Thousands and thousands of gamers in China misplaced entry to common video games like World of Warcraft as Blizzard Leisure’s Chinese language servers went offline after 20 years. This marked the tip of an epoch for followers of the epic title, after Blizzard’s licensing settlement with their native associate NetEase expired and no new one was reached. That settlement had additionally lined titles equivalent to Hearthstone and Diablo III since 2008.
Tons of of 1000’s have been devastated. Some lamented that that they had grown up with the sport, and others referred to as WoW “my first love,” reflecting the all-pervasive sense of loss within the Chinese language gaming group. Followers of video games like Fortnite, Name of Responsibility, and League of Legends, all stellar Web2 titles, would really feel the identical if the choice have been made to tug the plug, for no matter cause.
One other subject with Web2 video games is possession. Gamers should buy skins, characters, and different digital belongings, however this stuff haven’t any utility outdoors the developer-controlled ecosystem and can’t be transferred. Their use is confined to the respective title.
A landmark shift from remark to true possession
The transition to Web3 marks a shift from gamers being mere observers on the mercy of builders or companies to lively contributors in wealthy gaming ecosystems. Blockchain know-how has given rise to decentralized platforms that allow possession of in-game gadgets, which retains contributors competing and taking part in longer. A survey by Immutable discovered that just about half of Web3 avid gamers performed for greater than 10 hours per week, whereas Web2 avid gamers performed for about 7.5 hours.
Ownership is one issue that makes gamers extra invested within the video games they play, and Legendary Video games is among the many pioneers of this shift. NFL Rivals, launched in an official partnership with the NFL, permits gamers to handle NFL groups and commerce distinctive NFTs. The recreation’s dynamic and informal nature shortly caught NFL followers’ consideration. NFL Rivals is Legendary Video games’ flagship crypto-based cellular recreation, and has been downloaded on iOS and Android greater than 7 million instances.
Legendary has raised virtually $300 million from buyers like Andreessen Horowitz, ARK Make investments, Animoca Manufacturers, and Michael Jordan since 2018. In 2021, Andreessen Horowitz led a $150 million Sequence C spherical, reaching a $1.25 billion valuation. Firm CEO John Linden has had management roles at Activision Blizzard, together with Name of Responsibility and Skylanders franchises. His expertise with Web2 led him to provoke the transition, of which cofounding Legendary Video games has been a key half.
The gamer-centric method of Web3 interprets to possession of asset collections with out in-depth blockchain data. Legendary’s in-game blockchain market permits avid gamers to purchase, promote, and commerce digital belongings throughout platform titles. Gamers use MYTH tokens for transactions on {the marketplace} and governance, and builders can use the Legendary platform to plug blockchain options and NFTs into their video games. That stated, customers can play NFL Rivals with out understanding NFTs; it is solely mandatory for many who wish to have interaction with possession.
The recreation was downloaded virtually 1,000,000 instances inside a month of launching and ranked #1 in sports activities and motion classes on the App Retailer. Total income elevated by 10-15% after the platform added secondary buying and selling to NFL Rivals, reflecting gamers’ conviction that Web3 belongings are precious. Gamers can merge or burn belongings after which commerce new ones.
A win-win for gamers, builders, and the financial system by way of in-game asset buying and selling
Legendary launched Fast Trades, the place gamers conform to an asset commerce with none cash altering arms, and cleared them with Apple and Google, because of which they’re out there straight within the cellular recreation. The offers are priced within the market in actual time. In accordance with Linden, the NFL Rivals’ secondary market elevated from 100 to 7,000 transactions a day quickly after Fast Trades turned out there.
Basically, Legendary buys a card from a vendor after which sells it to a purchaser in actual time. A number of events will be concerned in a single transaction, nevertheless it’s a fair commerce to the gamer. Sport builders additionally profit as they generate transaction charges on these trades, driving a number of worth to the financial system.
Good contracts deal with and safe transactions throughout Web3 titles
Good contracts underpin, course of, and safe asset transactions in Web3 video games. These self-executing blockchain applications do that by writing the phrases of the respective settlement into strains of code. They automate transaction administration, guarantee every transaction’s authenticity, implement guidelines, handle prize swimming pools, and may even automate dispute decision.
