Neon Machine appoints Ken Rosman as CEO as it drives Shrapnel's launch for 2025

Neon Machine, the innovative studio behind the blockchain-based first-person shooter Shrapnel, has announced a significant change in its leadership as it prepares for the full launch of its free-to-play game in 2025. Ken Rosman, a veteran of the video game industry, has been named as the new CEO, while co-founder and former CEO Mark Long takes on an advisory role. This change marks a key moment for Neon Machine, which aims to focus on executing the final stages of Shrapnel's development.

Shrapnel: A unique development experience

Shrapnel is not the multiplayer early access title you're used to seeing. The game features a single operator, a limited selection of weapons, and an unfinished map set in a futuristic Japanese city. Players explore environments in "greybox" - early stage designs with missing textures and geometric shapes that serve as markers - reflecting Neon Machine's commitment to engaging the community in the game's development.

This collaborative approach allows player feedback to shape both the map and the extraction gameplay of Shrapnel, making it a highly interactive development experience.

New leadership to drive execution

Ken Rosman, with over three decades of industry experience, including prominent roles in Microsoft's Xbox division working on titles like Halo Wars and Sunset Overdrive, takes the helm of the

Neon Machine operations. Rosman will focus on global live-ops, retention mechanics, feature evolution, and market partnerships to ensure a flawless launch of Shrapnel.

Reflecting on the transition, Mark Long, co-founder of Neon Machine in 2020, stated: "When we started Shrapnel, we had the dream of breaking the mold of the traditional game development cycle. Now that we are close to launch, it is time for new leadership."

Supporting Rosman's vision, Dave Johnson will lead the Shrapnel project, while CTO Don Norbury will continue to develop the studio's Moonshot suite of web3 game development tools.

Funding efforts to drive development

To support their ambitious plan, Neon Machine has launched a new round of financing led by the Blizzard Avalanche Ecosystem Fund, with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners and Polychain Capital. This adds to the studio's previous success in raising $20 million in October 2023.

The additional funds will accelerate the development of Shrapnel, a PC shooter that combines resource extraction gameplay with Avalanche blockchain technology. The game uses NFTs and the SHRAP token to create a player-driven dynamic economy, allowing for the design and exchange of unique in-game assets.

Avalanche is leading the blockchain-based FPS market with titles like Off The Grid, Shatterline, and Shrapnel, establishing itself as a reference ecosystem in the genre.

Legal dispute with majority shareholder

The leadership transition is happening amidst an ongoing legal dispute between Neon Machine and its majority shareholder, Cort Javarone, CEO of the investment firm 4D Factory. In November 2023,

The founders of the studio claimed that Javarone tried to organize a "coup" to take control of the company. Javarone, for his part, accused the leadership of refusing to collaborate with the board of directors.

Although Neon Machine has declined to comment on the current status of the lawsuit, it emphasized that legal proceedings are not affecting its focus on delivering a high-quality game. An update on the case is expected in early 2025. Financing efforts to boost development

To support its ambitious plan, Neon Machine has launched a new round of financing led by the Blizzard Avalanche Ecosystem Fund, with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners and Polychain Capital. This adds to the studio's previous success in raising $20 million in October 2023.

The additional funds will accelerate the development of Shrapnel, a PC shooter that combines resource extraction gameplay with Avalanche blockchain technology. The game uses NFTs and the SHRAP token to create a player-driven dynamic economy, allowing for the design and exchange of unique in-game assets.

Avalanche is leading the blockchain-based FPS market with titles like Off The Grid, Shatterline, and Shrapnel, establishing itself as a benchmark ecosystem in the genre.