Building Web3 Games: Overcoming Challenges

If you thought building and deploying a dapp was hard, try creating your own web3 game. It’s a task that few teams have been able to master, requiring a diverse skill set spanning both traditional gaming competencies as well as deep knowledge of blockchain infrastructure. No wonder that conventional gaming studios have largely faded web3 gaming up until now, or limited themselves with tentative forays such as adding web wallets to existing games.

The need to write smart contracts, manage wallets, and handle blockchain transactions adds layers of complexity that deter studios that might otherwise have explored web3 gaming. Thankfully, those barriers have been significantly lowered thanks to better frameworks and tooling that liberate studios from needing to concern themselves with the nuts and bolts that connect web3 games to the on-chain world they inhabit.

The Gaming Frameworks Cutting Complexity

One of the biggest hurdles for game studios new to blockchain is dealing with complex on-chain infrastructure. Setting up smart contracts, managing token standards, and ensuring secure transactions can be daunting, especially when developers would rather focus on creating great gameplay. Much of the recent improvements made in this domain have come through the availability of dev-friendly APIs and SDKs.

One company doing its share of the heavy lifting here is Mythical Games, whose developer platform offers REST APIs and SDKs that integrate seamlessly with existing game engines. It provides a comprehensive development suite that enables game studios to integrate blockchain-based assets, marketplaces, and economies with minimal blockchain knowledge. Mythical Platform offers a robust backend that ensures gas-free transactions and seamless NFT ownership, removing major friction points for developers.

It’s a smart strategy since it benefits Mythical Games, which can attract more studios to develop web3 games within its ecosystem, while simultaneously helping studios that like the idea of web3 gaming but aren’t sure where to start and have no desire to expend excessive time on back-end blockchain infrastructure.

Immutable X, the Layer 2 scaling solution for gaming assets, offers developers easy-to-use APIs and an SDK to mint and trade NFTs instantly with zero gas fees. This simplification means teams can include web3 features like in-game item ownership without redesigning entire game architectures. By offering integration toolkits, both Mythical Games and Immutable X reduce friction, allowing developers to focus on storytelling and gameplay mechanics, akin to how modern web frameworks help web developers quickly create dynamic sites without reinventing server infrastructure.

Driving Down Blockchain Gaming Costs

From the perspective of gaming studios, the cost of creating web3 games can be measured in different ways. Besides development time and infra costs, which solutions like Immutable X and Mythical Games can significantly reduce, there’s also the cost of on-chain transactions. Naturally, developers want to slash these costs for all parties since web3 users are more likely to play a game that isn’t at the mercy of erratic network fees.

Web3 tech companies are making the blockchain component more cost-effective and scalable, ensuring that web3 games remain affordable even if they prove popular. Companies like Enjin and Forte deserve credit for addressing these issues by offering turnkey solutions that streamline blockchain integration and reduce costs. Enjin has created a developer-focused blockchain ecosystem that allows games to easily mint and distribute digital assets, simplifying in-game asset management.

Forte provides a full-stack blockchain gaming platform that automates complex tasks like smart contract deployment and compliance handling. By reducing the need for custom blockchain development, Forte enables studios to cut down development time and costs, making blockchain gaming more financially viable. These companies address fundamental technical constraints, allowing game developers to focus on game design instead of technical difficulties.

Better Onboarding for Mainstream Gamers

A major technical improvement incentivizing traditional studios to enter the fray concerns onboarding. Traditional gamers are accustomed to seamless login experiences, whereas web3 gaming typically requires a crypto wallet and knowledge of gas fees and private key management. This complexity can deter new users.

Platforms like Sequence and Venly are creating frictionless onboarding solutions that remove technical barriers for players. Sequence offers a smart wallet solution that allows players to log in with social accounts or emails, ensuring users retain ownership of assets while enjoying a simplified experience. Venly provides white-label wallet solutions for game developers, enabling built-in wallets that require no prior crypto knowledge.

Streamlining login and transaction flows can improve retention and reduce the intimidation factor for new gamers. Addressing UX is crucial, as difficult onboarding can lead players to quit before the real fun begins. Sequence and Venly help deliver an experience that feels native and intuitive.

Off-Chain Enhancements Are Just as Important

While core improvements have made the web3 stack more accessible, off-chain factors are equally important. Many game studios hesitate to enter the web3 space due to concerns about securities laws and regulations.

Companies like Mythical Games and Animoca Brands provide developers with guidance and compliant frameworks, alleviating regulatory burdens. Mythical ensures compliance standards are met, while Animoca actively engages in advocating for fair NFT and digital asset regulations.

Web3 Gaming’s Growing Acceptance

As blockchain technology becomes less intimidating, traditional gaming giants are exploring web3 gaming. Collaborations like Ubisoft’s partnership with Tezos and Square Enix’s work with Enjin show how mainstream studios are entering the blockchain space.

Final Bosses Still to Face

Despite significant progress, we’re still not at a stage where traditional game developers are creating web3 games en masse. Advancements like Polygon and Solana’s blockchain performance enhancements are crucial. Education and continued investment in developer tooling will drive further adoption.

The industry is in very good shape. Simplified integration tools are making it easier for developers to build on web3 without specialized knowledge. Improved user onboarding solutions ensure players can interact with blockchain-based games effortlessly, paving the way for the next generation of interactive, player-centric experiences.