Written by: Vince Dioquino
Translated by: Centreless
According to an organization focused on promoting blockchain technology in the gaming sector, blockchain games are entering a new stage of maturity, with more players able to engage with games more seamlessly. However, as traditional game developers join the fray, the blockchain gaming industry is undergoing changes that could trigger significant upheaval.
This trend of change aligns with the steps taken by large gaming studios like Sony and Square Enix to enter the field through blockchain layer 2 solutions. According to an industry survey report released by the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) this week, public perception remains one of the key obstacles.
The report shows that 66% of projects are still trying to build credibility, working to eliminate public misconceptions about blockchain games being associated with scams. Nevertheless, the barriers for players to engage with blockchain games have decreased, with the entry resistance rate dropping from 79.5% last year to 53.9% in 2024. This improvement is mainly due to better user experiences that make it easier for players to access blockchain games.
"The core of this growth is the principle of player empowerment," wrote BGA Chairman Sebastian Borget in the report. He noted that players' interest in blockchain games primarily stems from the concept of ownership. The report shows that over 71% of respondents believe this is the "greatest benefit" offered by blockchain games.
The report also pointed out that since the last market cycle, the industry has placed greater emphasis on user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), prioritizing a fluid experience comparable to traditional Web2 games. The BGA predicts that this trend will continue to expand in 2025, shifting the focus from financial mechanisms to enhancing player experience. Blockchain games are gradually hiding crypto elements. Blockchain gaming platforms are transitioning from explicit crypto elements (such as token economies and NFT marketplaces) to more seamless integrations that allow Web3 functionalities to run in the background.
"Play-to-Earn" model enters a new phase
As we approach 2025, blockchain gaming is entering a new chapter. The BGA shared their predictions in a media interview. Traditional centralized game servers are transitioning to blockchain infrastructure, showcasing how the gaming industry is embracing the concept of digital ownership.
Compared to traditional games that rely on regional server networks for stability and data management, blockchain integration has achieved true digital ownership through on-chain asset tracking and trading.
Additionally, the "Play-to-Earn" model that emerged in 2020 has undergone significant transformation, placing greater emphasis on the practical application of on-chain features. Well-known Web3 community figure Andrew Campbell (online name Zyori) mentioned in the report that this shift has spawned new models driven by player capabilities and activities.
"The original 'Play-to-Earn' model has two fatal flaws: uncontrolled reward inflation that continues to swell with user growth; and a lack of sufficient token recovery mechanisms to create deflationary pressure," Campbell wrote.
Fully On-Chain Games and Autonomous Worlds
The report also introduced two new terms: "Autonomous Worlds (AW)" and "Fully On-Chain Games (FOCG)." These terms describe gaming experiences that are fully based on blockchain and natively exist on-chain, including game rules, player items, and game economics, rather than just placing part of the content on-chain while the main client still runs on traditional centralized servers.
Gillian Pua, Chief Staff of Sovrun (formerly BreederDAO), stated that Autonomous Worlds can continuously improve based on community input by placing game state and logic on-chain. She added that as artificial intelligence integrates with blockchain infrastructure, this feature will also influence how future fully on-chain games operate.
"Utilizing on-chain transparency, Autonomous Worlds provide an ideal foundation for AI entities to thrive, able to generate intelligent and adaptive gaming experiences based on real-time player behavior," Pua stated.