The new Layer 2 blockchain will be a first of its kind chain dedicated to Web3 gaming products building on Ethereum.

Immutable, a platform that builds and scales Web3 gaming applications, has released a testnet of its zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Layer 2 network. 

In a Monday announcement, the Immutable team announced that the Ethereum-compatible network would enable existing smart contracts built on Solidity code to be migrated directly for free.

The Immutable zkEVM Testnet, featuring all of Immutable’s platform products, is officially live! So what does that mean?

✅ Enterprise-grade security
✅ Massive network effects
✅ Lower development costs
✅ Seamless ETH interoperability pic.twitter.com/50xLO7B6Yn

— Immutable (@Immutable) August 14, 2023

The network is built using Polygon’s zk-rollup technology and will decrease development costs for game builders, while growing revenue streams, enhancing gameplay mechanics and allowing for a more frictionless experience for developers.

“Immutable zkEVM is the first of its kind – a dedicated chain for games! It combines the benefits of zk-rollup technology with the power of the Ethereum ecosystem, all while offering access to the entire suite of Immutable gaming products,” wrote the Immutable team on Twitter.

Instead of game developers being required to build solutions with multiple partners, Immutable’s solution will serve as a one-stop shop that provides an end-to-end EVM solution that is specifically tailored to their needs. 

Developers at Polygon estimate that the average gas cost on the Immutable zkEVM would lie somewhere between what is typical of Polygon’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) chain and Polygon’s own zkEVM solution. However, they anticipate more improvements are yet to come after Polygon Zero is introduced, which they say is part of a process that progressively removes the training wheels to ensure stability. 

Some of the game developers that have already committed to Immutable’s zkEVM include MetalCore, Shardbound and Infinite Victory. Meanwhile, marketplaces like AQUA and GameStop have come on board as ecosystem partners.