Key Takeaways
- ZKcandy has launched a new Ethereum-compatible L2 focused on Web3 gaming.
- The Web3 gaming sector continues to expand despite broader crypto market volatility.
- Hamster Kombat launched a gaming L2 earlier this year but has yet to release games on it.
ZKcandy, a new Ethereum-compatible Layer-2 (L2) built for gaming, has launched its mainnet with plans to expand its blockchain gaming titles.
The platform, developed using zkSync’s ZK-stack, follows a successful testnet phase that saw 2.46 million wallets created.
ZKcandy aims to capture the growing interest in mobile Web3 games with fast onboarding and integrated incentives.
ZKcandy L2 Launch
The rollout follows a $4 million seed round backed by Animoca Ventures and WEMIX.
ZKcandy’s mainnet will debut with eight games after a trial phase that peaked at 230,000 active users.
Notably, ZKcandy will push its Web3 gaming offerings beyond Telegram and TON, which played a major role in reviving interest in crypto games in 2024 through tap-to-earn titles like Hamster Kombat and Catizen.
ZKcandy informed CCN that it was set to integrate with Telegram, however, Telegram and TON inked a partnership in January 2025 to make TON the exclusive chain for its mini apps.
Instead, ZKcandy is positioning itself as an AI-powered L2 chain the the Elastic Network, ZKsync’s ecosystem.
ZKcandy’s leadership has set ambitious targets: scaling to hundreds of games and reaching 2 million active users within six months.
Commenting on the success of the testnet, Kin Wai Lau, CEO of ZKcandy and chairman of parent company iCandy, explained:
“We’ll keep building immersive games with simple onboarding, where blockchain tech adds much entertainment and no complications.”
He added that the team is focused on creating a developer-friendly ecosystem to attract more game builders.
AI in Focus
ZKcandy’s launch coincides with growing interest in the use of AI in Web3 games.
The platform will explore how artificial intelligence can improve non-playable characters (NPCs) by allowing them to respond more dynamically to player behavior and generate adaptive storylines.
“It makes game content unique for each user based on their behavior and preferences, creates engaging storylines, and allows NPCs to have meaningful dialogues and to improvise,” the team explained.
According to the team, this approach could reduce production costs and enable faster iteration during game development.
Incoming AAA Release?
Beyond its mainnet launch, ZKcandy’s upcoming releases are expected to include incentive-based mechanics, potentially tied to its native $CANDY token, though full details remain limited.
On the high-end gaming front, ZKcandy’s parent company, iCandy, is reportedly developing a major AAA title based on a “Tier-1 Hollywood IP.”
While few details are public, iCandy’s previous ties to studios such as Naughty Dog and Square Enix hint at a possible crossover into mainstream gaming culture.
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
