The gaming industry as we know it today — punctuated by Gabe’s Steam summer sales, mobile app stores, the DRM-free haven of GOG, and the vibrant communities of Twitch — took over 40 years to develop and mature.
These platforms and communities represent the traditional gaming ecosystem, a complex interplay of developers, distributors, players, and influencers. As monumental as this ecosystem has become (2023 revenue at 347 billion USD according to statista), a new horizon is emerging that promises to redefine our understanding of gaming to be more inclusive, decentralized and ownership-based.
It’s a different approach to what we are seeing in traditional gaming—subscriptions and centralization—that is well displayed with the most recent acquisition of Blizzard by Microsoft for 69 billion USD.
We will introduce some of the most important ecosystems that will drive the web3 gaming revolution and are essential to know by any crypto gaming fan. In the most recent article 10 WEB3 games you need to play before the next bull run we described some of the most important web3 gaming projects but “no game is an island.” Beyond the individual games lie intricate ecosystems that support, enhance, and connect these digital realms.
Let’s dive deep into the web3 gaming ecosystems, exploring how they’re shaping the future of the industry.
Understanding Web3 Gaming Ecosystems
At its core, a gaming ecosystem refers to the interconnected web of developers, players, platforms, and marketplaces that exist around a specific company, product or blockchain. In the context of web3, these ecosystems might seem more complex than the traditional ones by the inclusion of decentralized technologies, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies but worry you not — we are going to explain everything there. Let’s start with some basic functionalities you might find within a gaming ecosystem.
Decentralized Marketplaces: These are platforms where players can buy, sell, and trade in-game assets, often in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). You might know marketplaces are OpenSea and Rarible which became staples for the web3 gaming world, but you’ll see them within the exemplary ecosystems.
Gateway for Games and interoperability: Many of the web3 gaming ecosystems are sort of Steam or Apple Store for games (Nakamoto Gamers, Gala Games) while others take an even more decentralized approach and are Layer2 or own blockchains (Immutable or Enjin) created with the gaming purpose like the ability to use in-game assets across multiple games.
Ecosystem DAOs: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) in gaming refer to community-driven, blockchain-based entities that allow for collective decision-making. They can be used to govern game development, updates, and even in-game economies.
Time for some examples — top gaming ecosystems
Immutable X
The Immutable X ecosystem is rapidly becoming a cornerstone in the evolving world of web3 gaming and NFTs. Centred around its gas-free environment, it presents a fresh take on gaming integrations and NFT marketplaces. Among its prominent games, Gods Unchained offers a compelling experience for trading card enthusiasts, while titles like Illuvium and Guild of Guardians promise rich RPG adventures, all enhanced by seamless NFT transactions via the Immutable X Marketplace. The ecosystem thrives also thanks to its native currency, the IMX token. It is not facilitating trades, IMX is deeply embedded in the platform’s governance and incentivization structures.
Other important features: Immutable passport, zkEVM infrastructure, decentralized orderbook.
Nakamoto.Games
With an impressive lineup of over 200 titles spread across a multitude of genres, Nakamoto Games is one of the biggest as a premier provider of play-to-earn experiences and allows developers to easy join the ecosystem.
For gamers, a simple cryptocurrency wallet serves as the key to access this universe. With NAKA tokens fueling the Nakamoto Games ecosystem, players are poised for thrilling engagements, with games created for their playability.
The gaming stakes are high, as the tokens employed are used at a weekly prize pool, and a portion is burned, setting the stage for intense leaderboard competitions. Earning potential escalates with high rankings in games, as top gamers relish substantial rewards from this pool. Beyond the gameplay, NAKA token holders become pivotal decision-makers. They have a say in platform governance, influencing key directives like token burns and prize pool structures. For developers, Nakamoto Games mirrors the opportunities found in platforms like Google Play Store. They can deploy their unique play-to-earn games, and with the autonomy to monetize them in diverse ways, skilled developers find themselves amidst lucrative opportunities.
Some of the popular games at Nakamoto resemble their famous web2 counterparts:
Netris, Naka Strike, Naka Galactic, Candy Shop — can you guess which ones?
Gala Games
In sense similar to the Nakamoto Games and platform functionality (yet focused in different kinds of games) the platform features a variety of P2E games, an NFT marketplace, and even avenues to store and disseminate music and film products. Participation in games, trading on the marketplace, or governance voting, all require the GALA token.
The game portfolio of Gala Games is commendably diverse and ambitious, developed in partnership with both internal teams and external collaborators such as Ember Entertainment, Kung Fu Factory, Gamedia, Certain Affinity, and 22cans. Some popular titles include “Town Star,” “Mirandus,” “Spider Tanks,” “Fortitude,” and “Echoes of Empire.” While these games have garnered attention and popularity, it’s essential to note that not all are yet live, making Gala Games’ roadmap even more anticipated.
Before you rush into getting GALA tokens and playing the games it’s worth mentioning most recent risk — an ongoing lawsuit between 2 founders, with one party accused of stealing $GALA tokens valued at $130 million, while the second founder alleges financial misconduct and wastefulness within the company. Let’s live it as a reminder of the volatile and unpredictable landscape of blockchain enterprises.
VULCAN FORGED PYR
Vulcan Forged provides a lot of tools and platforms for developers and gamers alike. Its flagship product, VulcanVerse, is a metaverse game that merges quality graphics with intricate lore. However, VulcanVerse is just the tip of the iceberg as the ecosystem also houses various other games, each offering unique experiences to its players.
At its core, Vulcan Forged is powered by the Elysium blockchain, designed specifically to meet the dynamic demands of modern blockchain gaming. Offering rapid transaction times and low fees, Elysium ensures smooth in-game experiences. What sets this ecosystem apart from the previous mentioned ones is a dual token economy
The ecosystem’s native token, PYR, acts as the lifeblood, facilitating in-game purchases, staking, and other functionalities. This adaptability is further highlighted by the presence of $LAVA, a secondary token, enhancing the play-to-earn dynamics within the ecosystem.
Conclusion
Web3 playing is not all about metaverses, GameFi, GambleFi and web3 gaming. There is also a lot to get on the table when it comes to the infrastructure just like in the traditional video entertainment industry. There are still a lot of different notable ecosystems we didn’t mention here like Magic, Ultra or Enjin among many others! Let us know on X if you’d like to find out more about them and we can still introduce them in the future.
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