YGG co-founder: Focus on Free-to-play will boost Web3 games adoption

Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games, envisions a shift in the success trajectory of Web3 games in 2024. According to him, the most prosperous games will move away from the play-to-earn (P2E) model and embrace a completely free-to-play approach to attract a broader player base. Unlike existing games like Axie Infinity Classic, which demand players to purchase NFTs to participate, the upcoming wave of Web3 games aims to eliminate financial and technical barriers for entry.

Dizon emphasizes a realization in the industry that making games free-to-play initially is crucial for millions to access them. The evolving business model focuses on offering free gameplay, with the potential for players to mint NFTs or earn tokens while actively engaging in the game. This strategic shift aims to prioritize gameplay over tokenomics and addresses concerns about speculative bubbles in Web3 gaming. Dizon believes that creating compelling games encourages players to reinvest in the game, preventing the in-game economy from becoming solely profit-driven.

In response to the decline in crypto prices and the subsequent downturn in blockchain games, Dizon anticipates a positive transformation. The industry has been waiting for the launch of new Web3 games in late 2023, with titles like the blockchain-based trading card game Parallel leading the way. Dizon expects a surge in high-quality games with experienced teams, along with innovative experiments in tokenomics and earning models.

Dizon highlights the introduction of the ERC-6551 token standard or "token bound" accounts as a reason for excitement in the future of blockchain-based games. This new standard allows developers to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) behaviors into games. Players can assign tasks to their avatars, such as crafting items or battling monsters, and later check the embedded wallet for the rewards obtained. Dizon anticipates that this automation will reduce the need for repetitive tasks in games, introducing a new genre where players interact with AI, allowing them to enjoy the engaging aspects of the game while leaving mundane tasks to AI.

In summary, Dizon foresees a promising future for Web3 games in 2024, with a focus on free-to-play models, engaging gameplay, and innovative technologies like AI integration, marking the beginning of a captivating era in the gaming industry.