In a move set to reshape web3 gaming, Immutable has announced it will merge its two leading technologies—Immutable X and Immutable zkEVM—into a single unified chain. The shift, expected to happen in late 2025, marks a new era for the platform and its growing ecosystem of blockchain games.

The Immutable X and Immutable zkEVM Merge: What's Happening?

Immutable X, the platform's original Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum, will be phased into Immutable zkEVM. The latter is a newer, more advanced chain that launched in early 2024 and has already processed nearly 150 million transactions. With this merge, all users, developers, and games will operate on one seamless chain known simply as "Immutable."

  • No user action is needed for the merge.
  • Assets will auto-migrate to the new chain.
  • Immutable will cover all migration and gas costs.
  • RPCs, chain IDs, and existing contracts will stay the same.

This isn't just a tech upgrade—it's about giving every Immutable game access to the full power of EVM compatibility, making it easier for devs to use popular tools and libraries, and for players to enjoy smoother gameplay and better token liquidity.

Why It Matters for Web3 Gaming

Immutable is already home to hundreds of blockchain games, including hits like Gods Unchained, Guild of Guardians, and Illuvium. Merging into one chain means:

  • More liquidity for in-game assets via ERC1155 support.
  • Better integration with third-party DeFi tools and fiat onramps.
  • Stronger community with all games on one chain.
  • Easier development using EVM-compatible smart contracts.

The first wave of migrations has already begun. Guild of Guardians successfully moved to zkEVM in 2024, and many others are set to follow.

What Should Players Expect?

For most players, this will be a behind-the-scenes change. If you're using Immutable Passport or a wallet like MetaMask, your assets will simply show up in the same place but on the zkEVM chain.

  • Immutable Passport users: Assets will auto-migrate to the new chain, no setup needed.
  • Other wallet users: You'll see your tokens in your main wallet address.
  • Stakers: A new staking option will be offered on zkEVM.

Immutable also provides an opt-out path for users who want to bridge assets back to Ethereum before the merge.

What About Games and Devs?

For developers and games, Immutable will automatically migrate standard ERC20 and ERC721 assets. The team is even offering custom support for projects that want special handling or would rather use ERC1155 standards.

Apps using Immutable X APIs will need to shift over to zkEVM equivalents. This includes replacing old RPC calls and updating integrations with Immutable Link. A full guide is already available for teams making the jump.

Immutable: A Web3 Gaming Giant

Immutable began its journey in 2018, created by brothers James and Robbie Ferguson and co-founder Alex Connolly. They first made waves with Etherbots, an early Ethereum-based robot battle game. But it was Gods Unchained—a free-to-play card battler—that put them on the map.

Their mission has stayed the same: give gamers true ownership of their digital assets.

Immutable X came next, solving Ethereum's high gas fees and slow speeds. By building on ZK-rollup tech, the team allowed games to mint NFTs and run in-game economies without burdening players with transaction costs.

Product Lineup

As of now, Immutable boasts a full suite of tools built for game developers and players:

  • Immutable Passport: An easy-to-use wallet and login system. No passwords, no keys, just smooth onboarding via web2 logins like Gmail and Apple ID. 
  • Immutable zkEVM: The new backbone of Immutable. EVM-compatible, gas-efficient, and tailored for games.
  • Immutable X: The original L2 that brought fast, gas-free NFT trading to the masses. Now being folded into zkEVM.
  • Immutable Orderbook & Checkout: Tools to support seamless marketplaces and token transactions.

The Future of Immutable

With over 440 games in development as of late 2024, Immutable is staking its claim as the go-to platform for on-chain games. By unifying its infrastructure, it's laying the groundwork for long-term growth and easier access for devs, players, and partners alike.