Off The Grid: A Dive into the Latest NFT Battle Royale
When a Game Skin Makes You Want to Sleep
Have you ever encountered a video game skin so cringe-worthy that each one you must do is shut your eyes and
forget you ever saw it? That’s exactly the sensation I got after I checked out the day one store offerings of Off
The Grid, a battle royale game powered by NFTs. It just launched on Steam, after its early access phase on the
Epic Games Store.
The Infamous “PC Gamer Set”
For just 74 GUN, Off The Grid’s premium currency (which, by the way in which, can be a cryptocurrency), you’ll be able to get your
hands on the “PC gamer set.” This set includes a personality who looks like a stereotypical gamer caricature:
obese, unkempt beard, and a keyboard and mouse strapped across the chest.
As if that wasn’t enough, there is a “Can it run Crysis?” sticker on the tactical vest, a nod to an old web
meme from 2007. The description of the skin, “More precise than WASD on Cherry Blues and icier than
water-cooled GPUs, Overlocker’s been training his whole life for this probability to prove that aim beats hours,”
tries a bit too hard to be cool.
(Image credit: Gunzilla Games)
Pricier Options: “Blue” and “Red” Sets
On the upper end of the spectrum, there’s the “Blue” and “Red” sets, which include masks resembling political
figures Trump and Kamala, respectively. According to Kotaku, Trump’s vest has a “Stop Woke” sticker, while
Kamala’s has a “Legalize It” weed sticker. These sets were likely introduced through the game’s early access
period last yr.
On the player marketplace, the Trump skin is priced at a hefty 3,600 GUN, which is sort of $200 in case you buy the
currency straight from the sport. Comparatively, the Kamala skin is less expensive.
(Image credit: Gunzilla Games)
The Ninja Set: A Blast from the Past
Then there’s the Ninja set, which is oddly paying homage to a Twitch streamer who was all the fashion just a few years
back. It’s a surprisingly accurate representation, even when it is not something I expected to see.
(Image credit: Gunzilla Games)
How Gunzilla Games Sidesteps Steam’s Crypto Ban
Interestingly, Gunzilla Games seems to have found a way around Steam’s ban on NFT and crypto games by keeping
crypto market elements outside of the sport client. It’s still unclear how Off The Grid’s typical live service
model suits in with its external crypto marketplace.
The Edgelord Humor and Player Reception
Off The Grid doesn’t draw back from edgy humor, perhaps influenced by Chappie director Neil Blomkamp’s involvement.
Within my first half-hour playing, the in-game announcer threw around phrases like “regurgitated cum bubbles”
and “cum stains on a whore’s panties,” while also indicating that the “safe space is shrinking,” in reference to
the battle royale circle.
The game launched to a tepid player count and mixed reviews. Common complaints include poor performance, the
presence of “crypto nonsense,” and a few okay shooting mechanics.
Image Credit: www.inkl.com
