Play-to-earn (P2E) is slowly becoming a bygone shadow. Blockchain gaming has steadily matured into a more profound adoption across the entire ecosystem. All of this is now happening with the convergence of advancing technology, legacy gaming seasoned in the art, and transformed player aspirations – a milestone into the industry’s making in going mainstream.
Less Friction, More Access
A recent report from the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) shows that friction in onboarding for blockchain gaming has decreased. The findings of the research show that the problems associated with onboarding, formerly confronting 79.5% of users, are now at an all-time low of 53.9% among users in 2024.
Improved user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design have accounted for it. Developers are creating games that feel more familiar, like Web2 gaming but with blockchain functionality running in the background.
“At the heart of this growth is player empowerment,” said BGA President Sebastian Borget. Ownership, as a key blockchain feature, resonates with over 71% of players who said it’s the main benefit of blockchain gaming.
Seamless UX/UI is a big departure from the industry’s previous focus on crypto mechanisms like token-based economies and marketplace-centric gameplay.
The Death of Play-to-Earn
The P2E model, once the holy grail of blockchain gaming, has shown its cracks. Initially celebrated for paying players, the model had inherent design flaws: hyper-inflationary reward structures and no mechanism to maintain token value.
Andrew Campbell, a blockchain gaming expert known as Zyori, summed it up:
“The original play-to-earn model had two major flaws: hyper-inflationary rewards that grew exponentially with user adoption and no token sinks to create deflationary pressure.”
Developers are moving towards merit-based and activity-driven reward systems. These iterations keep the core strengths of blockchain gaming (ownership and asset tracking) and fix the economic flaws of P2E.
Big Players Enter the Space
The entry of traditional gaming giants like Sony and Square Enix has accelerated the shift towards ecosystem integrations. Using layer-2 solutions, these companies bring decades of gaming expertise to the blockchain.
This influx of traditional talent has brought about autonomous worlds (AWs) and fully on-chain games (FOCGs). Unlike previous models where only parts of the game were blockchain-based, these concepts are games that are fully integrated with the blockchain.
FOCGs are a new type of gaming where game rules, player items and in-game economies are managed on-chain. This means transparency and dynamic updates based on player input and community feedback.
Autonomous Worlds: A Peek into the Future
Autonomous worlds, or AWs, are closely tied to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). By combining AI with blockchain infrastructure, these games can adapt to real-time player behaviour and respond intelligently.
Gillian Pua; Sovrun Chief of Staff:
“On-chain transparency is the perfect playground for AI agents to flourish; intelligent gameplay that responds to real-time player behaviour.”
This is the convergence of blockchain, AI, and gaming. As AWs and FOCGs take off, they will change the gaming landscape and give players more control and engagement.
Public Perception and Issues
Despite the tech progress;; blockchain gaming still has public perception issues. The BGA report says 66% of blockchain gaming projects struggle to shake off the stigma of being associated with scams.
This is a long-standing barrier to mainstream adoption. Developers and industry leaders need to address this through transparency, education, and partnerships with established organizations.
However, the tide is turning. Better UX and the arrival of traditional gaming studios is changing the narrative. By focusing on player experience and hiding the crypto; blockchain gaming is becoming a credible alternative to traditional gaming.
Conclusion
Blockchain gaming is in a transition phase from play-to-earn to a more integrated player-centric approach. With better UX, traditional gaming talent, and autonomous worlds, the industry is poised to overcome its issues and go mainstream.
As developers focus on seamless experiences and player empowerment, blockchain gaming will change the digital entertainment landscape. But; public perception and regulatory issues need to be addressed to fully unleash its potential.
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FAQs
1. What’s the benefit for players?
Ownership. The ownership of in-game items is really with players and is kept on the blockchain for making trades or sales possible.
2. Why is play-to-earn declining?
P2E suffered from hyper-inflationary rewards and no token sinks which made it unsustainable in the long run.
3. What are autonomous worlds in blockchain gaming?
Autonomous worlds (AWs) are games that run entirely on-chain, adaptive, community-driven gameplay. They use AI to enhance player experience.
4. How are traditional gaming studios influencing blockchain gaming?
Companies like Sony and Square Enix are bringing their expertise to the blockchain space; fostering innovation and improving credibility within the industry.