MetaKing Studios

MetaKing Studios is a game development company positioning itself at the intersection of traditional grand strategy games and Web3 technology. Founded in 2021 by David Johansson and Nicky Li, the studio leverages the duo's extensive experience in producing and scaling free-to-play and play-and-own games. Johansson, the CEO, has a background in game development including titles like Crusader Kings and founded the Seascape Network, while COO Nicky Li has a track record in managing major titles such as 'League of Angels'. The studio is globally distributed, with a team of over 100 individuals across more than 20 countries, many hailing from prominent studios like EA, Ubisoft, and Paradox Interactive.

The company secured a significant milestone in May 2022, raising $15 million in a seed funding round. The round was co-led by Makers Fund and BITKRAFT Ventures, with participation from other notable investors in the blockchain space, including Animoca Brands and Huobi Ventures. This capital is being used to accelerate the development of its flagship title, BLOCKLORDS.

BLOCKLORDS is a massively multiplayer online (MMO) grand strategy game set in a medieval universe, designed to be shaped by player decisions. The game combines elements from established strategy franchises, allowing players to choose diverse paths such as farming, resource management, combat, or ruling. Gameplay revolves around a player-driven narrative and economy. Players start with basic roles, like Farmers, and can progress to become Knights, Raiders, or even Lords and Ladies who govern entire regions, set tax rates, and command armies. The core business model is centered on a "Play-to-Own" concept, where players have full ownership of their in-game assets, which are registered as NFTs. This includes Hero characters, which can be developed, and a unique "Dynasty" feature that allows a player's legacy to continue through heirs. The game is available in open beta on the Epic Games Store.

To support its ecosystem, MetaKing Studios developed LORDCHAIN, a Layer-3 appchain built on Base, which launched in March 2025. This infrastructure was created to address scalability challenges observed during previous game phases, aiming to provide high transaction throughput and minimal fees for a seamless in-game economic experience. Revenue is generated through in-game asset sales and the player-driven economy, where participants can monetize their achievements.

Keywords: MetaKing Studios, BLOCKLORDS, grand strategy game, Web3 gaming, MMO, blockchain game, David Johansson, Nicky Li, play-to-own, NFT heroes, player-driven economy, medieval strategy, Makers Fund, BITKRAFT Ventures, Animoca Brands, LORDCHAIN, Layer-3 blockchain, Epic Games Store, resource management game, PVP battles, dynasty system, onchain gaming