In a significant move that could expand the reach of blockchain-based gaming to millions of mobile users, South Korea-based game studio METABORA has announced a strategic partnership with LINE NEXT, the Web3 arm of global messaging giant LINE Corporation. The collaboration will focus on distributing Web3 games through LINE’s native Mini DApp platform, marking one of the largest integrations of blockchain gaming into an established messaging ecosystem to date.
This development signals a broader shift in Web3 gaming—away from standalone platforms and toward embedded, mobile-first ecosystems that reach users where they already are. With LINE’s user base spanning over 180 million active accounts in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and beyond, the partnership has the potential to dramatically scale the visibility and accessibility of Web3 content.
Why LINE NEXT Is the Ideal On-Ramp
LINE NEXT has quietly become a major player in the Asian Web3 landscape. Launched in 2023, it has focused on integrating NFTs, crypto wallets, and decentralized applications directly into the LINE app through its Mini DApp framework—essentially a lightweight app layer embedded within the messenger interface.
This design allows users to interact with Web3 features without needing to install separate wallets or navigate complex onboarding flows. In many cases, users don’t even realize they’re interacting with blockchain-based tools, making the technology invisible and seamless.
For METABORA, which has developed popular titles like “BIRDIE SHOT” and “PROJECT GB”, the ability to distribute games directly inside LINE’s app environment solves one of the biggest challenges facing Web3 games: adoption.
Bridging Casual Gamers and Blockchain Technology
The Web3 gaming space has struggled with scalability, primarily due to UX friction and limited access to mainstream audiences. METABORA’s integration into LINE addresses both issues at once.
Under the new partnership, players will be able to discover, play, and earn digital assets within games—all without leaving the LINE app. This means Web3 elements such as NFT item drops, token rewards, and on-chain achievements can be surfaced natively within familiar gaming interfaces.
Importantly, METABORA plans to leverage LINE NEXT’s built-in crypto wallet, DOSI, to enable seamless asset storage and trading. The wallet supports fiat on-ramps, removing the need for third-party exchanges and giving users an all-in-one ecosystem for digital gaming assets.
Regional Advantage: Asia’s Web3 Gaming Surge
Asia remains the dominant force in both mobile gaming and crypto adoption, and this partnership capitalises on that convergence. South Korea, Japan, and Thailand are home to some of the most engaged crypto-savvy gaming audiences in the world. With LINE already a trusted brand in these markets, the potential for conversion from casual gamers to Web3 users is immense.
Both companies view the partnership as more than a distribution deal. It is also an R&D alliance, with METABORA gaining access to LINE’s AI and analytics tools to personalize gameplay experiences, reward structures, and in-game economies.
LINE NEXT, on the other hand, benefits from high-quality game content that can serve as a driver of user retention and wallet activation within its Web3 ecosystem.
Expanding the Web3 Gaming Business Model
As part of the announcement, METABORA confirmed plans to launch multiple titles through LINE NEXT by the end of 2025, starting with a mobile RPG that features fully tokenized assets and player-owned marketplaces.
The business model is centered around play-and-earn, rather than the now-outdated play-to-earn paradigm. This means that games are designed first and foremost for entertainment, with blockchain features integrated to enhance, not dominate, the experience.
Revenue will be generated through microtransactions, NFT sales, and cross-game item interoperability, all facilitated via DOSI. There are also plans to introduce ad-based monetization models, where users can earn small amounts of tokens by viewing opt-in content.
Web2 Brands Leaning Into Web3 Integration
This partnership reflects a broader trend among Web2 giants embracing Web3 infrastructure—not as a threat, but as a new layer of user engagement.
LINE joins other major platforms like Kakao, WeChat, and Telegram in experimenting with blockchain-based app layers. What sets LINE NEXT apart is its laser focus on gaming and entertainment, a strategy that aligns with user behavior in its core markets.
By enabling developers like METABORA to embed Web3 functionality into already-popular mobile games, LINE is positioning itself as a gateway to the next generation of decentralized applications.
The Future of Mobile-First Web3 Gaming
As 2025 unfolds, the fusion of mobile-native design, embedded Web3 tools, and high-quality game development could define the next chapter of blockchain adoption.
For METABORA, the LINE NEXT partnership is a strategic bet on distribution. For LINE, it’s a way to deepen wallet activation and stay ahead of the curve in the digital experience space.
And for the broader industry, it’s a signal that Web3 gaming is finally moving from theory to implementation—inside the apps people already use every day.
