Pudgy Penguins, the well-known NFT collection, has stepped into the Web3 gaming landscape with the release of Pengu Clash, a competitive online game built on The Open Network (TON). The project shifts focus away from speculation and turns the spotlight onto player skill, marking a deliberate move into the rapidly growing play-to-win gaming scene.
Image 1: (Source: Decrypt)
Pudgy Penguins Expands into Web3 Gaming
Rather than depending on token earnings dished out just for playing, Pengu Clash lets users test their abilities against one another. It’s a user-versus-user model, where the stronger player walks away with the reward. Unlike earlier play-to-earn formats, this approach ditches the idea of passive profit and hands control over to the players’ performance.
Luca Netz, who heads Pudgy Penguins as Chief Executive, described the game’s structure as one where success comes down to skill, not luck. His goal is to raise the bar in Web3 gaming by placing value on gameplay quality rather than token farming.
TON Chosen for Strategic Advantage
The game is being built on TON, the blockchain closely linked with Telegram’s ecosystem. Since January, TON has been the exclusive backbone for Telegram’s Mini App network, allowing games and applications to be launched directly within the messaging app. This integration lets users dive into Pengu Clash without needing to download anything extra—a clever way to reduce friction and encourage wider adoption.
According to Netz, Telegram’s user base offers access to regions that Pudgy Penguins has not previously reached, including strong audiences across Northern Europe. He sees TON and Telegram as the ideal platform to grow the brand’s reach beyond its original NFT community. Rather than simply attracting seasoned blockchain users, the project is tapping into a much broader group who use Telegram regularly.
Despite the drop in monthly wallet activity on TON since October 2024—a decline of over 80%—the network continues to see daily transaction volumes near 19,500. With over 44 million wallets activated on TON, the underlying user base remains substantial.
Built for Competition, Not Guesswork
What sets Pengu Clash apart is its use of Elympics infrastructure, which allows real-time multiplayer gaming with support for skill-based mechanics. Players can expect different game modes, each bringing its own flavour and objectives. This variety is designed to ensure both replay value and fair matchups.
The core of Pengu Clash revolves around player-versus-player challenges. Individuals wager directly against one another, and there’s no third-party token distribution to dilute the experience. Rewards are earned through mastery of the game, not handed out like lollies for just logging in.
Netz made it clear that commercial returns are not the main focus at this stage. While revenue may eventually come as a by-product, the driving purpose is to extend Pudgy Penguins’ brand and intellectual property to a much broader audience. The team sees this game as a launchpad to take the brand into new territory.
NFT Origins and Future Plans
Pudgy Penguins first gained attention in 2021 with a collection of 8,888 digital penguin avatars minted on Ethereum. The cheerful, cartoon-style penguins struck a chord with collectors and quickly rose to prominence. As of mid-June 2025, the collection had reached a total market valuation approaching $200 million, underscoring its influence in the NFT world.
With Pengu Clash now live, the team is not resting on its laurels. Plans are in motion for further expansion into gaming. Another title, Pudgy Party, is already slated for release in August 2025. It signals a broader move by the brand to evolve from static NFT art into full-fledged digital entertainment.
Rather than staying confined to Ethereum or typical NFT platforms, Pudgy Penguins is building bridges to new ecosystems. By combining popular messaging tools like Telegram with interactive gaming experiences, the project is cutting new paths in digital engagement.
Image 2: (Source: Bankless)
Riding the Wave of Telegram Gaming
Telegram-based games made a splash in 2024, with titles such as Hamster Kombat and Catizen drawing hundreds of thousands of users in a short time. These tap-to-earn games created a surge of interest in blockchain gaming on the messaging platform and helped set the stage for what’s now becoming a competitive environment.
While the early excitement may have cooled off, Pengu Clash arrives with a fresh strategy. Rather than simply chasing numbers, it seeks to build longevity through solid gameplay. It’s a play rooted in patience and precision, not just hype.
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With TON still supporting a strong foundation and Telegram’s massive reach intact, Pudgy Penguins appears well-positioned to navigate this next phase. Their play-to-win model may well appeal to users who have grown tired of click-to-earn mechanics that promise much and deliver little.
