BlockchainGamer.biz editor-at-large Jon Jordan has been writing about the games industry since 1999. He predicts blockchain is the next great disruption and in our weekly column he shares his views on everything web3 games. You can read more in his Substack.
The question I got asked the most during Gamescom was “What’s exciting you the most?”.
Although I waffled through some responses, it was a good question in that I knew I didn’t have a good answer. Hence it required some more thought.
Some thought later, I’m still not sure I have a *great* answer but I do have some more thoughts…
Of course, the simple response to this question is to throw back some exciting game titles, which will be launching in the coming months. Certainly there are enough of them.
Blocklords, Champions Ascension, Champions Tactics, Metalcore, Off The Grid, Shrapnel, Wildcard…
(You can read about our top 10 most anticipated blockchain games here.)
I’ve also just come off a podcast recording with nWay’s CEO Taehoon Kim talking about Wreck League, which launches with its Yuga Labs-licensed season one on 14th September. There’s lots of really interesting stuff there, especially in terms of the interaction between web2 and web3 players, as you’ll find out it in Blockchain Gaming World #140!
And this not to ignore already live titles such as NFL Rivals, Nitro Nation, Mojo Melee, Hunters On-Chain, Skyweaver, Cross The Ages etc.
But as much as I think the next big wave of blockchain gaming hype will be lead by a couple of signature titles, what’s actually exciting me the most is the fact that the answer is too complex to articulate.
“These live and upcoming games are so much more sophisticated in their economic modelling and discipline to connect asset value to gameplay progress rather than the speculation that’s gone before”
Jon Jordan
Because I know I am excited: ever the optimist I’ve always thought 2023 would be a year in which blockchain games would be seen as key trend for the whole web3 sector, and I still think that’s a strong possibility despite the declining number of months available.
I’m also excited that these live and upcoming games are so much more sophisticated in their economic modelling and discipline to connect asset value to gameplay progress rather than the speculation that’s gone before, although it could be argued this restriction has been forced by market conditions.
But, perhaps the best answer to the question, is I’m excited because only the true believers are still building. It’s been a really tough 15 months and I don’t think anyone expects a significant change in sentiment any time soon, although we all hope for it.
Yet those teams who believe allowing players to own in-game assets will make for better experiences for players, better communities and — yes — more successful businesses for developers too, are finding their own ways to build out that vision.
And that process is — in its own way — truly exciting because no-one knows exactly what will work so everyone is having to experiment, exploring the paths that will get us eventually to the goal.
“I’m excited because only the true believers are still building”
Jon Jordan
Which isn’t to say that the process itself also isn’t a bit scary. It is! And maybe that was part of my unconscious uncertainty in answering the original question during Gamescom. It’s been much too easy in the blockchain game sector to be overly confident about success.
I hope that’s not the case now. But I also hope we’re still excited because short-term difficulties should only delay, never derail a long-term vision.