The growth of Web3 has ushered in a new era of gaming. The infrastructure of Web3 marketplaces will be built and designed over the next decade. Web2 games will not only adapt but also thrive off of this. We will see NFTs introduced to many Web2 MMORPGs and other multiplayer games in the future. We’re in the early stages of an exciting revolution.

Web2 Marketplace (Non-NFTs)

Players currently can:

• Trade regular items through a trade-window with another player.

• Trade regular items through the In-Game Exchange with other players who use the In-Game Exchange.

Web3 Marketplace (NFTs)

Players in the future could:

• Trade NFTs through an in-game exchange that solely allows buying and selling NFTs. These “NFTs” could be wearables or non-wearable items that in-game characters can possess in a crypto wallet. Further, these NFTs can only be exchanged for cryptocurrency.

• Trade these same NFTs on a Web3 exchange that could be OpenSea, Fractal, or other NFT Marketplace. That way, players or non-players can trade these items outside of the game to increase the stickiness of the NFT exchange platform.

We see comparable themes of aesthetics, customization, and creativity in the world of NFTs today. If you wanted an analogy, purchasing an NFT from OpenSea and then using it as a Twitter profile picture is similar to buying items from game and then using them to customize your character. History is repeating itself.

This is about empowering the players. Web3 marketplaces give players the autonomy, freedom, and creativity to own what they want. This is about both the players and game developers benefitting from the game because the game ultimately is driven by the investments its players and creators make — time, energy, people, and passion.

Value creation in Web2 focused on companies creating monetary value from its users. Games have previously grown based on two factors: providing entertainment value to its users and having a profitable player-base. Value creation in Web3 will enable users to create monetary value for themselves, while maintaining the same entertainment value.

https://twitter.com/cdixon/status/1469734090274492427?s=20&t=a39qdGOYBlV_rcbhAP2OsQ

Introducing a Web3 marketplace allows players to stay connected to the game long after they stop playing the game because they are socially, financially, and personally invested into it. They can still own the NFTs outside of the game, and if they ever came back, using these NFTs in-game would be just an added feature. This would be a win-win for investors and players. There’s the nostalgia factor of Web2 MMORPGs. NFTs will bring back old players and several new players. The unity of multiple generations of gamers and non-gamers will happen as a result of this. NFT ecosystems are the value: Bored Ape Yacht Club has a product roadmap and ecosystem for its NFT owners.

We can go over the roadmap and ecosystem ideas for Web2 games. An “NFT ecosystem” can be composed of the additional benefits that come with owning an NFT. As a result of owning a NFT, you can gain access to and engage in the following:

• A special in-game clan that functions as a Game DAO in real life that empowers creators, investors, gamers, builders, and more

• In-game minigames where owners of the game can get rewards (not tradeable for anything in-game)

• In-game quest content solely for owners of the NFTs

• Real-life quarterly community meetups in the United States, United Kingdom, and other hubs for players

• Exclusive annual meetups at Jagex HQ with players, game developers/designers, and investors to help determine the reach of RuneScape and potentially influence the future of the game

• In-game competitions for owners of the NFTs to win real-life prizes

• Invitations for eSports events related to the game and community

• Membership incentives for owners of the NFT

• Gear and merch for the NFT community

This is a brainstormed list of ideas that can help justify the value of the NFT beyond owning the JPEG, and there are more that can be generated. Other Web2 games can similarly be able to produce value for its communities, players, and owners by introducing Web3 marketplaces.

Web3 allows games that were once a pastime during childhood to now live on in a newer generation. The goal here is to create an adaptable ecosystem that can last forever. My hope here is that Web2 gaming companies will continue to understand the joy and value that would come with introducing Web3 marketplaces. The players and the community want this — in the right way. Game developers and investors: it’s time to build and lean into designing Web3 marketplaces.

Summary

We are super early. No-one really knows how the industry is going to change yet. And we need to focus more on innovation rather than ‘copying’ existing models and thinking that ‘slapping in’ blockchain or NFTs will make it better.