Neopets Is Now Fully Independent Again And The NFT Project Has Been Scrapped

Neopets is now once again an independently owned online game for the first time since 2005, as the massively popular title is under new management. 

It’s fair to say that Neopets can be considered one of the best free games for younger gamers. However, its existence over the last decade has left much to be desired. Announced via the brand’s official Medium page, it’s been revealed that the title is no longer under the influence of JumpStart Games, as it shut down in late June 2023.

TNT is excited to have a new leadership team that will provide guidance and support. With the support of this new leadership, TNT will have access to assets that will revitalize Neopia.

Neopets’ newfound independence has allowed them to focus on preserving the game’s history and exploring innovative approaches. The current management acknowledges the challenges faced during the past 10 years under JumpStart Games’ leadership. They explain that Neopets struggled to achieve success due to outdated site features, a declining user base, and limited resources. Despite these obstacles, the previous team worked tirelessly to keep the site operational.

Neopets has announced on its Twitter account that its new homepage will be launched on Thursday (July 20). The aim of the new homepage is to bring together the classic online game with recent developments. The new CEO, Dominic Law, previously worked on the Neopets Metaverse NFT project at NetDragon.

The Neopets Team has decided to abandon their plans for the Neopets Metaverse game. Instead, they have chosen to focus on developing a new game that aligns better with their values and vision. The resources originally intended for the Neopets Metaverse game will now be used for the creation of the World of Neopets mobile game. It is important to note that the upcoming mobile game will not include NFTs and will not be based on a crypto model.

The Neopets Team and NetDragon have reached an agreement to become the sole owners of the long-running online IP, following the collapse of JumpStart Games. The title had been running at a severe loss for over 10 years. Private investors raised $4 million in the development of the Web3 title (via PC Gamer).

Neopets was previously bought by Nickelodeon’s parent company Viacom in 2005 for $160 million, who owned the online game until 2014 when it was sold to SuperJump Games for an undisclosed amount until the shuttering. This means that the title is now free of corporate involvement for the first time in 17 years.