into the virtual world.”

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Overall, Waffle’s partnership with Blink by Chubb provides valuable protection for gamers who want to play fearlessly while protecting their investments in their virtual experiences.

Fast Travel Games and Windswept Interactive have announced their newest project, Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game. This action roguelike is set in the Stellaris universe and launches on the Meta Quest 2 on March 23. It will work with the new Hand Tracking 2.0 feature. Players will take command of a starship on an adventure to find the titular signal, engaging in interstellar battles, exploring mysterious planets, and encountering aliens and creatures on randomized maps.

Christopher Smith, Fast Travel’s lead game designer, said of the game, “As players take command of the starship Aurora for a journey into the unknown, I truly hope they get an action-filled roguelite VR experience like never before. With randomized maps, every playthrough of Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game is different. Your survival skills will be tested, and we look forward to seeing what you find and overcome in search of the Ghost Signal.”

In addition to the story mode, Ghost Signal also features daily challenges and leaderboards for users. It is not the first game Fast Travel has made with an existing IP. Earlier this year they published Cities VR (the Cities series is expanding with Cities: Skylines II later this year).