Gaming has always been about pushing boundaries—whether through new mechanics, immersive worlds, or innovative technology. Delabs Games, led by industry veteran James Joonmo Kwon, has spent decades doing just that. The studio builds on a legacy of innovation—from early mobile RPGs to launching an Unreal Engine MMORPG on mobile.

Focused on merging gaming excellence with blockchain technology, Delabs develops projects that combine competitive play, creative progression systems, and distinctive social interactions. One standout project is Boxing Star X on Telegram, a boxing game that brings fresh engagement methods and rewards while challenging players to refine their skills.

In this interview, we take a closer look at Delabs' journey, its approach to game development, and how it’s using TON to explore the future of Web3 gaming.

Delabs has a notable history in gaming, from your early beginnings to working with leading industry names. Could you share key moments that helped shape your vision for Web3 games?

Our founder, James Joonmo Kwon, has been a pioneer in gaming for over 25 years. As the former CEO of Nexon and a serial gaming entrepreneur, he has consistently been ahead of the curve, introducing new metas that reshaped the industry.

Some key moments include:

• Bringing the world’s first mobile real-time online RPG (back in the flip phone days).
• Launching the first Unreal Engine-powered MMORPG on mobile.
• Introducing the first real-time PvP game using a gyro sensor.

These milestones stem from an ability to recognize and capitalize on emerging trends. At Delabs, we see blockchain as the next evolution in gaming. James saw the immense potential for a new gaming era driven by decentralization, player ownership, and open economies.

Our vision is to build the ultimate Web3 gaming studio that not only creates immersive and engaging games, but also pioneers a new standard for blockchain-powered gaming experiences. We are here to shape the future of gaming by merging the best of gaming with innovations, ensuring that players are truly at the center of this next evolution.

The team at Delabs is made up of seasoned professionals with blockbuster titles under their belts. How does this collective experience affect the way you approach game development today?

One of Delabs's core strengths is the deep-rooted trust and synergy within our team. Many of our developers have been working with James since his Nexon days, which means we have a shared understanding of the game development process and a seamless communication flow.

Beyond trust, our team’s extensive experience across various platforms and constraints enables us to solve problems creatively. We are serious builders—our developers have spent decades mastering their craft, our business team applies data-driven decision-making to development, and our marketing team brings fresh, innovative ideas. This holistic approach allows us to build games with strategic depth and mass-market appeal.

Delabs features various games that present a blend of competitive play and interactive elements. What inspired you to take the multi-game direction?

For us, the multi-game approach was a natural evolution. While we are committed to focusing on each game to ensure successful launches, having a diverse portfolio is also strategic.

Gaming trends and player interests can shift rapidly, and having multiple games allows us to stay agile, experiment with new mechanics, and create synergies between our titles. This approach also strengthens our ecosystem—each game contributes to Delabs's larger vision, reinforcing our platform and community engagement.

Many projects in the space are making similar claims. What sets Delabs apart from other Web3 gaming initiatives in terms of design and player experience?

Delabs stands apart in three key ways:

1. Focus on midcore games: Unlike many games that lean towards casual or hyper-casual experiences, we specialize in midcore games. These games strike a balance between accessibility and depth, offering meaningful progression and engagement, which is key in driving retention and on-chain value exchange.
2. Web3 integration with social platforms: We see massive potential in Web3-enabled social platforms like Telegram. By embedding our games within these ecosystems, we make onboarding both to the game and to the blockchain elements seamless, tapping into an existing user base.
3. True player-driven economies: Midcore games require more complex economies and progression systems, which are essential for meaningful on-chain value exchange. By designing games that are easy to start but rewarding to master, we ensure long-term retention rather than short-term speculative participation.

One of your standout titles is Boxing Star X. What inspired you to create a boxing game on this platform, and how does it deliver a balanced and thrilling experience?

We created Boxing Star X to bring something new to gaming on Telegram. As the first boxing game on the platform, it offers PvP action, classic boxing techniques like jabs, hooks, and uppercuts, and deep progression systems including skill training, gear upgrades, and competitive leagues.

While tap-to-earn games drove Web3 adoption on Telegram, we saw an opportunity to take things further. Boxing Star X offers a midcore gaming experience designed to deliver higher retention, longer play sessions, and meaningful player-driven value exchange.

The game is designed to be easy to start but hard to master, ensuring that players of all skill levels find enjoyment and long-term engagement. Casual players can quickly jump in, throw punches, and feel the excitement of fast-paced boxing action, while more competitive players can refine their skills through strategic training, gear upgrades, and PvP leagues to climb the leaderboards. A diverse reward system ensures instant rewards for casuals, while competitive players can earn rare digital collectibles.

Can you explain how your games integrate with TON and what positive impacts it could have for Delabs’ and TON’s future?

TON saw explosive growth in 2024, largely driven by tap-to-earn games, which successfully introduced a massive wave of users to the ecosystem. The next step is building deeper, more engaging experiences that keep players invested for the long term.

This is where Boxing Star X makes an impact. We believe gaming is the key to mass adoption, but lasting engagement comes from progression, competition, and player-driven economies. By focusing on midcore gaming experiences, we’re not only bringing players into Web3 but also creating meaningful interactions that drive on-chain value exchange. This approach strengthens both the TON ecosystem and Delabs’ long-term vision, ensuring a more sustainable and engaging future for blockchain gaming.

What were some of the most significant technical challenges your team encountered while working on interoperability across different gaming environments, and how did you overcome them?

Interoperability is a key focus for Delabs as we aim to create a seamless gaming experience across blockchain networks and game platforms.

On the blockchain side, our ecosystem spans multiple chains—our main membership pass is on Ethereum, while some game assets exist on Arbitrum. Ensuring a unified experience for players across these networks requires robust infrastructure. To solve this, we developed the Delabs ID system and an Engagement Level system, which links together and consolidates player identities, tracks contributions across different chains, and enables cross-chain rewards. This ensures that no matter where players engage within our ecosystem, their progress and achievements remain interconnected.

As you continue to push the limits of what Web3 gaming offers, what message would you like to share with longtime fans and those just discovering Delabs?

To our longtime fans, especially our Delabs Adventure Pass NFT holders—we deeply appreciate your support and belief in our vision. Every milestone we’ve reached is thanks to your dedication, and we’re excited to continue this journey together.

For those just discovering Delabs, this is just the beginning. Boxing Star X launched on February 10, marking the first of many games we have in store. We invite you to step into the ring, experience the thrill, and witness firsthand how midcore gaming can transform Web3. Get ready for mega punches and even bigger thrills!

We have also prepared a very special coupon code to redeem $20 worth of in-game items. Enter “tonsociety” in the coupon page for Boxing Star X. Looking forward to seeing you in the ring!

Disclaimer: This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.