In a recent conversation with crypto.news, Sebastien Borget, who serves as the co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, delved into the challenges facing web3 gaming as it strives to gain mainstream acceptance.
The landscape of gaming is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the emergence of web3 games, representing a significant departure from traditional gaming platforms. These innovative games allow players to immerse themselves in unique and decentralized ways, enabling a deeper level of engagement.
Web3 games empower players by providing them with increased control and ownership over in-game assets, including items, characters, and currencies. This newfound autonomy allows players to trade, sell, and even create their own assets, enhancing their gaming experience.
Leading AAA game publishers have begun exploring this new frontier in an effort to enrich the gaming experience for players. For example, Ubisoft, a renowned gaming giant known for blockbuster titles like Assassin’s Creed and the Far Cry series, introduced NFTs into its popular game Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.
Despite the player-centric approach of web3 games, the broader gaming community has been somewhat hesitant to embrace this new paradigm, showing a preference for traditional web2 games. According to a report by the Blockchain Game Alliance, 51% of users view player onboarding as the primary challenge, while 37.2% cite poor gameplay as a concern.
Major players in the gaming industry, such as Ubisoft and Sega, have slowed down their efforts to release new web3 games as they strive to crack the code for mass adoption. This cautious approach comes as more than 75% of web3 games launched in the past five years have failed, as reported by CoinGecko in 2023.
Despite these setbacks, the web3 gaming sector is poised for significant growth, with projections suggesting it could become a $30 billion industry by 2030. Borget, who also serves as the president of the Blockchain Game Alliance, shared his insights on the industry’s prospects.
Borget highlighted the trend where AAA companies are likely to wait for smaller studios to innovate in the web3 space before entering the market themselves. This approach reflects the larger players’ hesitance to embrace new innovations, given their reliance on the web2 business model. Smaller studios, on the other hand, are more culturally inclined to explore new avenues quickly and experiment with novel ideas.
Large gaming companies face challenges due to their bureaucratic processes, which can stifle innovation. However, Borget noted that companies like Nexon, Come2uS, Ubisoft, Atari, and G2A are venturing into web3 and blockchain gaming by establishing dedicated teams that operate independently from the constraints of larger corporations.
When asked about the biggest challenges facing web3 game development and adoption, Borget emphasized the need to prioritize fun and gameplay quality over everything else. He noted efforts within the industry to enhance the player experience in web3 games to match the standards set by web2 games. Additionally, the issue of user experience, particularly in terms of onboarding processes, remains a significant hurdle that the industry must address.
Regarding the integration of blockchain technologies with major gaming engines like Unity and Unreal, Borget highlighted the importance of overcoming distribution and access challenges to compete with web2 games effectively. While there are still hurdles to overcome, developments in Unity, Unreal, and solutions like Stardust are simplifying the process for developers.
In terms of attracting traditional gamers to the web3 gaming ecosystem without overwhelming them with blockchain complexities, Borget emphasized the importance of focusing on fun gameplay and providing educational resources for onboarding. He also highlighted the role of larger platforms in promoting web3 games and simplifying access for users.
Discussing the role of NFTs and token economics in enhancing player engagement in web3 games, Borget emphasized the concept of active stakeholding among players. By engaging with the game’s economy and contributing to its success, players become more invested in the overall experience, leading to increased engagement and participation.
Looking ahead, Borget expressed optimism about the future of web3 gaming and anticipated further innovation and experimentation in the space. He highlighted the potential for existing AAA gaming publishers to enter the web3 gaming sector, citing examples like Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Atari. Borget also predicted a future where the intersection of AAA gaming and web3 would create an empowering economy for both players and developers.
Overall, Borget’s insights shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing the web3 gaming industry as it strives to gain mainstream acceptance and revolutionize the gaming landscape.