According to a recent survey by the GDC, a majority of blockchain developers are either “opposed” to web3 trends, or simply uninterested. In an oversaturated industry like gaming, one would think that developers would be eager to integrate innovative technologies that set their games apart from the rest. That’s not to mention the large group of Indie developers who are currently making near-zero profits from long hours of development efforts. Even so, only a small percentage of developers are embracing Web3 and its possibilities for enhancing game mechanics and opening new revenue streams.
We decided to dive in and explore some of the reasons behind this rejection and identified two primary causes: ignorance and fear of the unknown, and stigmas associated with play-to-earn history the . Join us as we explore the thinking behind these two iron pillars barring web3 game development from benefiting the developer and player communities.
1. Ignorance and fear of the unknown
This first reason primarily addresses developers who are uninterested in Web3 but also explains some of the outright rejection. New, emerging technologies can be scary and intimidating. Especially when players are not demanding them.
Resistance to change is a natural phenomenon. But there is an easy way to remedy the ‘fear of the unknown’: by acquiring knowledge and information or simply trying it out. Developers may think that ‘moving to web3’ is a Catholic marriage, or akin to joining a cult. But the truth is, there is no need to sell your dev soul to Web3 in order to see it working first-hand.
With OP Game’s tools, and the Arcadia platform, it couldn’t be easier to test out launching a ‘Web3’ game. Just choose a game (it can be a game you’ve already developed in web2!), apply to list it on the Arcadia platform, choose which Web3 features to add to the game, and watch the results in real time! Don’t like what you see? Just remove it from the platform and stick to web2. No harm done, nothing lost, and you won’t know until you try!
Even if it seems like right now people are not buying into Web3. There is a lot of building and innovation going on in the Web3 sector to improve player experiences and integrate really incredible features based on peer-to-peer blockchain transactions. As these features and integrations emerge, devs will need to keep up. OP Games is already providing developers and players with cutting-edge functionality on Arcadia. Now is the time to test it out and prepare for more exciting developments to come.
If the great “unknown” is what’s keeping you out of Web3, OP Games is your ticket to gaining exposure at nearly no risk. Signup takes 2 minutes.
2. Play to Earn Stigmas & Axie Infinity
The second reason we’ve identified explains the fear and mistrust for Web3 based on schemes and failures in play-to-earn history. In this case, the outright dismissal of Web3 by developers and their complete opposition to it comes with a healthy dose of founded truths as well as misconceptions.
Axie Infinity is the flagship example of a Web3 game that puts money before gameplay, incentivizing players to participate just to earn a profit cut. One thing is certain, it’s a game that isn’t about fun, and when the game economy collapsed, there wasn’t much left to keep players going. Axie Infinity gave Wb3 gaming a very bad “pyramid scheme” reputation, founded in one very true, very real example. But just one example at that.
It is easy to understand the aversion of game developers driven by a passion for generating engaging gameplay, valued for its intrigue and fun, and entirely unadulterated by economic schemes and earning mechanisms. Axie Infinity was a different type of game that has made many people uncomfortable, not just gaming purists.
The nature of Web3 gaming has changed drastically in six years, and platforms such as Arcadia.fun understand at their core that gaming needs to exist first and foremost for the sake of the gameplay. Additional web3 features and integrations should serve simply to enhance and improve fun games. These features add new dimensions and introduce new fully integrated economic models based on digital peer-to-peer transactions that smooth out player experiences.
There is work to be done in this respect. Players do not yet see the value of peer-to-peer transactions in the game, and wallet generation can provide an onboarding obstacle that players are not yet comfortable with. What developers need to understand is that not every web3 game is another Axie, and the general trend of web3 gaming is moving towards a fun-first approach designed to enhance the fun we all know and love.
Our advice? Keep an open mind to web3 gaming. The gaming industry needs an update, and that update is coming from development in web3. Efforts to improve the experiences of players and developers alike are already showing their face, and there is so much iceberg hiding under an ocean of functionality yet to be discovered.
