Sky Mavis, the creator of the Ronin sidechain gaming network on Ethereum, announced on Thursday the launch of Ronin Forge—an early access program that will provide grants and support for up to six studios to build “experimental” crypto games on the network.

Admitted studios will receive a $50,000 grant, access to Ronin's infrastructure, and the ability to tap into its active gaming community.

Ronin is the network behind such games as Pixels, Axie Infinity, and the upcoming Ragnarok: Monster World. It’s currently a closed ecosystem, with Sky Mavis deciding which teams can build on the network, but the studio plans to eventually open up the network in the future.

"Ronin Forge is the next step in further opening up Ronin for builders. By offering grants and access to the Sky Mavis ecosystem, this will serve as an experimental ground for developing the next generation of Web3 games," said Sky Mavis co-founder, COO, and Chairman Aleksander Leonard Larsen, in a release. "We aim to encourage innovation and build network effects, inviting like-minded studios to join on our path towards scaling the Ronin Network."

High-performing Forge teams may be elevated to "Studio Partner" status, receiving advisory support and up to $500,000 in additional funding from Sky Mavis.

Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Andrew Hayward.