Within the quick lifetime of web3 video games, yearly recurring in-game occasions are uncommon. Internet hosting one for 3 years in a row is sort of exceptional.
So to see social RPG Pixels getting ready for its third yearly Shorelime occasion is about greater than anticipating frantic gameloops for twenty-four hours. It’s additionally a measure of the state of the sport itself, and its wider ecosystem.
Initially deployed on Polygon, Pixels moved to Ronin on the finish of 2023, boosting the sport’s participant metrics on each degree. Since then, it has skilled a unstable time influenced by bigger macro actions, but in addition fixed in-game experiments and intentional adjustments from the crew, aiming to refine what it believes to be a successful play-to-earn mannequin.
We checked in with CMO and Head of Neighborhood Heidi Christine to get her view on the upcoming occasion, Pixels‘ neighborhood, and the way the introduction of PIXEL staking is impacting participant behaviour.
Earlier than you even take into consideration huge advertising and marketing spends, spend money on the individuals who consider in what you’re constructing.
Heidi Christine
BlockchainGamer: Internet hosting in-game occasion Shorelime for its third consecutive 12 months, how do you make these repeat occasions thrilling and never predictable?
Heidi Christine: We solely do that yearly. All 12 months lengthy, gamers ask us, “Wen Shorelime?” or “Convey again Shorelime!” and we don’t cave. It occurs for simply 24 hours yearly, which makes it really feel actually particular. That sense of rarity retains our long-term gamers excited.
What’s been actually cool this 12 months is seeing individuals say, “That is my second Shorelime!” and even “Wow, it’s my third!” It deepens our reference to the neighborhood. Gamers really feel like they’re a part of one thing that stretches past simply day-to-day gameplay.
They carry the OG vibes, and that vitality will be felt all through all the occasion.
It seems nearly all web3 video games have struggled financially, but in addition with neighborhood help, in 2025. How has the Pixels neighborhood developed over the past 12 months?
One of many largest contributors to our neighborhood’s energy is consistency. For the reason that starting, we’ve hosted weekly neighborhood AMAs each single week, with out fail. These aren’t simply one-way updates, however open dialogues with our neighborhood the place we discuss transparently about what’s occurring within the recreation, what’s coming subsequent, and even the challenges we’re going through.
This common cadence has created a tradition and expectation of collaboration. Gamers aren’t simply heard, however are actively shaping the route of the sport. Pixels strikes quick, runs frequent experiments, and shares progress in actual time. Over the previous 12 months, that transparency has helped us retain and develop a core group of gamers who really consider within the long-term imaginative and prescient. They’re not simply right here for short-term rewards however see the worth in what Pixels is constructing.
And look, we’ve had robust instances. We’ve been by cycles the place issues slowed down, and we count on that’ll occur once more. Our crew ready for the highs and the lows, each financially and emotionally. We’ve seen some churn. However individuals nonetheless select to return again. They inform us this appears like dwelling, like a protected house. That form of connection doesn’t occur accidentally. It’s constructed deliberately, and I attempt to defend it on daily basis. That’s the muse of a neighborhood that may really final.
What classes do you suppose different web3 recreation builders are studying from Pixels?
I consider that builders are studying that fixing play-to-earn is feasible, but it surely takes sensible design and actual information. Devs are watching how we use reside recreation information to fine-tune token rewards, determine actual contributors, and maintain the economic system wholesome by making it tougher for extractors to earn.
Our novel multi-staking system can also be turning heads. It reveals {that a} token like $PIXEL can signify a complete ecosystem, not only one recreation. In lower than two months, there have been over 100 million $PIXEL staked throughout the ecosystem, with Might marking the primary time deposits outpaced withdrawals. Different initiatives are undoubtedly watching to see for those who can really make play-to-earn work, and I consider we’re nearer than ever.
From a neighborhood perspective, I’d say this: don’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, however do keep open. We’re constructing one thing new right here, and that takes time, braveness, and a complete lot of experimentation. Not every thing works the primary time, and that’s simply part of the method. Begin together with your neighborhood. Earlier than you even take into consideration huge advertising and marketing spends, spend money on the individuals who consider in what you’re constructing. We’d be nothing with out ours. Construct with them, not only for them.
Has the launch of PIXEL staking modified participant behaviour in Pixels itself, or is it extra of an exterior mission?
A little bit of each! We’ve received a various participant base, so staking has undoubtedly engaged our heavy crypto customers, but it surely’s additionally been a fantastic introduction to staking for our extra neighborhood and game-focused gamers. It’s turn into a vivid spot in a troublesome market, giving individuals one thing to rally round and get enthusiastic about.
We not too long ago hit 100 million $PIXEL staked and celebrated by throwing a celebration on NFT Farm Land #1000. It was a second to hang around with our gamers, have enjoyable in-game, and strengthen these actual neighborhood bonds. Plus, it received the phrase out past our tweets or e-mail blast. Gamers and creators had been sharing screenshots and spreading the information on socials, which is at all times the very best form of promo.
One other thrilling piece is how staking has opened the door for brand spanking new video games. Our gamers find it irresistible as they’re exploring new titles, getting rewarded, and actively collaborating on this rising $PIXEL-backed ecosystem.
And extra video games are on the way in which. The final word objective is for the $PIXEL spent throughout these video games to match what’s being rewarded to stakers. Watching that loop play out in actual time goes to be actually fascinating.
Shorelime particulars
Operating for twenty-four hours from 3 pm UTC (4 pm BST) on twentieth June, Shoreline is an in-game occasion combining storytelling with time-limited reward loops. The mission consists of planting and harvesting Shorelimes, that are wanted with the intention to craft Shorelimeades and earn Solstice Stars. Depositing one in all these stars unlocks a thriller reward, which boosts a participant’s likelihood of successful one in all six unique Shorelime Pets as soon as the occasion is over.
For extra occasion particulars, try Pixels’ official Substack.