Accelerating the transition of blockchain games from Web2.5 to Web3: Understanding Zypher Network's Zytron Engine in one article

Blockchain games represent a brand new trend, but the existing industry infrastructure is insufficiently designed to support games running entirely on-chain. A compromise solution is Web2.5, which places game logic on centralized servers to ensure a better experience for players, while keeping the economic model, smart contracts, and other elements on-chain. This requires constant communication between the two parts, leading to certain limitations in trust, security, and operational efficiency for the games themselves.

Against this backdrop, Zypher Network has taken the lead in launching a server abstraction solution based on a series of technologies such as ZKP, modularization, and Layer3.

In this solution, the Zytron engine plays an important role within the Zypher Network ecosystem, providing developers with a sovereign, customizable Layer3 Rollup infrastructure, paired with a ZK engine that features a general-purpose zero-knowledge protocol template. With the collaboration of the Zytron engine and an off-chain distributed computing network, it can provide perfect support for game operations in a decentralized manner, eliminating reliance on centralized servers, thus achieving serverless or server abstraction processing.

Overall, Zypher Network not only significantly lowers the threshold for developers to develop and migrate games on-chain but also provides secure, reliable, and efficient support for game operations in a decentralized manner.

Currently, Zypher Network has launched the Layer3 pre-mainnet of the Zytron engine based on the Layer2 network Linea, indicating that the Zypher Network game engine system will be fully operational.

Zytron Engine: Modular, Customizable Sovereign Layer3 Stack

Before introducing the Zytron engine, let’s briefly explain the concepts of Layer3 and modular blockchain.

Layer3 and Modular Narrative

In fact, Layer2 is typically a non-sovereign chain built around Layer1, primarily aimed at scaling Layer1. For example, in the Ethereum ecosystem, hundreds of Layer2 networks like OP Mainnet, Arbitrum One, Base, and Linea aim to further alleviate the pressure on Ethereum Layer1. Layer2 is expected to serve as the application layer of the Ethereum ecosystem, where applications are deployed on Layer2, transactions occur on Layer2, but the final validation of transactions returns to the Ethereum Layer1 mainnet, relying on the security and finality of Ethereum Layer1.

So why do we need Layer3?

In essence, Layer2 is a form of a public chain, allowing all developers to build applications on Layer2. Although different Layer2 solutions employ various technical approaches to enhance performance, the fact that all transactions occur on Layer2 still implies a certain burden. Layer3, on the other hand, is positioned as a dedicated application layer. For instance, if I want to create a game, I can launch a customized Rollup layer specifically for that game, or a targeted App Chain, thus avoiding interference from other applications. The relationship between Layer3 and Layer2 is similar to that between Layer2 and Layer1, obtaining security and finality support from the layer above.

A previous research article by Coinbase on Layer3 indicated that operating a Layer3 can reduce operational costs by about 1000 times compared to independently running a Layer1 or Layer2. It stated that the annual cost of operating a Layer2 is approximately in the 7 to 8-digit dollar range, while operating a Layer3 chain typically only requires $25,000 to $50,000. Therefore, establishing App Chains using Layer2, as seen with some previous on-chain derivative protocols like dYdX and Perpetual Protocol, is no longer a wise choice, and Layer3 may represent a new trend.

The low cost of Layer3 is partly due to its modular approach, which offers better flexibility compared to Layer2. For example, it allows for modular plug-and-play selection of different layers without independently bearing costs. In most Layer2 solutions, data availability accounts for over 95% of total costs, while Layer3 can select DA services externally in a plug-and-play manner, avoiding the need to run a separate DA layer and thus saving costs. Additionally, most Layer3 solutions possess sovereignty without relying on the previous layer in multiple aspects.

This brings us to another concept, namely the modular narrative mentioned above.

The modular narrative is easier to understand. We can compare a traditional chain to a computer where all components are welded together. This computer typically has components that are difficult to replace, requiring major upgrades to implement new features and constantly seeking external solutions, as seen in the Ethereum ecosystem. In contrast, modularization represents a new chain approach where all parts are pluggable and combinable. Various components of the chain can be selectively replaced, such as choosing Celestia for the DA layer, integrating verification into EnginLayer, or selecting different Layer2 solutions for the settlement layer. When the network wants to upgrade or expand its functionality, it can plug and replace these layers without undergoing major upgrades.

Therefore, if we understand the concepts of Layer3 and modular blockchain, we will gain a new perspective on the Zytron engine.

Zytron Engine

1. Development and Deployment

First, the Zytron engine supports developers in customizing the Layer3 layer through its underlying stack, which can be described as an APP Layer3 Chain dedicated to a specific game. This chain, or Rollup, serves a single game. The approach to building Layer3 is modular, allowing developers to choose different modules based on the characteristics of their games. Currently, the Zytron engine defaults to using Celestia for DA, while the settlement layer and security primarily rely on Linea Layer2 (the current mainnet is on Linea, with plans to launch new mainnets on more Layer2 solutions in the future).

