How Traditional Game Developers Are Creating Web3 Games That Are Better Than You’d Expect

Gaming has come a long way since the days of Pong. And having gone from simplistic designs and pixelated graphics to multi-layered worlds with complex mechanics and photorealism, it’s hard to imagine how much further the industry can evolve. But that’s the challenge game developers face. As gamers’ standards and expectations increase, developers must push the envelope in finding innovative ways to make their creations even stickier.

One of the ways developers are pushing into the future is by leveraging new platforms to build their titles on. Recently, the industry has seen incredible advancements with the implementation of VR, AR and AI. But there is one technology that promises to bring even more value. And that is blockchain, the foundational element that’s driving Web3.  

Web3 Gaming Had a Rough Start

If you’re a gamer and crypto enthusiast, chances are you’ve heard of Web3 games. These types of games leverage blockchain technology to provide gamers with true ownership of their characters and other in-game items and assets. These assets are represented by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that players can buy, sell, and trade. This gives gamers real skin in the game and offers developers a new way to monetize their creations.

Unfortunately, many of Web3’s first generation of games left a bad taste in gamers’ mouths. One of the most common criticisms was that the games were not fun to play. This was because most of the early blockchain developers had little or no game development experience. However, a new wave of blockchain games is emerging, one that’s blending traditional game mechanics with blockchain technology to make web3 games that don’t suck.

The Next Generation of Web3 Games

One group working to turn Web3 gaming’s reputation around is the team behind My NFT Wars. Set to release later this year, MMORPG is a collaboration between Ukraine’s iLogos Game Studios, the developers at Blockchain Cuties Universe and smart investors. iLogos Game Studios is a seasoned game developer with over 1.5 billion installs across its productions and co-productions. And although Blockchain Cuties is a first-generation Web3 game, it is one of the few that still has an active and growing gaming community.

According to My NFT Wars co-founder and CEO Maxim Illyashenko, it’s his team’s experience and philosophy that sets My NFT Wars apart from other Web3 titles.  

“Regardless of the technology being used behind the scenes, our primary goal is to develop a game that people will love to play,” said My NFT Wars co-founder and CEO Maxim Illyashenko. “Like other game development tools, blockchain is just a way for us to enhance the game experience. We are building blockchain into the game, not a game around it. And that’s the mindset needed for Web3 gaming to evolve.”

Blockchain’s Core Benefit   

But why should developers even use blockchain technology in their games? Illyashenko says that the real power of blockchain technology is that it can create a new level of scarcity and uniqueness in a game. 

“Think about the way in which gamers have always sought after rare and unique in-game items,” he said. “By creating NFTs, blockchain games are taking this concept to a new level. In-game items in these games are unique and cannot be replicated, creating a sense of exclusivity among players.” 

And it’s that ability that leads us to the bigger picture of blockchain’s promise. It enables real-world incentives. 

“While traditional games offer virtual rewards, blockchain games offer real-world value,” said Illyashenko. “For example, My NFT Wars allows players to earn tokens and in-game assets that can be collected, traded, or even sold on exchanges for real currency.”  

Illyashenko believes this is what makes blockchain a true game-changer. Gamers not only get to play, but they can also create and own. This is what makes some Web3 games more engaging than their traditional counterparts. They offer a solid incentive for players to keep coming back.

Proof of Concept Works

For those that seek proof that the concept actually works, Axie Infinity serves as a good example. The popular casual game allows players to collect, breed and battle creatures called Axies. And the real perk is that players can truly own their Axies, with the ability to sell them on various marketplaces for cryptocurrency. 

ChainGuardians serves as another example. The action-packed strategy game blends art, storytelling and traditional RPG elements with blockchain technology to enhance the gameplay experience. And then there is Gods Unchained, a collectible card game that has gained a significant following since its launch in 2019 and has seen multiple championship tournaments with prize pools exceeding $500,000. The game features over 400 cards with real-world value and can be traded on various cryptocurrency exchanges.

In addition to the perks, blockchain-based games offer transparency and security that traditional games cannot match. 

“Within My NFT Wars, blockchain provides an audit trail that allows our players to verify the authenticity of their in-game assets,” said Illyashenko. “This also ensures that the game economy is operating fairly and transparently, which is critical for the sustainability of blockchain games.”

A New Way to Fund Game Development 

Another way blockchain technology is changing the gaming industry is by introducing a new way of funding games. With blockchain, developers can raise funds for game development by selling a percentage of the game’s overall token supply to investors in exchange for funds. This provides a new way for developers to raise funds for their games without dealing with the complexities of traditional funding avenues.

However, Illyashenko says that these funding ecosystems must be backed by long-term investors that aren’t just looking to pump and dump an Initial DEX Offering (IDO). He calls these “smart investors.”

“To help fund My NFT Wars, we employed a smart investor strategy,” said Illyashenko. We offered a coin drop, but we also secured VC investors that brought both financial resources and hands-on experience in gaming, blockchain, and crypto economies to the table. We have also created models ensuring the in-game economy won’t collapse.”

Social Discovery Group’s founder Dmitry Volkov led MY NFT Wars’ investment round, with participation from Nika Tech Family, Blackshield Capital, and Wannabiz. Fedor Drozdovski, singer and entertainer Potap (Alex Potapenko) and Vinor Zukhubaia also participated in the round. 

Closing Thoughts  

Overall, it’s clear that game developers are working hard to overcome the criticisms that have plagued blockchain games in the past. By blending traditional game mechanics with blockchain technology, these developers are creating games that are engaging, social and have real-world value. It’s exciting to see how this technology will continue to evolve in the coming years and we can’t wait to see what game developers come up with next. 

If you’re a gamer or cryptocurrency enthusiast, keep your eyes on the horizon because web3 games will only get better from here.