If there ever were a year where we could see the Web3 gaming niche sprout into one of the most sought-after spaces by developers and gamers alike, it would be 2024.
Big gaming development platforms, especially in Asia, are slowly but steadily coming around the idea of Play-to-Earn (P2E) games. Although it might be years before the quality of Web3 games reaches the levels of the likes of Fortnite or Call of Duty Warzone, it’s a dream the Web3 community believes will flourish.
The biggest news in 2023 involved the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Xbox creator Microsoft, an action undoubtedly meant to fend off competitors. On the Web3 gaming front, developers hope the software company will subsequently create a blockchain network and fuel the development of P2E games.
Web3 gaming start of 2024 statistics
Blockchain gaming has come a long way from the days of Axie Infinity, and more players are getting caught up in the frenzy.
Per data from DappRadar, unique active wallets involved in Web3 gaming are double their year-to-date values, currently sitting at about 1.5 million, a value Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu believes will rise steeply in 2024.
Many of the gaming titles that are about to be released were in alpha or beta stages in 2022 and 2023 and are now all coming out to commercial launch in 2024.
Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu
Between 2021 and 2022, the world of blockchain-based gaming experienced an astounding surge of 2,000%. At this juncture, it appears that this remarkable growth can be attributed, at least partially, to riding the coattails of the traditional gaming industry. In the near future, experts anticipate Web3 will propel this niche to new heights.
Expectations remain high for Web3 games adoption
Johnson Yeh, the visionary and CEO of Ambrus Studio, an esteemed gaming firm, holds high hopes for the potential of Web3 gaming to soar and gain widespread adoption, especially with the anticipated onset of the bull market in 2024.
Yeh emphasizes the enormous possibilities within the free-to-play domain, particularly the sale of skins. In this context, he drew parallels to the renowned Counter-Strike series, where skins have been known to fetch impressive prices in the mid-six figures range.
Highlighting the distinctive attributes of these skins, Yeh elucidates that they are anchored in smart contracts, possessing verifiable uniqueness.
This revolutionary feature paves the way for collaborative opportunities between streamers, e-sports players, and celebrities. By co-creating and combining skin revenue with fervent fandom, Web3 will revolutionize how pro gamers play today.
Play to Earn games to watch in January 2024
Undoubtedly, new P2E titles will continue dropping as the year unfolds. That said, old titles like Axie Infinity continue to hold the lion’s share in activity among blockchain games.
Per DappRadar, the top 5 P2E games by unique active wallet size in the last seven days are motoDEX, Sweat Economy, Chain Colosseum Phoenix, Trickshot Blitz, and PlayEmber, respectively.
Pixels, a unique farming simulator that combines features from role-playing games, is one gamers should keep an eye on. In this game, players are tasked with constructing and managing their farms, collecting resources, crafting various items, and engaging in asset trading activities.
Notably, the Pixels team recently transitioned to the Ronin Network, significantly increasing the game’s overall player engagement. A considerable number of players now actively cultivate BERRY tokens through this platform.
Fans are also excited for the upcoming zombie apocalypse game titled Last Remains, which is set to drop on the Epic Store on January 20th.
The game, embedded with Web3 components, will engage participants in an environment-focused PvE world, taking calculated risks to discover mintable NFTs. Players will assume the roles of the three fortunate survivors awaiting rescue via helicopter.