One of the most exciting sectors in the world of decentralized finance is gaming. Back in 2023, gaming and DeFi topics were a hot subject for publications straddling both industries. Though crypto has seen many ups and downs, it seems to have a straightforward relationship to gaming.
P2E games, for example, have been hugely important within the crypto realm. The average gamer might not know much about digital wallets and trading Ethereum, but they’ve probably heard of Axie Infinity and Decentraland. These types of games open up a portal through which gamers can start to explore the world of DeFi.
However, they aren’t the end-all of crypto gaming. Each year, the scope of crypto expands—as does gaming’s reach. As both continue to evolve on the backs of emerging technology, there are dozens of possibilities for each.
But which potential crypto and gaming trends will take off first? Or is it too soon to tell given the slow but steady rise of crypto games?
Casino Gaming
One sector that could change is casino gaming. At the moment, casino players are focused on two key features when they sign up with a new platform: the number of games and ease of use. The average online casino Canada has to offer connects players to dozens of distinct titles from leading casino game developers, making it easy for them to shop around for games.
But beyond the scope of its titles, players also want a casino platform that’s easy to navigate, offers quick withdrawals and deposits, and has a functional support center. Crypto isn’t quite on the radar for most players—but this could change if more casino fans start opening up digital wallets. It would have a huge impact on crypto gaming given the popularity of virtual casinos around the world.
Pivots from Major Publishers
If there’s one thing that DeFi gaming could use, it’s a nod from the legacy developers that run the gaming industry. And they might have that in the coming years. Recently, Ubisoft announced a partnership with Immutable, which helps develop blockchain games.
It seems that Ubisoft is interested in creating a blockchain game that would incorporate in-game NFTs. Allegedly, this pivot could focus on previous or future Assassin’s Creed releases, which would adopt a more meaningful and in-depth approach to in-game assets as NFTs.
NFTs & eSports
The realm of hypercompetitive gaming could also pivot toward crypto sooner rather than later. Once again, it has the attention of a few major developers. Electronic Arts, for example, has stated that NFTs will be the future of modern gaming—but what does that look like in terms of eSports?
Esports are spectator events that allow gamers to cheer on their favorite teams and players—just like a traditional sports experience. NFTs could provide a way for gamers to get closer to the action during major events, similar to taking home NFTs from a virtual concert. Viewed in this way, NFTs could serve as important ways for gaming fans to get closer to the action.
Overall: DeFi Gaming Starts with NFTs as In-Game Assets
We’ve covered NFTs extensively in this article—which makes sense considering it’s the most viable way for crypto to intersect with gaming. In-game assets are a hugely important part of the gaming world, and they would transition beautifully into NFTs for many existing games.
One of the main obstacles is player interest. As touched upon in the casino section, players are more focused on having a good time playing their favorite games—not pushing the envelope with Web3. But as more gamers are exposed to crypto games, the easier it is to understand what blockchain is and why it matters.
