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LOS ANGELES, CA – July 3, 2025 - Distinct Possibility Studios, led by industry veteran John Smedley, co-creator of genre-defining games such as EverQuest, Planetside 2, and H1Z1. Smedley is also the former Studio Head at Amazon Game Studios San Diego and the former President and CEO of Sony Online Entertainment / Daybreak Games. Today the studio announced it has raised $30.5 million led by Bitkraft and Brevan Howard Digital with participation from Hashed, Delphi Ventures, Shima Capital, North Island Ventures, Decasonic, and more. The studio also revealed that it has chosen Etherlink, an EVM-compatible Layer 2 network built on Tezos, as the blockchain infrastructure to power the Web3 components of its upcoming AAA open-world extraction shooter, REAPER ACTUAL. Strategic Funding and Blockchain Partnerships The latest funding round supports the accelerated development of REAPER ACTUAL, an ambitious Open-world persistent AAA shooter that will be available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and via reaperactual.com upon launch. Distinct Possibility Studios selected Etherlink, a high-performance Layer 2 built on Tezos, for the Web3 elements of the game, specifically citing its scalability, high transaction throughput, robust security, and environmentally sustainable practices as essential for managing the game's persistent, player-driven economy. Introducing Reaper Actual Reaper Actual is a pioneering open-world extraction shooter set on Marova, a vast island embroiled in ongoing conflict. Players step into the role of elite operatives known as "Reapers," navigating complex PvPvE (Player vs Player vs Environment) scenarios, territorial warfare, resource extraction, and base management, all integrated within a sophisticated blockchain-backed economy. Why Tezos and Etherlink? Tezos and Etherlink were chosen for their capability to support substantial transaction volume, energy-efficient protocols, and robust, secure smart contracts, vital for managing real-time digital assets and transactions within Reaper Actual. Players will be able to create and trade rare items such as characters, bases, skins and crafted items such as weapons within the Reaper Actual Ecosystem and via Etherlink. The company believes that giving the tools to create content will result in a much deeper community that can participate in the overall economy of the game. John Smedley, CEO of Distinct Possibility Studios, stated, "Tezos and Etherlink are fundamental to delivering a groundbreaking digital ownership experience within gaming. Players will benefit from a transparent and sustainable blockchain environment." Commenting on the announcement, Efe Kucuk, Head of Gaming at Trilitech, said, “Infrastructure in games should feel invisible until it matters. That’s what Etherlink allows - no friction, no gimmicks, just permanence when it counts.” Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos said, “‘Holy smokes, it's the EverQuest guy with an AAA team and they're building an immersive world with AI, are you kidding me!?’ were my initial thoughts, and I've remained as excited since!" Experienced Development Team Distinct Possibility Studios’ development team features top-tier industry veterans with extensive experience from Sony Online Entertainment, Amazon Game Studios, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Epic. The team’s combined credentials include members who have worked on global hits such as Call of Duty, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Valorant, Fortnite, and seminal classics EverQuest, Planetside 2, and H1Z1. Next Steps for Distinct Possibility Studios The team will be announcing “Foundation”, their pre-alpha release in the coming weeks, which will include early access to the game and on-chain tradeable assets. Regular updates and announcements will be available on Distinct Possibility Studios’ official channels. Visit or follow on X at for continuous updates. About Distinct Possibility Studios Distinct Possibility Studios, led by industry veteran John Smedley, specializes in creating groundbreaking AAA games enhanced by blockchain technology. The studio focuses on redefining digital asset ownership, promoting community engagement, and pioneering sustainable gameplay. About Tezos Tezos is a scalable, secure blockchain renowned for robust smart contract functionality, environmental sustainability, and the support of complex decentralized applications. It offers an efficient, transparent platform for digital asset management. About Etherlink Etherlink specializes in high-performance blockchain solutions tailored specifically for gaming, providing seamless transaction processing, security, and scalability crucial for AAA gaming ecosystems. Press Contact Media Contact Eoin McGinley Head of PR, Trilitech eoin.mcginley@trili.tech