On March 25, Arbitrum DAO is reviewing a proposal to cancel funding for the "Gaming Catalyst Program" (GCP) and reclaim the previously allocated 225 million ARB tokens. The proposal suggests that the plan was approved under "overly optimistic market expectations" and has proven unsustainable. One of the main supporters, Treasure DAO, has already exited Arbitrum, and other key contributors have shown reduced enthusiasm or attrition. Additionally, the GCP is accused of lacking transparency in fund usage, increasing team compensation, and reducing reporting obligations. The proposal claims the project "has not even established basic operations and transparency". In response, GCP committee member David Bolger stated that Arbitrum has become an important gathering place for game projects, attracting over 25 game-related chains to build on its technology stack, including Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Tap Nation.
The GCP was launched in March 2024 to promote the Web3 game ecosystem on Arbitrum, originally planning to use most funds for game project grants over three years. Currently, community governance discussions are ongoing, and no clear consensus has been reached.