Raini Studios has announced it will shut down Raini: The Lords of Light, its blockchain trading card game built on Avalanche, on July 21. The announcement was made last week via an X thread and official Discord post. It marks the end of a game that once stood out in the crowded world of web3 gaming.

The studio confirmed it will distribute 2 million RST tokens, worth about $4K, as a final payout to players throughout June and July. This move comes as the team prepares to move on from its fantasy card battler and focus on two new titles: Lucha Throwdown and Uncaged: The Jon Jones Brawler.

A Look Back at Raini: The Lords of Light

Raini: The Lords of Light launched in 2021 as a fantasy-themed, competitive trading card game. It merged classic deck-building with blockchain integration and had both free to play and crypto-enhanced systems. Inspired by games like Hearthstone and Gods Unchained, it gave players the chance to build decks, summon creatures, cast spells, and take part in ranked PvP battles.

Each match started with a player choosing one of the game's Seven Lords of Light. Players used 40-card decks composed of minions, spells, and season cards. These cards each required a certain amount of mana to play, which was obtained by staking a card each turn. Mana came in different gem colors, and the system encouraged strategic sacrifice. Unused gems did not carry over, making each decision count.

The game featured both wallet-bound Collectible Cards (NFTs) and SoulBound Cards (non-tradable in-game assets). Both types worked the same during gameplay, letting users either jump in casually or connect their wallets to engage in the full blockchain experience.

Built on Avalanche, Powered by RST

At first, the game launched collectible NFTs on Ethereum. But it later moved to Avalanche, and issued additional NFTs through that network. The game's token system also evolved. The native token RST was created by merging two earlier tokens: RAINI and PHOTON. RST ran on Beam, an Avalanche L1 chain tailored for web3 gaming.

Players could earn RST through gameplay and use it for governance and in-game rewards. These tokens were also tradable and formed part of the game's P2E economy. However, emissions of RST from the game became a problem over time, adding pressure to the token's long-term value.

Humor Meets Blockchain

The card designs were filled with internet references and crypto humor. Players could collect cards featuring nods to Dogecoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, and even Sam Bankman-Fried. This playful tone helped the game stand out from more serious or generic crypto games.

But despite early success, the player base steadily dropped. According to Ceden CEO Sam Moody, the studio saw strong traction in its early years, especially through its Epic Games Store launch.

"Over $1,000,000 in rewards and prizes have been paid out to tens of thousands of gamers," Moody wrote in a Discord post on June 27. "The title has been a huge success, but that success has waned, and player stats are now quite low and not sufficient to justify the cost to maintain the game for the studio, which also represents a systemic cost to RST holders who continue to suffer from the emissions the game generates monthly."

Why the Game Is Ending

The decision to sunset the game didn't come out of nowhere. Over the past year, Raini Studios had shifted focus toward broader onchain gaming efforts. The declining player base and the ongoing cost of emissions were key reasons for pulling the plug.

The final 2 million RST token drop will take place across June and July, with the last game server to be taken down on July 21. This signals the end of the studio's fantasy card experiment.

A New Direction for Raini Studios

With Raini: The Lords of Light coming to a close, the studio is turning toward new projects. Two new games are now in development: Lucha Throwdown, a fast-paced combat card game, and Uncaged: The Jon Jones Brawler, a licensed action title featuring MMA legend Jon Jones.

Both games promise a more action-focused style. The studio is betting on stronger mainstream appeal and global brand partnerships to reach a wider audience.

At the same time, the team is overhauling the RST token model. The new system will shift to deflationary mechanics. Revenue from future games will be used to buy back and burn RST, while a transaction tax will also go toward reducing token supply.

Moody says this new system is meant to protect long-term RST holders and boost value. "It remains a bittersweet moment for Raini Studios," he wrote. "As we are on the cusp of launching some of the biggest gaming titles featuring blockbuster global brands, and RST begins a new and exciting chapter with a fully deflationary future, and we also say goodbye to the game that started it all."

Market Reaction

Following the news, the RST token briefly jumped 14%. However, the token still remains down roughly 99% from its peak earlier in 2024. As of today, RST trades at $0.002, with a market cap around $1 million.

The token spike seems to reflect short-term trader interest after the burn plan was revealed. But long-term investor sentiment remains cautious.

The End of a Web3 Chapter

Raini: The Lords of Light is one of several blockchain games shutting down in 2025. With its creative mix of crypto humor, strategic depth, and NFT integration, it once stood as a strong example of what web3 card games could be.

But as the studio prepares to shut off the servers in July, it's clear that sustaining a niche title in the fast-moving crypto space remains a major challenge. Raini Studios is moving on, and for now, so too must the players who once battled for light.