Pixelmon, the crypto-inspired franchise best known for its Pokémon-like universe, is set to launch its flagship role-playing adventure mobile game, Warden’s Ascent, on the Avalanche blockchain. This comes as part of an exclusive partnership deal with Ava Labs, the developers behind Avalanche. This signals a strategic shift in the franchise’s growth ambitions. Despite its core assets remaining on Ethereum and its previously released battle arena game, Monster Tycoon, being built on Immutable zkEVM, Pixelmon is betting big on Avalanche. Their aim is to scale its gaming ecosystem and expand beyond the current Web3 user base.
A Strategic Partnership with Avalanche
The decision to partner with Avalanche was driven by Pixelmon’s need for a blockchain that aligns with its ambitious goals.
After discussions with multiple leading blockchains, Pixelmon signed an exclusive deal with Ava Labs. This partnership will see all future Pixelmon projects launching on Avalanche. These include Warden’s Ascent and two to three additional titles such as the idle role-playing mobile game Nova Thera Chronicles and real-time battler Warriors of Nova Thera .
The ability to eventually launch a dedicated Layer-1 for Pixelmon, combined with Avalanche’s proven track record in gaming, sealed the deal.
“Starting on the [Avalanche] C-Chain allows Pixelmon to go to market quickly, while laying the groundwork to seamlessly transition into a dedicated Avalanche-based Layer 1 as scale grows,” Xiloyannis explained.
This move gives Pixelmon full control over performance, fees, user experience (UX), and governance. These are key factors for a mobile-first title aimed at onboarding millions of players globally.
Warden’s Ascent: Pixelmon’s Flagship Title
Slated for a full public launch in the second half of 2025, Warden’s Ascent is described as Pixelmon’s biggest swing yet. The turn-based role-playing adventure game will allow players to discover, hatch, and evolve more than 100 unique monsters as they progress through the campaign.
By focusing on a mobile-first publishing strategy, Pixelmon aims to attract a broader audience beyond traditional Web3 gamers. This marks a significant pivot from its earlier focus on PC-based games like Warriors of Nova Thera. It has been de-prioritized to make way for mobile-centric development.
Xiloyannis highlighted Avalanche’s strengths in handling large-scale gaming ecosystems. He cited successful launches like the shooter Off the Grid and MMORPG MapleStory Universe as evidence of its scalability.
“Avalanche has demonstrated real gaming traction at scale—and that matters a lot,” he said. “It has proved its ability to onboard multi-platform games and millions of gamers.”
For instance, during its testnet-to-mainnet transition since early May, Off the Grid processed over 700,000 transactions on its dedicated Avalanche-based Layer-1, according to the GUNZ block explorer. Additionally, in-game items fetched high prices.
From Humble Beginnings to Ambitious Growth
Pixelmon’s journey has been anything but smooth. In 2022 , collectors spent $70 million on artwork so poorly executed that its creator labeled it “a horrible mistake.” Thus, Pixelmon became the laughing stock of Web3. However, under new leadership, the franchise has turned things around dramatically.
Over the past three years, Pixelmon has launched multiple games, raised millions in funding, and introduced its native token. Its first major release, Monster Tycoon, remains active on Immutable zkEVM. No expansions are planned due to its existing agreement with the network. Pixelmon will continue maintaining servers and player services for Monster Tycoon but will focus its efforts on Avalanche-based projects moving forward.
Building Anticipation and Long-Term Engagement
An early access version of Warden’s Ascent is already available for download on the Play Store, allowing players to get a sneak peek at the gameplay. Over the coming months, Pixelmon plans to roll out pre-launch campaigns to build anticipation and attract new users.
Once the game goes fully live in late 2025, the developers aim to keep players engaged through regular season updates and long-term content releases.
Why Avalanche?
Beyond its technical capabilities, Avalanche’s strong marketing and brand execution stood out to Pixelmon’s leadership team.
“Just as importantly, Avalanche stands out not only for its tech, but also for its marketing and brand execution,” Xiloyannis said. “That’s exactly the kind of foundation we need to build ambitious, player-first titles like Warden’s Ascent.”
With this partnership, Pixelmon hopes to position itself as a leader in blockchain gaming. They aim to bridge the gap between Web3 enthusiasts and mainstream gamers.
Final Thoughts
Pixelmon decides to launch Warden’s Ascent and other upcoming titles on Avalanche, representing a bold step toward scaling its gaming ecosystem and expanding its reach. By leveraging Avalanche’s robust infrastructure and proven gaming capabilities, Pixelmon positions itself to achieve its goal of onboarding millions of players globally.
As the franchise continues to evolve, all eyes will be on Warden’s Ascent. Many are eager to see if it can deliver on its promise of becoming a flagship title. It aims to transcend the boundaries of Web3 gaming.
