Blockchain gaming is still trying to establish itself in the mainstream gaming industry, but it is lacking a key element: inspiration. While visuals, rewards, and characters are important, developers need to think beyond that to expand the whole ecosystem. For Web3 gaming to reach a broader audience, it needs a “wow” moment that can go viral and become part of gaming history. The fighting game genre, for example, had its own iconic moment with the “EVO Moment 37” in 2004, which showed players worldwide the joy of fighting games. Web3 gaming studios need their own version of this moment to captivate mainstream audiences.
One recent development in the Web3 gaming world is ZeptoLab partnering with The Sandbox to bring the popular character Om Nom from the Cut the Rope franchise into the metaverse. This collaboration aims to transport players into a whole new world filled with nostalgia and fresh challenges. Players will have the opportunity to explore a virtual world inspired by Cut the Rope and discover Om Nom’s origin story. This kind of partnership brings recognizable characters into the Web3 gaming space and creates a sense of familiarity and excitement for players.
Axie Infinity creator Sky Mavis has also introduced Mavis Hub: Greenlight, a program that allows developers to share their early game builds with the community. This program not only provides players with opportunities to playtest new games but also allows them to vote on their favorite up-and-coming Axie Builder’s Program games. This kind of community involvement and competition between developers can drive engagement and excitement in the Web3 gaming ecosystem.
To encourage more Web2 studios to transition to blockchain technology and create games on the Aelf network, Aelf has launched the Aelevate program. This program offers grants of up to $150,000 per studio and provides infrastructure support, expert guidance, and business assistance. With the blockchain gaming market projected to reach over $60 billion by 2027, Aelf recognizes the potential and aims to break the barriers that studios face in integrating blockchain technology into their games.
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One example of a successful Web3 game is Nitro Nation: World Tour by Mythical Games. This free drag racing game combines simple gameplay mechanics with beautiful graphics. Players can upgrade and tune their cars, customize them, and compete against others. The game also incorporates Web3 elements by including NFT cars, which can be purchased and sold on the marketplace. However, the game is still perfectly playable without these elements, ensuring that mainstream free-to-play players are not forced into Web3 features.
In conclusion, for Web3 gaming to reach a broader audience, it needs to add inspiration, “wow” moment potential, and virality to its products. Partnerships with familiar franchises, community involvement, support programs for developers, and successful game examples like Nitro Nation: World Tour are all steps in the right direction. By thinking beyond visuals and rewards and focusing on creating memorable experiences, Web3 gaming can establish itself in the mainstream gaming world and capture the attention of a wider audience.
