Keeping tabs on the blockchain and crypto industry for the last several years, I see that its growing popularity started attracting different sorts of audience, including gamers, of course. Despite the fact that blockchain games started appearing only recently, a few projects have already rocked the market, and many stars are yet to come. What to expect from them? I’ve decided to share my vision of blockchain gaming trends in 2023 – some of them will definitely shape the future of the industry and our experiences.
The Focus Shifts to Gameplay
Many players were drawn to the “play-to-earn” model pioneered by the initial wave of Web3 games, which laid the path for the industry to attract its first million users. The overwhelming emphasis on financialization through NFTs, however, prevented Web3 games from raising playability to par with traditional games.
Eventually, the notorious examples of some well-known Web3 gaming economies, most notably Axie Infinity, showed that blockchain games needed to provide more than just financial benefits to draw in newbies and maintain the engagement of current players. This problem is already being addressed in next-generation blockchain games, which have a stronger emphasis on gameplay optimization to live up to user expectations. We are developing Bluelight.inc with these thoughts in mind and strive to deliver a compelling experience rather than just another way to earn crypto tokens.
The crypto community expects Web3 games to function as stand-alone programs that deliver an engaging and immersive experience, with the financialization element serving as an optional extra. It leads us to another logical trend – AAA games.
Creators Are Ready to Roll Out AAA Games
There are hundreds of games using blockchain technology, but this number is still quite low, especially when compared to mobile or PC games. Furthermore, even some of the most popular play-to-earn projects aren’t really games in the sense of the word because they are primarily concerned with the earning part and have little to no actual playability.
Opposed to endless P2E games, a number of AAA-quality games are being released on the GameFi market with some delay, but it’s totally justified by stunning graphics, well-thought lore and top-notch gameplay. Illuvium, Guild of Guardians, Star Atlas, MetalCore, and Big Time, for instance, all serve to deliver high-end blockchain gaming experiences that can compete with those of conventional PC, console, and smartphone games.
These third-generation blockchain games are evidence of how the gaming industry is developing and maturing. Additionally, by drawing in more players and investors, high-quality games are crucial for boosting the growth of the blockchain gaming sector in general.
But what might be a decisive factor in the success of AAA blockchain games is the smooth onboarding process.
Users Need Frictionless Onboarding
Blockchain gaming integration challenges developers with onboarding issues: users need to generate and connect a blockchain wallet, figure out what is what with tokens, learn game rules and so on. The industry wants to see more of the frictionless onboarding trend in order to draw in regular customers, so the top blockchain gaming applications will support it.
By developing applications with native wallets (users’ wallets that have already been generated), blockchain gaming initiatives are already addressing this problem. With this strategy, users may begin interacting with the app right away without having to deal with the hassle of setting up a Metamask wallet or connecting to a dApp. For instance, the seamless integration of Reddit Vault and Community Points resulted in creation of almost three million user wallets.
Other Web3 projects, such as Illuvium Zero, managed to attract more players by releasing games on iOS and Android. Besides, the concept of free-to-play (no NFT or other purchases required to start the game) draws in the beginners who are absolutely new to the blockchain niche. All in all, better onboarding mechanics would significantly drive adoption and bring more value to all stakeholders.
Investors Seek Stable Economies
Play-to-earn principles were marketed as a means of making gamers rich in the first generation of blockchain gaming applications. Eventually, these gaming platforms expanded too rapidly and collapsed when gameplay returns fell dramatically in relation to user investments. The abrupt drop of Axie Infinity is still the most well-known instance, and both user numbers and trade volume are still declining.
Developers should follow a new trend of promoting Web3 games beyond its play-to-earn appeal if they want blockchain gaming to prosper. Furthermore, it’s critical to create a balance between player rewards and long-term profits. The aforementioned is one of the main barriers for Web3 gaming projects since giving even a small group of players substantial payouts eventually has an impact on the game’s economy.
Over time, game development companies must put more emphasis on creating a long-lasting economy than on presenting the game as a source of income for its players. A game’s economy will develop more steadily and sustainably if players have less expectation of rewards.
Eliminating the prospect of new players buying their way to the top of the pyramid by purchasing in-game assets is another change that can help blockchain gaming prosper. It should be considered by both new and old gaming projects. Yet, NFTs should not be eliminated at all – by delivering a robust secondary market for in-game assets, projects can build a large and long-lasting community.
More Use Cases For NFT
NFTs are viewed as nothing more than attractive images with no practical use by skeptics. As it becomes more evident that NFTs can have use cases beyond art, both in virtual and real life, 2023 is expected to be the year when they will appear in games more often.
When it comes to blockchain gaming, NFTs are crucial to play-to-earn economies. In addition, a lot of blockchain games begin as NFT projects. Therefore, it is not surprising that blockchain games are also known as NFT games. Most often, NFTs represent in-game objects, such as characters, weapons and skins that can be sold and exchanged on online markets. But we should expect to witness more use cases for non-fungible tokens, such as:
- Exclusive content
- Airdrops
- Real-life merch
- Game buffs
Further Development of the Metaverse
Metaverse should become a virtual world that will provide its users with unforgettable digital experiences. And of course, this world cannot exist without blockchain technology. Therefore, the more popular the metaverse is, the more relevant blockchain technology remains
The virtual space of metaverse is a sweet spot for marketers. Expect to see loud names in virtual worlds – industry giants won’t miss a chance to get advertised in crowded places, even if they exist online.
AI Will Power Gaming
With ChatGPT and similar platforms revolutionizing the market, game developers won’t miss a chance to capitalize on this technology. How can it be applied in blockchain gaming?
With AI, the mobile gaming industry may deliver a better experience for players. Similar to full-fledged desktop games, mobile apps will provide gameplay that is complemented by realistic scenario developments and top-notch visuals. With the rise of new gadgets, gamers demand immersiveness and top-quality graphics across a variety of platforms. The power of AI will increase player engagement and provide them with joyful experience on all devices.
The most common use of game AI is with NPCs, or non-player characters. These are in-game characters that behave intelligently, as though they were being controlled by actual players. The actions of these characters will be controlled by AI engines and algorithms with decision trees directing their activity.
Finally, artificial intelligence in gaming enables game developers and studios to do data mining on player behavior to aid in their knowledge of how players arrive at the game, the features they engage with most frequently, and the reasons they leave the game. As a result, game designers can enhance gameplay or find income options.
Conclusion
As we delve deeper into the world of crypto and explore blockchain gaming, I am excited to see the projects popping up on the market. Being a devoted crypto enthusiast and game lover myself, I strive to make Bluelight.inc a great example of a blockchain game that makes playing fun again!
Enhanced with an explosive mix of technologies — metaverse, NFTs, AI, AR/VR, and cryptocurrencies — blockchain games in 2023 will offer us completely new experiences. But can creators’ promises live up to the community’s expectations? Time will show, but you don’t have to wait too long — start playing Bluelight.inc in our private alpha by filling in this form.
