The majority of game developers in the United States and the United Kingdom are now using blockchain features in their games, according to a report released this week.
The study, commissioned by Stratis, finds that the popularity of blockchain, NFTs, and the new play-to-earn model in the crypto market is forcing game producers to alter traditional game development methods to attract new players and reach new markets.
According to the findings, 58 percent of developers are starting to employ blockchain technology, and nearly half of those surveyed (47 percent) have begun to use nonfungible coins (NFT).
Two-thirds of studios predict blockchain to become ubiquitous in the gaming industry within the next two years, according to the report, indicating developers’ confidence in blockchain and NFTs. While 72 percent of respondents are considering incorporating blockchain and NFTs into future games, more than half (56 percent) plan to do so within the next year.
Blockchain technology, tokens, and NFTs, according to Stratis CEO Chris Trew, are critical technologies for new digital worlds and gaming experiences. “They allow users to have a stake in the games they play by allowing them to buy land as an NFT in a metaverse game or a car in a racing game,” he explained.
“Games have always been pay-to-play, with the value accruing solely to firms and platforms. Blockchain and NFTs completely flip this circumstance,” Trew added.
According to the study, the biggest three benefits of blockchain for the video game business include:
- New gameplay (61 percent).
- Playing with money while preserving value for players (55 percent).
- Rewarding players with a real-world reward (54 percent).
The first developers to embrace blockchain and NFT were independent game developers, with about 20 of them using the Stratis blockchain. Trew believes the major developers, often known as AAA companies, will follow suit. Epic Games has integrated blockchain games into its platform, and Ubisoft and Electronic Arts have expressed interest in the technology.
Trew says game developers will take the network effect of play-to-earn games into account, or gamers will simply migrate to games that pay them for their time. “Gamers love to play. Bringing people a stake in the game allows them to earn money in the metaverse in the same way they do in the real world.”
With the popularity of the play-to-earn model expanding, blockchain technology is quickly becoming the go-to foundation for video game makers.
What are your thoughts on blockchain and NFTs becoming more widely used in video game design? Let us know in the comments below.