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While game developers don’t seem to like the idea of Web3 making its way into games, gamers who play gaming tournaments for a living are more open to trying blockchain gaming.
Professional Dota 2 player Erik Engel of Gaimin Gladiators, better known by his gamer tag Tofu, shared his thoughts on Web3 and how it can help gamers in a statement sent to Cointelegraph.
Engel, who has won over $400,000 in various major tournaments in the Dota 2 competitive scene, said it’s refreshing to see companies making “more of games than just games.” He explained:
“The idea of blockchain gaming is still a new and growing topic for most of us, and I want to delve into it even more in the future. If it improves gaming and makes it even more rewarding, then that’s definitely something to look out for in the coming period.”
Additionally, Engel believes Web3 has features that are “really beneficial to the player” and said he’s excited to see what the companies come up with in the future.
Rocket League pro Max Ng, known by his gamer tag “Maxeew,” also shared Engels’ views. According to Ng, he really liked the idea of developing games differently. He said:
“The idea behind adding new technology and features is something that just about any game can benefit from, especially if it’s something that rewards users’ time and spending on the game itself.”
Ng said that while he’s dabbled in blockchain-based games, he’s never tried them personally. However, the player said he will start doing so once the busy competitive season is over.
Meanwhile, Joseph Turner, the co-founder of Gaimin Gladiators — the organization Engel and Ng belong to — said that the initial emergence of Web3 games developed in the decentralized finance space “spooked a lot of big publishers.”
In 2021, Valve Corporation — the developers of popular video game titles like Dota 2 and Half-Life — removed blockchain-based games from its Steam gaming marketplace. The company has updated its policies to ban games that issue cryptocurrencies or non-fungible tokens.
Turner described Valve as an “extremely traditional” gaming company and said the company will not dive into Web3 like other companies. Still, Turner believes the tide will turn. “While I understand why Valve made these statements, I have a feeling their position will change rapidly over time,” he said.
Aside from integrating Web3 into games, the gaming organization’s CEO promoted the incorporation of blockchain projects into the professional gaming scene. “I strongly believe that the Web3 world should involve the competitive gaming industry directly,” added Turner.
Related: Gamers Are More Interested In Earning Bitcoin Than NFTs: Poll
Walter Lee, partner growth and GameFi lead at BNB Chain — which began breaking into the competitive gaming landscape through a partnership with Gaimin Gladiators — said Web3 and blockchain technology could empower traditional gaming ecosystems.
From tokenizing in-game assets to other use cases, such as a verifiable on-chain random number generation mechanism, Lee believes “the potential is huge.” In addition, the executive believes that this is also due to the speed of growth Web3 gaming will one day just be called gaming.
The managing director also emphasized that Web3 also offers many opportunities for professional gamers. He explained:
“There’s a plethora of interesting upcoming games coming from a variety of new studios. Some of these titles could potentially gain tremendous popularity and create exciting new esports leagues for the industry.”
Lee believes gamers can also grow their brand and revenue streams in Web3: “Gamers will be able to compete and grow in the industry without having to rely on an esports company; This will balance demand between esports companies and gamers,” he said.
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