Star Atlas Players Generate $700K+ in Monthly Revenue as On-Chain Economy Grows

According to new data published by Flipside Crypto, Star Atlas players generated over $700,000 in revenue over the past four weeks. The revenue stems from a mix of in-game activities, staking rewards, and on-chain economic participation, signaling renewed momentum for the Solana-based space strategy game.

The report breaks down player earnings across nine sources, led by Infrastructure Contracts ($263,726), Faction Fleet rewards ($192,420), and POLIS staking rewards ($97,016). Additional revenue came from player sales on the Galactic Marketplace ($64,621) and local markets, as well as rental programs and in-game emissions.

Infrastructure Contracts and SCORE Drive Core Earnings

The largest revenue stream was Infrastructure Contracts (FICs), a feature introduced in the game’s SAGE Labs module. Players craft FICs using in game resources and redeem them for guaranteed 2 ATLAS payouts per contract. In the past four weeks, this mechanic generated over $260,000 in earnings for participants.

The second highest contributor was Faction Fleet rewards, also known as the SCORE program, where players stake their ships to factions in return for ongoing ATLAS emissions. This system yielded over $190,000 in rewards and continues to serve as one of the game’s most stable income channels.

According to previous Star Atlas reports, SCORE emissions are capped at around 3% of ATLAS supply per quarter, helping moderate inflation over time.

Marketplace and Resource Trading Add Player Liquidity

Star Atlas players also generated revenue by selling resources and materials such as fuel, food, and ammo. The Galactic Marketplace accounted for $64,621 in revenue, while local market sales brought in an additional $37,966. Players with resource-producing NFTs or claim stakes supply materials that are then purchased by others for crafting, missions, or ship upkeep.

A 6% transaction fee is applied to all marketplace trades, which is routed to the Star Atlas DAO treasury.

Governance Token POLIS Enters the Mix

Governance participation also played a role. Players staking the POLIS token used for DAO voting and treasury control earned $97,016 over the period. POLIS staking rewards are issued from a dedicated pool set aside to reward long-term holders and ecosystem participants.

While staking rewards are meaningful, governance participation remains low, creating a risk of centralized decision-making by a small group of large holders.

Smaller Streams: Rentals, Referrals, and Locker Rewards

The remaining revenue came from minor sources, including:

• Atlas royalties: $534
  Atlas PRIME: $480
• USDC Assets sold: $1,046
• Referrals: $982

These features reflect ongoing experimentation in Star Atlas’s economy, such as performance-based emissions and playertoplayer lending systems.

DAO Accumulation and Economic Balance

Much of the player activity also benefits the game’s broader ecosystem. Over the past year, the Star Atlas DAO has accrued $1.37 million in value from fees and in-game sinks. These funds are managed by POLIS voters and can be used for future development, token burns, or staking rewards.

According to prior reports, 66% of ATLAS emissions are typically re-spent or re-staked in-game, reducing immediate sell pressure and improving long-term sustainability.

Broader Context

Compared to other web3 games, Star Atlas shows signs of maturing economic systems. Emissions remain controlled and tied to gameplay inputs, unlike earlier playtoearn models that flooded token supplies without sufficient sinks.

Token volatility remains a risk. ATLAS fell 25% in May 2024, meaning that USD-equivalent values of in-game rewards fluctuate significantly depending on market timing.

Meanwhile, all current gameplay is in test environments, such as SAGE Labs. The full Unreal Engine 5-based game is still in development, and live economy performance may not reflect the eventual mainnet experience.