Characters, skins, and weapons are saved as NFTs or cryptocurrencies on a decentralized ledger, and gamers hyperlink blockchain wallets to the sport. Wallets function gateways for accumulating rewards, managing in-game belongings, and performing trades, and may maintain belongings earned within the recreation. Blockchains allow verifiable statistics and clear leaderboards, making certain trustless exchanges and clear possession.
The progressive know-how facilitates a better high quality of video games coming to market. It is a indisputable fact that the variety of blockchain recreation corporations has declined as a result of going mainstream is more durable and takes longer than many count on. But, video games from profitable builders which have been within the works for years ultimately arrive. One among them is Pudgy Social gathering, a Fall Guys-type recreation that can be out there on Android and iOS. Gamers will use garments, hats, glasses, and different equipment, and holders of Pudgy Penguins NFTs would possibly be capable to use them within the recreation.
Decentralized sports activities, powered by the individuals
DAOs are altering sports activities by giving energy to the group as a substitute of buyers. A DAO allows followers to manipulate a sports activities crew and determine on budgeting, hiring, advertising and marketing, and sponsorship. It will probably construct a decentralized sports activities league the place groups compete primarily based on honest and clear incentives and guidelines.
DAOs may manage and fund championships, tournaments, or charity matches involving a number of sponsors and stakeholders, in the end fostering a various and vibrant sports activities group. It is a good different to supporting a sports activities crew whereas not having the ability to make any selections affecting it and standing on the sidelines as main stakeholders promote star gamers and drain funds from the membership.
Whereas gamers have at all times supported possession, their focus has shifted from short-term revenue to long-term engagement. The once-successful play-to-earn mannequin has declined, with participant curiosity dropping and Web3 recreation funding falling by over 70% within the first quarter of 2025. The mannequin made the error of tying rewards to token costs, making gameplay depending on unstable markets.
Verified digital collectibles let followers personal the second
Digital sports activities collectibles characterize possession of participant highlights, digital buying and selling playing cards, and different distinctive sports-related belongings, verified utilizing blockchain know-how. The thrill of rarity is behind the enchantment of each bodily and digital sports activities memorabilia. Nevertheless, distinctive variations and restricted editions related to particular achievements or milestones took this idea a step additional.
Every digital asset’s distinctive code ensures a restrict, making it extremely fascinating for collectors. Not like conventional memorabilia, that are weak to forgery, blockchain verifies digital collectibles’ shortage and authenticity, and they are often displayed with out bodily storage considerations.
Bringing video games to cellular widens international entry to aggressive sports activities
The ubiquity of cellular gadgets has made collaborating in Web3 gaming simpler for a wider vary of gamers. Soccer has billions of followers worldwide. Legendary Video games introduced a Web3 twist to the game with FIFA Rivals, attracting a bigger, mainstream viewers not essentially acquainted with blockchain gaming.
Cellular gaming is the most important market phase by participant depend and income, and launching a high-profile Web3 recreation on cellular considerably lowers entry boundaries in comparison with console or PC-only titles. FIFA Rivals, which has been authorised and licensed by FIFA, permits contributors to gather participant playing cards and construct a fantasy crew, have interaction in lively or simulated matches towards different gamers or AI, and prepare, improve, or strategize with the gamers they’ve collected.
Interconnected worlds are the subsequent frontier for athletes, gamers, and builders
The prospects for the most recent era of Web3 video games are inspiring. Cross-game athlete NFTs are rising as a novel software in gaming and sports activities. These NFTs would permit athletes to characterize themselves throughout completely different digital worlds and doubtlessly combine into varied video games. A holder of a uncommon NFT in a single recreation would possibly use it as a collectible in one other, rising the variety of video games and actions they take part in.
Cross-game NFTs could open up new advertising and marketing alternatives for recreation builders, as they may collaborate with different platforms and titles to function them, constructing an interlinked ecosystem that promotes a number of video games on the similar time. Such integrations would create a extra expansive metaverse, the place experiences and belongings can circulate freely as a substitute of being confined to a single recreation, enhancing the effectivity of selling efforts.
