We like to build big games where every battle matters. BITKRAFT’s belief in our approach gave us the confidence to go even bigger [with REAPER ACTUAL].
Courtesy of Distinct Possibility Studios
Backing the next evolution of FPS with the legends who helped define it
At BITKRAFT, we back bold bets. Not just ambitious ideas, but the teams with the pedigree and firepower to bring them to life. We believe Distinct Possibility Studios (DPS) is exactly that. They’re building REAPER ACTUAL, a persistent open-world shooter layered with deep RPG systems, something the FPS genre has been inching toward for years but rarely delivers at scale.
The vision is big. What sold us is who’s building it.
John Smedley is one of the most respected figures in online games. With EverQuest, Planetside, and H1Z1, he helped pioneer the MMO and large-scale shooter genres long before they were mainstream. Alongside a crew of seasoned builders, this team has launched complex live games and operated at scale. They’ve also been at the frontier of games technology for a long time - for example, Everquest was the 2nd game ever to require a 3D graphics card (lost the #1 position by only a month!). They’re not chasing a trend. They’re reimagining what this category can become.
As BITKRAFT’s Carlos Pereira put it:
“Distinct Possibility Studios represents that rare blend of seasoned talent and fresh ambition. REAPER ACTUAL is a world that rewards strategy, progression, and real stakes. We believe the magic in games happens when genres collide. This is that moment.”
Courtesy of Distinct Possibility Studios
Why Now–and Why This Team
REAPER ACTUAL isn’t just a game. It’s a platform. DPS is building a shared-world FPS where players engage in ongoing PvP and PvPvE missions, shaped by evolving faction dynamics and a living economy. It’s designed to bring back meaning to multiplayer combat — where your progression matters and the world doesn’t reset every match.
We’ve seen signs that players are hungry for this. There’s fatigue in the shooter space when it comes to shallow innovation, hyper-monetized experiences, and limited ways to leave your mark. REAPER ACTUAL answers that with emergent systems, player-driven economies, and smart monetization that puts control in the hands of the community.
And while the game includes Web3 elements, they’re opt-in and thoughtfully executed. Players who want to trade and build can do so through an Etherlink-powered marketplace. Those who don’t? No pressure. This is how most Web3 in games should work — enhancing gameplay without getting in the way of it.
Courtesy of Distinct Possibility Studios
Backed to Build Big
Since 2022, we’ve led or co-led 2 rounds into DPS, which raised a total of $30M. Most recently we co-led with our partners at Brevan Howard, with strong participation from the Tezos Foundation, whose President is Alexis Bonte, a longtime games executive currently serving as Group CEO at Stillfront. We’ve been joined in these rounds by our friends at Hashed, Delphi Digital, Shima Capital, North Island Ventures, Decasonic, and others. The market sees what we see: a rare convergence of timing, talent, and tech.
The studio is based in San Diego and supported by Big Moxy Games, one of LATAM’s top development partners. After two years of heads-down building, DPS is ready to bring players into the world they’ve been crafting.
As Smedley recently said:
“We like to build big games where every battle matters. REAPER ACTUAL is that game, and we can’t wait to show it to the fans who’ve been with us since the beginning. BITKRAFT’s belief in our approach gave us the confidence to go even bigger.”
We’re proud to partner with Distinct Possibility Studios on this journey. REAPER ACTUAL is more than a game we’re excited to play. It’s a signal of where we think the genre — and the industry — is going next.
