Video gaming has grown in popularity since its inception in the early 1970s. Devices, game graphics, and creative elements have all improved since then to provide players with more immersive entertainment. Despite gamers’ enthusiasm, critics have always expressed concern about the negative effects on health, behavior, and time spent. Because gaming industry titans have made so much money over the years, gamers have long felt the need for real-world incentives. As we will see, the Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming model, enabled by blockchain technology, has sparked a gaming industry revolution (and, yes, everywhere).
Introduction to Play-to-Earn (P2E) Games
Users can play games on Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming platforms in exchange for real-world rewards. To redeem the earned rewards, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or game-specific tokens will be used. Players can also exchange native tickets for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies.
Although blockchain-based incentive systems appear similar to their Web2 predecessors (except P2E VR games), they are not. Players’ earned in-game currency is theirs to keep and can be spent however they see fit, introducing a novel concept to the gaming industry.
Popular play-to-learn games in the current Web3 environment include:
Axie Infinity
Sky Mavis, a Vietnamese game development studio, created the massively successful Play-to-Earn game Axie Infinity. The “Axies,” which are NFT-registered digital monsters, are used in battles against other players and the game’s environment. Ethereum and the Ethereum side-chain Ronin power the game. SLP (Smooth Love Potion) tokens earned through battle and breeding can be used to purchase in-game items. The governance token is the AXS token, which can be used to vote on various proposals. The game will explore a player-run ecosystem with no outside interference.
The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a voxel-based metaverse platform, similar to Minecraft, that uses blockchain technology. Animoca Brands, a well-known Web 3 gaming company, has developed a platform compatible with the Ethereum and Polygon networks and thus has the potential to attract many gamers and NFT enthusiasts. Players in The Sandbox can create their games and other areas within the game world to improve their chances of success. Any in-game or in-app purchases require using SAND, the platform’s in-game cryptocurrency. They’ve also hosted social events like concerts by well-known artists, which were well-received by the gaming community.
Decentraland
Decentraland, a peer-to-peer (P2P) metaverse platform, is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. Players can use MANA crypto tokens to buy plots of land in this virtual world to host games, exhibitions, or even mazes. Users play an important role in platform administration, which is constantly being improved. Users can interact with NFT avatars in various ways, including outfitting their characters with clothing and other customization options via the game’s in-game marketplace. Decentraland has hosted numerous gatherings due to its long history as a P2E metaverse. Decentraland, according to experts, has the potential to be the first fully functional metaverse to support virtual reality and augmented reality hardware.
Splinterlands
Splinterlands, like Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, is based on trading cards. It runs on the Hive blockchain and is compatible with Ethereum, TRON, and WAX. With the NFT character cards, tournament-ranked play and quest victories are all within reach. These cards can also be traded or sold on NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea, Monster Market, and Peak Monsters. Dark Energy Crystals are the in-game currency that can be used to purchase items such as rarer cards, card packs, and potions. The gameplay is largely responsible for the game’s recent success.
Meta Cricket League
GuardianLink’s Meta Cricket League, recently released on the Polygon network, is the world’s first player-to-player (P2P) cricket game. The gameplay and rewarding mechanism of the game have quickly grown in popularity among gamers. Players must obtain the NFTs of both batsmen and bowlers to compete. Players earn Jump Trade (JT) points for performing well in matches and climbing the in-game leaderboard, and these points can be used to level up, purchase NFTs, or exchange them for real money. Players look forward to the game’s future updates, as the roadmap promises exciting new features.
Where Do You Think P2E NFT Games Will Go From Here?
Dedicated web3 game development services providers have expressed concerns about the apparent financialization of the Play-to-Earn model (in some earlier P2E games), but the model has otherwise been praised. Today’s P2E games are increasingly focused on emulating classic, immersive gameplay and regularly releasing new games in specific genres. Because of the P2E model’s success, other game-based income mechanisms, such as Move-to-Earn (M2E) and NFT rentals, have flourished. While M2E encourages players to live healthier lifestyles, NFT rental schemes allow players to earn money even when they are not actively participating in the game.
P2E Game as a Business
Many Web3 development firms have succeeded with Play-to-Earn games; if you have a good idea, yours could be among them. Everyone enjoys a good game, and making your ideas a reality is as important as having a good one. Hiring a professional game development company can provide the resources you need to realize your NFT gaming vision if you want to create a high-quality P2E game.