On the other hand, not only can you launch your Layer3 Chain in a modular way through the Zytron engine, but the Zytron engine also provides a series of plug-and-play tool components, including: basic hashing, elliptic curve encryption, masking, shuffling, and other small tools; SDKs for application-specific circuits; and a series of on-chain validators, etc. Based on these components, developers can achieve pluggable ZK functionality, tool and circuit composability, and third-party DSL/ZKVM integration, among others.

With this, developers can build autonomous worlds, small strategy games, or migrate AAA games to their Layer3 chains at the lowest cost and without a steep learning curve while retaining production-grade UE. Even if developers are not very familiar with ZKP, they can still achieve rapid development based on the series of tool components or migrate existing games with low barriers.

Currently, with the help of the Zytron engine, developers can further deploy games on TON (especially suitable for some mini-games) and use Telegram as an entry point to capture users from the Telegram market at a low threshold and on a large scale.

2. How to Ensure Efficient Game Operations?

On the other hand, the game itself is deployed on-chain, specifically within the ZK circuits of the Zytron engine, meaning that game logic runs entirely on-chain. So how can we ensure smooth game operations?

• Combination of On-chain and Off-chain

First, games running in the Zypher Network do not generate transactions for every game action as before, but instead aggregate the action logs generated by a series of continuous game behaviors into ZK proofs. Within a certain period, these game actions (each representing a transaction) are aggregated into a single ZKP proof. The process of generating ZK proofs occurs in an off-chain distributed computing network, implemented by off-chain nodes. Ultimately, multiple proofs are submitted to the chain as a single transaction. This approach not only significantly reduces gas fees (even achieving 0 gas) but also ensures a seamless gaming experience for some PvE games.

In other words, Zypher Network separates the most resource-intensive and complex ZK proof generation from the Zytron engine, greatly reducing the on-chain load. This method allows for parallel generation of ZK proofs, making it scalable and efficient, driven by an economic model with reward and penalty mechanisms.

• Optimized Precompiled Contracts and P2P Node Network

At the same time, Zytron not only provides some precompiled contracts but also executes contracts by sharding the data services of chain nodes. Sharding technology allows contract execution to occur simultaneously across multiple nodes, thus significantly improving processing efficiency and reducing latency.

More specifically, on-chain nodes are connected through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. This network is specifically used for contract verification, ensuring that nodes can communicate directly and efficiently. The benefit of using a P2P network is that it reduces intermediate transmission steps, making data transfer faster. Additionally, communication and address localization between nodes utilize the Kademlia algorithm (an efficient distributed hash table DHT algorithm), whose structured design allows nodes to find and connect with other nodes more quickly and accurately.

In execution, Zytron also shards the contract execution process based on the node distance rules defined in the Kademlia algorithm. This means that different parts of the contract are assigned to different network nodes for execution based on the distance between nodes. This distance-based allocation helps evenly distribute the computational load across the Zytron network, thereby improving the overall speed and efficiency of the system.

• Database

To further enhance data processing efficiency, the Zytron engine integrates more user-friendly relational databases and caching databases, optimizing the database to significantly improve the data processing efficiency of game operations.

• Integration with EnginLayer

In addition to the designs mentioned above, the Zytron engine has also achieved modular integration with EigenLayer and deployed the AVS computing layer. Developers can integrate this service into their Layer3 APP Chains, significantly lowering the threshold for PoS in games and enhancing security and operational efficiency.

Currently, the processing speed of Zytron's zk-SNARK stack is over 10 times faster than any Layer2, with gas costs reduced by over 200 times. Meanwhile, all players can earn Zero Gas SBT through games and activities, ensuring a smooth gaming experience (0 gas). Zytron also supports the Telegram Mini App (TMA) interface, allowing game applications to improve user acquisition rates through hyper-casual games and Web3 native financial tools.

Moreover, with the help of precompiled contracts, developers can efficiently handle resource-intensive tasks such as cryptographic operations.

Here are some specific details about the Zytron engine Layer3 mainnet:

Conclusion

Based on the Zytron engine, Zypher Network is paving the way for the next stage of development in the blockchain gaming sector. On one hand, it supports developers in low-threshold deployment and migration of games based on a complete set of ZK solutions and toolkits, establishing a dedicated game infrastructure in a modular, Layer3 manner. On the other hand, through the server abstraction solution, game operations no longer rely on centralized servers, balancing decentralization, efficiency, and security, thus providing players with an excellent gaming experience.

The elements of game logic, token economic models, smart contracts, and other factors are no longer fragmented and parallel; through a new dynamic combination, they are expected to make games more vibrant and creative. Even AAA games with complex game logic can be deployed and run perfectly in the form of blockchain games.

The Web2.5 form of blockchain games is an unsustainable state, and the transition from Web2.5 to Web3 is an inevitable trend in the development of blockchain games. Zypher Network is becoming an essential catalyst in this process and is leading this trend.