Distributed GPU cloud infrastructure Aethir and leading multi-chain NFT platform Magic Eden have announced a partnership. Aethir’s enterprise-grade “GPU-as-a-Service” infrastructure will be integrated with Magic Eden’s NFT platform, creating a unified gaming ecosystem and establishing Magic Eden as the preferred NFT platform for Aethir game clients.
In the rapidly evolving modern gaming industry, blockchain game projects heavily rely on the core mechanism of NFTs. NFTs aim to tokenize in-game equipment, items, avatars, etc., providing players with increased interactivity and value. Magic Eden, known for its multifunctionality in the NFT field, plays a pivotal role in blockchain game projects, providing crucial support for creative endeavors from different entities in the gaming realm.
However, with the increasing attention on blockchain games, the demand for GPU computing power has also significantly escalated. In response to this challenge, Aethir offers the raw GPU resources required for next-generation blockchain games. Leveraging Aethir’s distributed cloud infrastructure, Web3 game projects can ensure seamless and immersive gaming experiences for global users.
CEO of Aethir, Daniel Wang, stated, “Magic Eden is a true NFT powerhouse, with unparalleled experience in supporting blockchain games and Web 3 innovation. As a leader in the NFT trading market, their role complements Aethir’s disruptive GPU cloud infrastructure for driving cloud gaming. The collaboration between Aethir and Magic Eden is about the scalability of blockchain games and providing resources for NFT game studios to seamlessly integrate millions of new global users. The combination of our GPU infrastructure and Magic Eden’s NFT marketplace will be a crucial component of the next generation of Web3 games.”
Chris Akhavan, Chief Operating Officer of Magic Eden, expressed in an interview with GamesBeat, “Aethir’s computing power infrastructure is expected to address the key distribution challenges in Web3 games. Web3 game studios have the opportunity to surpass mainstream app stores, allowing players to access Web3 games instantly without the lengthy process of downloading and installation.”
“Magic Eden is currently the largest NFT marketplace globally, covering Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and Bitcoin. It recently integrated the Base mainnet and has a multi-chain wallet. In terms of gaming, our main product for game developers is the project launch platform,” said Akhavan.
“This means game developers can mint NFT collections on Magic Eden and present them to the majority of NFT collectors or gamers. They can achieve smooth and seamless transactions based on the secondary market,” he added.
Paul Thind, Chief Revenue Officer of Aethir, emphasized the role of this partnership in accelerating innovation in the rapidly growing Web3 gaming field, as well as the synergistic effects between Aethir’s distributed GPU cloud platform and Magic Eden’s community-centric NFT marketplace.
“We see many people just wanting to come in and play, quickly engage in games, and then move on to other things. The collaboration with Magic Eden can indeed achieve this, as they have the NFTs that people purchase,” Thind said.
Reshaping the Future of Gaming Landscape
Web3 Games Embrace a New Wave
Magic Eden states that this partnership represents an important step towards a seamless, scalable, and immersive Web3 gaming experience, with the potential to reshape the gaming landscape in the coming years.
Aethir states that it is leveraging advanced and distributed enterprise-grade GPU computing infrastructure tailored for AI and gaming to completely transform DePIN and has the support of leading Web3 investment institutions such as Framework Ventures, Merit Circle, Hashkey, Animoca Brands, Sanctor Capital, and Infinity Ventures Crypto (IVC).
Thind stated that Aethir has raised approximately $105 million in funding and is integrating its “GPU-as-a-Service” cloud gaming technology with various games, enabling them to access its decentralized GPU cloud infrastructure platform. It is an enterprise-grade solution focused on AI and gaming, making “GPU-as-a-Service” available so that game developers can easily reach players using cloud gaming technology, thereby simplifying the onboarding process for Web3 and reducing costs for game developers.
“We believe this collaboration is a natural fit,” Thind said.
Akhavan pointed out that mainstream app stores have strict limitations on how game developers can build and design Web3 games, making it extremely challenging to release games. Typically, if you want to create a true blockchain game, you have to find a direct distribution channel for the game. In Web3, downloading 10GB of content on the client side carries significant frictional costs, and Web3 itself already has enough frictional costs.
Despite these challenges, Akhavan stated that with the surge in Bitcoin prices, Web3 is taking off again, and there is a stronger optimism about this year’s market performance compared to previous years. Akhavan believes that Magic Eden is a trusted website for purchasing NFTs and helps improve game discoverability, whereas in recent years, game discoverability has been greatly weakened due to Apple’s focus on privacy rather than targeted advertising.
When asked about their views on the Web3 gaming market, Akhavan believes the situation is better than last year.
“Last year’s crypto bear market was definitely a tough year. Many investors disappeared, leading to many game startups that received early funding unable to secure more funds and struggling. But what we are seeing now is the resurgence of startups, and they are starting to receive genuine attention.”
He added, “In terms of revenue, user base, and all the metrics we typically look at when investing in games, these startups are showing real appeal, and they can secure new funding, which is crucial. This is a huge affirmation of Web3 games, and now we are witnessing a new wave where many games have high playability.”
Ubisoft is reentering the Web3 gaming space, and Maplestory, Parallel, and Pixels are all making good progress. Eve Online is developing its Web3 project. Web3 game company GFAL has raised funds from Supercell and Mitch Lasky and has the support of game pioneer Trip Hawkins. Akhavan and Thind stated that as the industry grows, both Aethir and Magic Eden can expand beyond Asia and develop globally more easily.
“Many Web3 games have gained attention during this cycle, but they didn’t spend too much on user acquisition,” Akhavan said. “They are finally able to truly leverage one of the major advantages of Web3 technology, which is to actively involve players in the game economy and make it the primary source of user acquisition. This is one of the reasons why many of us are excited about Web3 because it’s similar to ‘free-to-play.'”
Aethir
Magic Eden
Cloud platform