Moonray

Moonray PBC, operating under the development studio name Element 115, is a company at the intersection of the gaming and blockchain sectors, developing a sci-fi multiplayer battle arena game titled "Moonray". The company was founded in 2019 by Rodrigo Etcheto, who serves as the CEO. Etcheto, with a background in Mathematics and Computer Science from Duke University and prior experience in both dot-com era startups and a family food processing business, was motivated to re-enter the technology space by a desire to create a visually distinct gaming experience beyond typical medieval or near-future dystopian themes. This led him to teach himself Unreal Engine and begin prototyping what would become Moonray.

Since its inception in 2021, the company has secured $10 million in funding through multiple rounds and NFT sales, attracting investments from prominent venture capital firms such as Animoca Brands, Republic Crypto, Polygon Ventures, and Huobi Ventures. Moonray operates on a hybrid business model that caters to both traditional (Web2) gamers and blockchain (Web3) enthusiasts. The core game is free-to-play, with revenue streams expected from the sale of battle passes and cosmetic items like skins, similar to established live service games. For its Web3 audience, the company leverages blockchain technology to offer true ownership of in-game assets as NFTs and incorporates a token economy. This model allows players to optionally engage with the crypto elements, such as trading NFTs in marketplaces, without it being a requirement to play the game. The ecosystem is powered by the $MNRY token, an ERC-20 utility and governance token on the Ethereum network.

The product, Moonray, is a third-person action RPG set in a surreal, far-future, post-human world. It is built on Unreal Engine and features fast-paced, melee-centric combat that draws inspiration from games like Dark Souls and Devil May Cry, requiring tactical thinking over simple button-mashing. Gameplay includes various modes such as 4v4 team battles, 8-player deathmatches, 1v1 duels, and objective-based missions. A key feature is the integration of a grappling hook for enhanced mobility. The game's narrative and surreal art style are a significant differentiator, with story elements written by comic artist Grim Wilkins and a soundtrack by producer Ten Walls. The company is expanding the Moonray intellectual property beyond the game into graphic novels and an animated series in partnership with Reel FX. An alpha version of the game launched on the Epic Games Store, and the company plans to release it on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2025, demonstrating a strategic push towards mainstream console markets.

Keywords: multiplayer battle arena, blockchain gaming, Web3, play-to-earn, NFT, Unreal Engine, sci-fi RPG, Rodrigo Etcheto, Animoca Brands, Ethereum, free-to-play, live service game, console gaming, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, digital asset ownership, MNRY token, melee combat, IP expansion, graphic novels