Immutable zkEVM Launches Testnet Phase with 12 Web3 Games

What is Web 3.0?

Immutable, a Web3 gaming platform, has started public testing of its Immutable zkEVM in collaboration with Polygon Labs. The development of the zero-knowledge Ethereum virtual machine (zkEVM) network began in March, after Immutable joined forces with Polygon Labs. The ‘holy grail’ Ethereum-scaling zkEVM was released on mainnet on March 27.

On Aug. 14, Immutable declared that its zkEVM will grant game developers access to lower development costs and the security and network effects of the Ethereum ecosystem. According to Immutable, over 20 gaming companies have partnered with them to support the launch, including GameStop, TokenTrove marketplace, Kongregate, iLogos, and others.

Robbie Ferguson, co-founder and president of Immutable, said in March that the zkEVM aims to increase ownership rights for Web3 gamers.

Immutable zkEVM Testnet Launched

Immutable has announced the launch of its zkEVM testnet, which is designed to provide developers with a secure Ethereum-compatible environment for building Web3 titles. Already, 12 games have begun development on the platform, including CoinArcade, Galaxy Commanders, Medieval Empires, MetalCore, Meta Toy, DragonZ SAGA, Rune Realms, Shardbound, Infinite Victory, EF Defense, and SimWin Football. MetalCore has even set a beta launch date of September 15.

The zero-knowledge proofs used by the Immutable zkEVM testnet will enable secure transfers between itself and Sepolia Ethereum, allowing developers to test out how the mainnet version will work. Plus, the network is fully compatible with Ethereum applications, allowing developers to port projects over with minimal changes. In addition, the team is deploying an “Immutable Relayer for currency abstraction and gas sponsorship” which will let developers create gas-less wallet accounts.

Alex Connolly, Immutable’s chief technology officer and co-founder, believes the new network will be “irresistible” to Web3 developers. He said:

The Benefits and Disadvantages of zkEVMs

Immutable is the creator of the popular Web3 based trading card game, Gods Unchained. In April 2021, the company launched its first zero-knowledge-based layer 2 network, Immutable X, in an attempt to reduce transaction costs for players. This network, however, is not completely compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the computation engine that Ethereum uses. As a result, users of Immutable X must generate derivative keys through a web interface to access the network. On the other hand, users are now able to switch networks within their wallets to access Immutable zkEVM.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has recently discussed the pros and cons of zkEVMs. He stated that while they may cause data inefficiency and latency issues, they may also significantly improve the scalability of Ethereum.