John Smedley's new studio, Distinct Possibility Studios, has revealed its debut project: Reaper Actual, a large-scale open-world extraction shooter built around persistent progression, faction warfare, and optional web3 features. Set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Marova, the game drops players into an evolving battlefield where missions, raids, and territorial control shape the experience.
Reaper Actual Raises Over $30 Million
A return to large-scale multiplayer design
Smedley, the mind behind EverQuest, Planetside, and H1Z1, founded Distinct Possibility Studios in early 2023 after leaving Amazon Game Studios. He's joined by co-founders Matt Higby, Trammell Isaac, Michael Hunley, and Tammy McDonald. The team has spent two years building Reaper Actual as their take on the extraction shooter format.
Smedley describes the game as Call of Duty: DMZ meets Rainbow Six Siege, but inside a persistent open world. Instead of isolated matches where progress resets, Reaper Actual lets you build long-term momentum and leave a lasting mark on the environment. The studio wants every battle to carry weight beyond the session it happens in.
Reaper Actual Raises Over $30 Million
Distinct Possibility Studios raises $30.5 million
The studio just closed a $30.5 million funding round led by Bitkraft Ventures. Other backers include Brevan Howard Digital, the Tezos Foundation, Hashed, Delphi Ventures, Shima Capital, North Island Ventures, and Decasonic. Big Moxi Games, a Brazilian development studio, is handling co-development work.
Carlos Pereira, general partner at Bitkraft Ventures, called Reaper Actual a fusion of FPS mechanics and MMORPG design philosophy. He pointed to the founding team's track record on past large-scale projects as a key reason for the investment.
Reaper Actual Raises Over $30 Million
Game world, mechanics, and AI
Marova is a fictional Mediterranean island torn apart by civil war and now controlled by competing criminal and military factions. You play as a Reaper, an elite operative tasked with completing objectives, raiding enemy positions, building and defending bases, and surviving threats from both players and AI enemies.
The playable map measures roughly 16 by 12 kilometers — about four times the size of Al-Mazrah from Call of Duty: Warzone. It includes varied terrain, a full day-night cycle, and vehicles for land, air, and sea travel. Each player starts with a base that serves as a launch point for missions, a storage hub, and an upgrade station. Bases can be attacked by other players or NPCs if you generate enough attention, tracked in-game as your "heat level."
Servers support around 200 players at once, plus large numbers of AI opponents. A central AI system called Cerberus generates dynamic events and missions designed to create conflict. One squad might be sent to assassinate a high-value target while another is assigned to protect that same target.
Reaper Actual Raises Over $30 Million
Persistent world and progression
Reaper Actual's core hook is its persistent structure. Character progression, base upgrades, and faction standing all carry over between sessions. Five factions operate on the island, each with their own goals and territory. You can align with them, fight them, or stay neutral while navigating shifting alliances and territorial disputes.
Combat is built to feel responsive and grounded. Smedley says the gunplay is designed to match the standard set by the Call of Duty series. The team includes several developers from Planetside 2, bringing experience with large-scale multiplayer combat systems.
Reaper Actual Raises Over $30 Million
Upcoming alpha test and access
Reaper Actual launches on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. An alpha test is coming soon. Beyond official servers, the game will let players rent and customize private servers. This feature targets streamers and communities who want to host custom sessions with their own rulesets. Server customization includes gameplay modifiers, access controls, and monetization options for content creators.
The team has built a low-latency network infrastructure to keep large-scale engagements stable. Players can also interact and trade with each other, feeding into a broader in-game economy.
Optional web3 integration
Reaper Actual includes web3 functionality that exists outside the core game experience. Players can trade items on the Distinct Possibility Studios website using blockchain technology powered by Etherlink, part of the Tezos ecosystem. These transactions are limited to cosmetic items and don't affect gameplay balance. Smedley clarified that the game has no loot boxes, gambling mechanics, or pay-to-win elements.
Items earned or created in-game can be traded or sold via the studio's web platform. Eventually, players will be able to create their own cosmetic assets using the same tools the development team uses. These user-generated items can then be traded or sold in the marketplace, adding another layer of community involvement. All web3 elements are completely optional and separate from the main progression systems.
Looking ahead
Reaper Actual marks Smedley's return to game development with a project that rethinks what an extraction shooter can be. With its persistent progression, large-scale faction warfare, and optional web3 support, the game is built for players who want long-term engagement and strategic depth.
