This article explores the paradox of digital asset ownership in blockchain games. While recognized as a key benefit, its implementation faces challenges in attracting and retaining players. The author discusses the history of digital asset ownership in gaming, its initial limitations, and the evolving landscape where free-to-play models coexist with asset ownership opportunities.
Digital asset ownership is both a defining feature of blockchain games and a significant barrier, reflecting the complexities of blockchain gaming ’s evolution.Every year, my company Emfarsis partners with the Blockchain Game Alliance to conduct an industry-wide survey of blockchain gaming professionals.
Amazing as it was, the rental system which was popular in early blockchain games like Axie Infinity, Pegaxy, CyBall, and others, didn't actually solve the onboarding problem. The limited availability of assets and high entry costs created a bottleneck, so the rental demand couldn’t be met, thus perpetuating the friction with top-of-the-funnel user acquisition.
This contradiction — where digital asset ownership is both a defining feature and a significant barrier — reflects the complexities of blockchain gaming’s evolution. On one hand, ownership is what makes blockchain games special; on the other, requiring it deters players. To attract traditional gamers, who lack Web3 familiarity, developers have prioritized accessibility.said that blockchain concepts are not fully understood.
True interoperability requires industry-wide collaboration, both technically and economically, which is still fragmented across chains and ecosystems. Meanwhile, developers are sweeping Web3 under the rug, treating it as a layer in the tech stack rather than a defining feature. So for most players, the "Web3" part is hidden, optional, and about as impactful as a collectible spoon in a cereal box.
While still early on the adoption curve, these advancements empower gamers to unlock experiences that would never have been possible without digital property rights. And the results of the annual BGA survey confirm that the appeal of digital asset ownership remains strong: it gives players agency, control and value.
Blockchain Gaming Digital Assets Nfts Game Economics Player Experience
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