Gamestarter Joins Co-Connect Network, Expands Web3 Gaming Partnerships

**US gaming market reached $4.89B in October 2025** (+3% YoY), driven by major hardware and franchise disruptions. **Hardware surge leads growth:** - Sales jumped 36% with Nintendo Switch 2 and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally - Switch 2 outpacing PlayStation 4 launch numbers - Older generation console sales slowing **Historic shooter shake-up:** - **Battlefield 6 now #1 game of 2025** - Successfully challenging Call of Duty's 20-year market dominance **Other key metrics:** - Mobile revenue up 10% - Subscription spending grew 9% - Strong Q4 start demonstrates new hardware and hit franchises remain primary market drivers The results highlight how fresh hardware launches and breakthrough titles can reshape established gaming hierarchies.

**Pudgy Penguins** has partnered with **DreamWorks** for a Kung Fu Panda collaboration, marking another major step into mainstream entertainment. **Key Milestones:** - Partnership brings Pudgy into Hollywood's spotlight - **Pudgy Party** mobile game hit **1M+ downloads** in under a month - Brand has expanded from NFTs to toys, games, and entertainment **Mainstream Breakthrough:** What started as digital collectibles is now a full entertainment brand reaching audiences far beyond Web3. The success demonstrates how blockchain-born IP can compete with traditional media properties. **Industry Impact:** This collaboration signals that Web3 brands are no longer confined to crypto circles - they're becoming legitimate entertainment franchises capable of mass adoption.

August 2025 data reveals a **maturing Web3 landscape** with mixed signals across sectors. **Key Highlights:** - Overall dapp activity declined 18% to 17M daily wallets - **DeFi reached record highs** with TVL surging to $292B (+13% monthly) - Gaming remains the **top on-chain category** despite 4% decline - **NFT trading volume climbed 9%** to $578M, driven by in-game items **Sector Performance:** - Social dapps crashed **63%** as incentive programs lost steam - AI dapps dropped 49% but showed **emerging use cases** - Infrastructure improvements in gas abstraction and cross-chain tools **Market Shift:** The data points to a **fundamental transition** from speculative farming to sustainable utility-focused growth. Quality content and genuine user engagement are becoming the primary drivers. *This cooling period may signal healthier long-term development as the industry matures beyond hype cycles.*

Gamestarter has formed a strategic alliance with OpenLoot, a Web3 platform by Big Time Studios. The partnership focuses on: - Cross-marketing campaigns and community initiatives - Co-branded campaigns with user incentives - Backend integrations for improved scalability - Enhanced platform utility and visibility OpenLoot, a leading web3 gaming infrastructure provider, has facilitated thousands of marketplace transactions. This collaboration aims to strengthen both ecosystems while advancing blockchain gaming technology. Learn more: [Partnership Details](https://gamestarter.com/en/blog/gamestarter-open-loot)