While game developers seem to hate the idea of Web3 entering games, gamers who compete in gaming tournaments for a living seem open to trying out blockchain gaming.
Professional Dota 2 player Erik Engel for Gaimin Gladiators, better known by his “Tofu” gamer tag, expressed his thoughts on Web3 and how it can help gamers, in a statement sent to Cointelegraph.
Engel, who has won more than $400,000 in various major tournaments in the Dota 2 competitive gaming scene, said it’s “refreshing” to see companies getting “more from games than just games.” He explained:
“The idea of blockchain gaming is still a new and expanding topic for most of us, and it’s something I want to explore more in the future. If it improves the game and makes it even more rewarding, it’s definitely something to look out for in the future.”
In addition, Engel believes that Web3 has features that “genuinely feel beneficial to the player” and expressed that he is excited to see what the companies will come up with in the future.
Professional Rocket League player Max Ng, known by his gamer tag “Maxeew”, also echoed Engel’s sentiments. According to Ng, he really liked the idea of the games playing out differently. He said:
“The idea behind adding new technologies and features is something that pretty much any game can benefit from, especially when it’s something that can reward users’ time and spending on the game itself.”
Ng said that while he has already researched blockchain-based games, he has never tested them personally. However, the player said that once he finishes the current competitive gaming season, he will start participating.
Meanwhile, Joseph Turner, co-founder of Gaimin Gladiators, the organization to which Engel and Ng belong, said the initial arrival of Web3 games built within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space “scared off a lot of major publishers.”
In 2021, Valve Corporation, the developers of popular video game titles like Dota 2 and Half-Life, removed blockchain-based games from their Steam game marketplace. The company updated its guidelines to specifically ban games that issue cryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Turner described Valve as an “extremely traditional” game company, saying the company would not dive into Web3 like other companies have. Despite this, Turner believes the tide will turn. “While I understand why Valve made the statements that they did, I feel that their position will change rapidly over time,” he said.
In addition to integrating Web3 with gaming, the gaming organization executive encouraged blockchain projects to get involved in the professional gaming scene. “I strongly believe that the Web3 world should directly involve the competitive gaming industry,” Turner added.
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Walter Lee, GameFi and Partner Growth Lead at BNB Chain, which began penetrating the competitive gaming landscape through a partnership with Gaimin Gladiators, said that Web3 and blockchain technology have the ability to empower traditional gaming ecosystems.
From tokenizing in-game assets to other use cases such as an on-chain verifiable Random Number Generation (RNG) mechanism, Lee believes “the potential is huge.” In addition, the executive also believes that due to the speed of growth of “Web3 games”, it will one day be called simply “games”.
The executive also highlighted that Web3 also offers many opportunities for professional gamers. He explained:
“There is a wave of many exciting games coming from various new studios, some of these titles can potentially gain huge popularity and spawn exciting new esports leagues for the industry.”
Lee believes that gamers can also build their brand and revenue streams on Web3. “Gamers will be able to sustain and build in the industry with less reliance on an eSports company, this balances the demand between eSports companies and gamers,” Lee added.
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