Web3 is changing the gaming landscape. It’s inevitable. Whether it succeeds in taking over technology as we know it or it crumbles and fails, the future of gaming has forever been shifted. Whether you’re for or against it, it’s worth diving into the evolving ecosystem. How will blockchain technology influence the future of video games?
While NFTs have attracted backlash as scams and get-rich schemes, there is an interesting form of value in the utility that can be developed behind them. Beyond pixelated heads are keys that can unlock incredible value in games like MMOs. In an environment where players are already grinding for levels and achievements, implementing play-to-earn (P2E) features can introduce offline wealth through fascinating online universes. The what-ifs are fun to imagine, especially when play-to-earn becomes play-and-earn.
Genuine, immersive value doesn’t come from the intention of logging in to make money. The wealth comes from the imagination of the world. Imagine a key that unlocks an ultra rare dungeon where players can have the chance to earn legendary loot. The key is a NFT that carries its own value and you have just found it as a rare boss drop.
You can use the key to jump into the dungeon and find more precious loot, which opens the door for more value, but what if you’re not into PvE? What if you’re primarily a PvP addict that doesn’t find dungeons fun? Place your dungeon key on the market and let another player purchase it.
The same goes for armor, weapons, consumables, etc. If you’re like me and you don’t like grinding through dungeons for levels, crafting could be a fascinating way to thrive both in and out of the game. What if by cooking a rare dish, you’ve just created a highly valuable NFT. Do you sell it to someone who could use it in-game? Do you use it for yourself?
The idea of Web3 isn’t to just exist in a digital world. It’s a way to shape it and influence it in ways current games just don’t allow. Large game developers are already seeing the value of this.
Despite attracting major backlash in the gaming community, Square Enix is still determined to produce content in the Web3 space. Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda thinks that blockchain games “hold the potential to enable self-sustaining game growth.”
He believes that “there will be a certain number of people whose motivation is to ‘play to contribute,’ by which I mean to help make the game more exciting.” The MMO ecosystem is the perfect place for this kind of evolution, but it’s worth looking into the current games that are placing the building blocks of Web3 gaming.
In order to visualize a viable future for games in the Web3 space, it’s important to look at the games that are currently thriving. Games like Axie Infinity have become powerhouses in the blockchain gaming sphere by allowing you to dive into a Pokémon-like experience. The game lets you buy, trade, and farm Axies in order to place them in battles against other players or teams. It has its own tokenized economy that can be converted to Ethereum or cash.
While the game is a fun way to build a crypto portfolio, some players have turned it into a hustle. Imagine earning a living just by playing a game every day.
Other titles like Gods Unchained and CryptoKitties have also become massive influences in the way we earn value in games, but what are some of the barriers?
The backlash toward Web3 is just as big of a trend as the technology itself, but the concerns are valid and are worth exploring. It’s one of the reasons why I decided to learn more about blockchain, particularly the intersection of Web3 and gaming. Is it a Ponzi scheme? Is it killing the environment? Is Web3 as a whole just one big scam?
Sure, there are issues. There are some big issues. However the hate has become a barrier in itself that has scared interested people away in fear of attracting backlash. For many, Web3 is a boom that people are comparing to things like the Beanie Babies craze and the dot-com bubble. It’s understandable to see the interest and it’s understandable to feel some fear, especially when people are condemning others for showing even a microscopic amount of curiosity.
When the Associated Press announced that it planned to sell some photographs as NFTs, the organization was met with scathing responses. When NFL player Aaron Rodgers decided to take part of his salary in Bitcoin, he was accused of endorsing money laundering.
Calling out celebrities for participating in dubious NFT projects? Sure, go for it. Calling random people “Earth-haters” for expressing interest in Web3? Oof.
I was in a recent interview with an exec at a Web3 company who asked me what entry level barriers come to mind when I thought about investing in blockchain. I immediately said that not everyone, including me, could afford to invest in things like Ethereum. This is a huge barrier for artists who have entertained the thought of releasing NFT collections or gamers who want to jump into games like CryptoKitties but can’t afford to even get started or even know how to set up a wallet.
More “grants” are beginning to appear in an attempt to open the door to Web3 for those who either feel intimidated by investing or can’t. Even employers are including grants as an extra benefit for potential employees, but more of these opportunities are obviously needed.
Getting back to gaming, it’s important to be able to actually, y’know, find legitimate blockchain games, especially since scams are a legitimate problem. Thankfully, platforms like Rainmaker can help you navigate the Web3 gaming sphere without worrying.
The platform is the first of its kind and has already unlocked access to hundreds of P2E games.
Will Deane, CEO and Co-Founder of Rainmaker Games, stated: “There’s really no discovery engine for blockchain games. We’re gamer-first. We really care about the gamer’s user experience because that’s who’s coming on to this space; that’s where the next 100 million people are going to come from in blockchain.”