In just a few short years, blockchain managed to disrupt numerous industries, and shows no signs of slowing down. The blockchain and gaming industries have always had a large demographic overlap. Gamers are accustomed to digital economies and are quick to adapt to new technology. The need for the union between blockchain and gaming quickly became evident, creating a new wave of innovations that were never before conceived, yet felt very natural and ultimately obvious. Game companies are already creating digital assets, so blockchain might be a natural step in the evolution. Isn’t it obvious that gamers should be able to truly own their virtual characters, profiles, items, and resources? Should game publishers have absolute control over game economies when it’s the players that are funding them? Despite the current application of blockchain in numerous industries, there are still large segments of consumers that aren’t familiar with its true potential. However, as blockchain disrupts the gaming arena, larger masses of people will quickly familiarize themselves with its benefits, all in an environment they are already comfortable in. Ensuring a new user-experience and security using public ledgers might help game developers step up above their competition. New Forms of Monetization The union of blockchain with gaming allows developers to create unique ways to monetize. Companies will also be able to save millions on payment processing, as payment fees become negligible through the use of digital currencies. This allows publishers to explore new monetization models using micro-transactions. For example, publishers can push more low cost in-app purchases, or charge users for the time they spent playing a game, instead of requiring a large upfront payment which can often turns away buyers. Publishers can even utilize the blockchain to sell digital assets that can be used across different games. For example, a studio could sell highly-customizable skins or weapons in one game that can be repurposed by smaller game publishers without the budget to produce those assets themselves. Digital Assets Virtual items such as tools, weapons, costumes and accessories will hold increased value as blockchain infrastructure facilitates their purchase, sharing, gifting, and trade. Platforms can also be set up to allow users to sell in-game items, thereby giving the items actual economic value. One such example is Gods Unchained, the world’s first blockchain-based eSport created by Fuel Games. They leverage the technology to allow players trust-free ownership of the items they purchase or earn in games. This newfound ownership adds a completely new dimension to gaming, and makes it easy to understand how the decentralization of in-game economies is relevant. Supply and Demand The creation of digital assets with real value, combined with the public blockchain ledger allows developers to create limited edition rare virtual assets. As the items get unleashed periodically, the scarcity will keep users interested, loyal, and ready to pounce at any chance to be one of the few that have the item. Users will be able to track the availability of coveted digital assets through web pages that pull data from the blockchain. The success of such campaigns has been proven by CryptoKitties. Limited supply led to intense demand, to the point that the volume of transactions overloaded the Ethereum network. All in all, blockchain is the key to dramatically improving the world of gaming companies and users alike. It is up to entrepreneurs in gaming to research the many ways that the blockchain can help improve their next project, in order to ensure a warm reception upon launch, and ongoing financial success in the short-term and the long-run.
Blockchain has potential to significantly alter the video game sector . The technology is already used with some games , but greater adoption will allow gamers to create , sell and share in - game items , which would have real - world economic value due to a secondary market being created for these . Game developers will also be able to launch rare limited - edition games to keep consumers interested in their games .