Web3 is steadily becoming a worldwide reality. According to a report by DappRadar, Web3-based games and metaverse projects across the globe have raised US$748 million since August 1, 2022. That’s an impressive number considering the bear market.
On the other hand, the mobile games market is a mogul in so many ways, dominating more than 60% of the entire gaming market. Mobile not only is democratizing the space but is also now the primary driver of growth for games consumption, constantly evolving and adapting to new trends and technological innovations.
With such a dynamic market, it’s not surprising that developers and publishers in the industry are keeping an eye on their peers and looking for new ways to overcome challenges.
If this sounds like you, you may have already started using cryptocurrencies or exploring NFTs. Despite the potential for integrating blockchain technology into mobile games, this area is still largely unexplored.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the potential of combining blockchain and mobile gaming and consider the opportunities it presents.
Blockchain and NFTs: A more accessible, transparent, and user-owned internet
A blockchain, being basically a public online record of transactions, allow for the tracking of the movement of goods, services, and information. Instead of being stored on privately owned, centralized databases, the data on a blockchain is stored on decentralized networks that are publicly accessible. This makes blockchains permissionless, more secure, transparent, and allows for new ways to manage data and digital assets.
One use case for blockchains are NFTs, which provide proof of ownership. NFTs are unique and cannot be replaced with another token. They contain identifying information that makes them different from other tokens and therefore valuable. NFTs have a wide range of applications, including digital collectibles, artwork, music, and items in video games.
For example, NFTs can be used to prove ownership of in-game collectibles and to show that only a certain number of them exist in the game. NFTs can also be used to grant exclusive access to real-life events or online communities.
So, what about games?
NFTs can be implemented in games in different ways, such as avatars, customization features, in-game items, cards, or collectible objects. Their uniqueness and scarcity allow for new game mechanics, open economies, and strong communities to emerge.
Players who own NFTs in-game can potentially earn financial rewards through the sale of their assets on a marketplace or exchange. The value of these assets depends on factors such as rarity and utility within the game, as well as market demand. Generally, the more popular an NFT-based game is, the more valuable the in-game assets become. There are two main types of games that incorporate NFTs: play-to-earn games, which focus on generating high revenue for players, and play-and-earn games, where gameplay is the main focus and financial rewards are secondary.
For example, Castle Crush, a real-time multiplayer strategy game where players engage in epic duels using decks of powerful spells and legendary monsters, recently made the move to Web3 with NFTs and tokens integrated into the game. With over 75 million lifetime downloads, Castle Crush’s blockchain release made it one of the largest projects in the space by player base.
The world of blockchain gaming is rapidly evolving, with new game mechanics, economies, communities, and themes emerging constantly. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a part of the industry!
Where are we heading?
Since the release of the CryptoKitties game, the Web3 gaming industry has grown and new companies have emerged as leaders in the field. There are many great developers, but let’s take a look at Sorare as an example. They have created a unique digital experience for football fans that is anchored in real-life events.
Sorare is a fantasy football game that allows players to collect and trade real-life soccer players as NFTs. Players can use these cards to create football teams and earn points based on the performance of the players in real-life matches. The company’s most recent addition, Legends Cards, represents a historic season in the players’ careers and are mined in limited quantities to maintain their uniqueness and value.
One of the benefits of blockchain-powered games is the potential for indie game developers to expand the use of NFT assets beyond the main game experience. Sorare, for example, allows its collectible cards to be integrated into third-party games, such as Sorare Mega and Sorare Brag, to enhance the experience outside of its own platform. This opens up numerous possibilities for game developers to build on existing NFT success and create new and innovative gameplay experiences.
It is exciting to think about the potential for combining blockchain and mobile gaming, and how NFTs can be used to revitalize mobile gameplay. The possibilities are endless, from using NFT animals to solve puzzles and earn cryptocurrencies, to using a Sorare Legends Card to navigate through a runner game. NFTs provide proof of ownership, and the goal is to make owning these assets as enjoyable as possible.
Prepping your Web3 mobile game debut
Obviously, there are multiple approaches to building scaled web3 experiences for gamers, however, there’s a set of principles that will be helpful to all mobile developers on their own web3 journeys:
1. Make fun games that people want to play. Games that will be even better because of their blockchain features, that innovate and push player expectations through the application of web3 technologies like NFTs. An easy-to-follow UI design with seamless navigation is essential.
2. Reach gamers where they play. If you aim to reach the masses, you’ll have to thread the needle on App Store guidelines, user expectations, and tech requirements to launch high-quality web3 user experiences on mobile devices. Game developers focused on niche audiences or a different mission may not want to take on the overhead.
3. “Gently” onboard users to blockchain. The average gamer doesn’t care about tokenomics, white papers, or other tech specs when they download and start playing a game. Similar to Reddit’s web3 strategy, your comms should discard the jargon, this will simplify the web3 adoption for the players. As the game unfolds, blockchain features can surface naturally and with increasing complexity to engage players as they become more sophisticated and also willing to invest in the game.
4. Reduce entry barriers. It will be really difficult to onboard thousands or millions of players to your game if they have to invest upfront on a certain asset in order to play the game. That’s why accessibility is essential in the adoption of web3 gaming. NFTs are fantastic to further energize social interactions in the game, however, you need to enable players to participate without first spending large amounts of money to buy X NFTs. By integrating reNFT rentals protocol you lower entry barriers by allowing everybody to enjoy your game — players will be able to purchase, trade, and rent — ultimately enabling ownership of digital assets. Renting out NFTs not only gives the owner greater utility but also onboards more players into the ecosystem without devaluing the investment that existing holders paid.