As we’re about to close the chapter of 2024 and look towards the dawn of a new year, we’ve been asking some of the key members of the blockchain gaming sector about their thoughts on the past year and what they expect in 2025.
Luke Barwikowski is the founder and CEO of Pixels.
What was the most significant trend for the sector of 2024?
In 2024, one of the biggest trends in web3 gaming was the shift toward user insights and segmentation. At Pixels, we’ve been at the forefront of this, figuring out not just how to spot bots, but how to identify and reward the most valuable and engaged players in our ecosystem, which makes the economy more sustainable in the long term.
Bot detection is something we’ve gotten really good at. We’ve invested in both traditional and AI-driven systems to catch bots early and refine our detection over time. But it goes beyond just beating bots. We’re also fine-tuning our reward systems and reputation tools to encourage genuine player behavior. Instead of slowing things down with KYC, we’re using data science to make sure rewards go to players who are likely to reinvest in the game. This approach not only increases revenue – which we believe is the best sign of user quality – but also makes the experience better for real players.
How did the focus of your business change this year?
2024 was a huge year for us. Early on, Pixels became the largest web3 game by daily active players. But our strong revenue numbers were even more impactful than player growth, with over $2 million generated in the past month alone.
While creating a fun and engaging game has always been at the heart of what we do, this year we expanded our focus to building the tech infrastructure needed to scale to millions more users. One of the most exciting developments has been our work on smart rewards. We’re using data science and predictive modelling to fine-tune how we distribute in-game rewards. The idea is simple: focus rewards on the players most likely to reinvest them back into the game. This not only makes the experience more engaging for our most dedicated players but also helps drive daily active users and in-game spending.
Another big focus has been our reputation system. We’ve done the hard work of identifying quality users in web3 gaming and building a holistic reputation score. It combines in-game actions, on-chain holdings, and even on-chain activity to measure how dedicated a player is. Soon, other developers will be able to tap into this system with a simple widget for their dapps.
We’ve also been leveraging two years of live game data to refine our understanding of user behavior. By analyzing how different segments interact with PIXEL – whether they’re reinvesting, trading, or sybil farming – we’re creating a clearer picture of what drives player engagement and loyalty.
We also shifted our focus to ecosystem expansion efforts like our Telegram game Pixels Tap Track and the upcoming launch of a new title.
What do you predict will be the most important trends in 2025?
Sustainable and profitable web3 gaming will take center stage. I know I keep beating this drum, but play-to-earn (P2E) will make a comeback. I’m more confident than ever that Pixels is going to redefine P2E fundamentals. At the time of writing this, players spent 10.65 million PIXEL in-game – over $2 million – in the last 30 days and I don’t see that momentum slowing down anytime soon as we have a couple of large catalysts coming over the next three months.
What was your favorite blockchain game of the year?
It’s hard to pick just one, but when I’m not busy playing Pixels, I enjoy exploring other games in the Ronin ecosystem. My favorite has to be Axie Infinity though. None of us would be here without Axie. I have so much respect for the Sky Mavis team and the incredible contributions they’ve made to web3 gaming.
What’s your New Year’s resolution, and what resolution would you enforce on the industry?
My New Year’s resolution is to polish Pixels and prepare it for mainstream adoption. For the industry, my resolution would be to focus on increased collaboration within the web3 gaming space. We need to work together to bring web3 into the mainstream and reach its full potential.
At Pixels, we’re committed to sharing our insights and tools to help other games scale and grow, because collective progress helps us all in the long-term.
Check out all the 2024 End-of-Year interviews here >>
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