Games are one of the most dynamically developing and resilient sub-industries of the Web3 industry. Funding in this area remains active despite unfavorable market conditions. In 2022, more than 60% of the total funding of $7.1 billion allocated to startups was directed towards games. It is projected that 2023 will be an important milestone in this field, leading to a surge in high-quality games and a new level of popularity.
However, in order for web3 games to reach critical mass and unleash their full potential, they need to solve one of their most significant technical problems - the scalability problem.
Contents:
- New possibilities of web3 games
- Web3 and scalability
- Key advantages of zkEVM
- The future of web3 games
New possibilities of web3 games
The exciting news is that the perception of the impossibility of scaling web3 games for mass usage is rapidly changing thanks to the development of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology. In addition to scalability, the implementation of this revolutionary technology brings numerous changes to games, including increased security, privacy protection, improved gameplay mechanics, reliable gaming processes, and new sources of revenue.
Currently, a reliable in-game economy is becoming an increasingly essential component of popular AAA games, such as:
| Game | Genre |
|---|---|
| League of Legends | Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) |
| Fortnite | Cooperative Survival Game |
| Call of Duty | First-Person Shooter (FPS) |
| Overwatch | Multiplayer Team-based Shooter (FPS) |
| World of Warcraft | Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) |
It has been repeatedly confirmed that there is a constant demand for customizable in-game items, which is well illustrated by the skins market, which became a $50 billion industry in 2022.
In an attempt to satisfy the attraction to such items, game developers offer various in-game resources, including character and weapon skins, small virtual accessories for avatars. As a result, many players accumulate dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of in-game items that they usually cannot sell or trade.
Web3 and Scalability
Traditional web2 game assets have always been a one-way street, where funds move from players to developers and publishers. This aspect is one of the main anachronisms of web2 that web3 aims to change. It opens up the game economy and allows players to become full participants in these markets, enabling them to transfer user digital assets between different games and creating a compatible and immersive game ecosystem.
However, to achieve this, web3 games need to be prepared for a scale comparable to that currently seen in web2 games, which is no easy task. Giants such as:
- League of Legends
- Fortnite
Attract millions of players, each of whom may have numerous in-game items on their accounts. To compete with such a massive influx of game assets, especially when players can truly own and freely trade and exchange them with each other, web3 games will have to process tens of thousands of transactions simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Ethereum, the blockchain used for various aspects of web3, currently has an average capacity of processing up to 30 transactions per second (TPS), and this is a problem.
Key Advantages of zkEVM
Fortunately, a fundamental paradigm shift is already underway. The development and imminent launch of ZK technology, which is inherently compatible with Ethereum, will change the way game projects are created, not only in web3. This innovative system, called zkEVM, will bring all the benefits of user-owned assets to a global community scale and provide a wide range of improvements that can revolutionize web3 games.
Advantages of zkEVM technology:
- Scalability - the ability to operate on a global scale without compromising security. This allows for the aggregation of large batches of transactions and verifying them off-chain, with only the final proof being submitted to the main network, reducing the transaction data load. Throughput is increased by 600 times compared to Ethereum while reducing fees. This is crucial for games with millions of transactions daily.
- Compatibility - Instead of being isolated, these new projects will function as a unified ecosystem. Assets, avatars, profiles, and other elements will be able to freely move between different platforms and games, providing users with greater liquidity and accessibility. Now, buying, selling, and transferring items will be simple - just a few clicks instead of using a separate wallet. Thanks to this compatibility, games and services can freely interact with traditional games. Creating interoperable assets for transfer between games significantly increases the lifespan of the economic value of games.
- Enhanced gameplay - in particular, zkEVMs provide compatibility with smart contracts, opening up new possibilities for complex gameplay mechanics and dynamic economies in the Ethereum ecosystem.
- Functionality - Features such as asset staking allow for passive earning and real value attribution to in-game items. Additionally, creating new items takes on new meaning when released as NFTs, allowing players to own and freely sell or transfer them as they see fit.
All assets can be combined. For example, a player's avatar can include multiple NFT accessories. These assets can be linked, moved, or sold together, as well as divided into component parts depending on the player's preference.
There are also significant benefits for developers. Using zkEVM and proven smart contract libraries simplifies the development process, reduces costs, and allows developers to focus on creating engaging game elements that will make their product stand out. No need to build everything from scratch: any game studio can quickly enter the world of web3 and release innovative games.
Technology zkEVM enhances the security of games by providing high transaction throughput and decentralization of Ethereum. The use of ZK identifiers and gamer tags ensures that only connected users can interact, improving moderation and creating a safe environment for all participants.
The Future of Games in Web3
The zkEVM technology is already in development, and now any game studio can take advantage of the benefits it offers.
New web3 tools now allow meeting any needs and providing cutting-edge opportunities for players worldwide. Developers are now liberated from constraints and can bring their creative visions to life.
New possibilities in the blockchain sphere and NFTs enable developers to implement innovative gameplay mechanics, create economically valuable systems, and offer new forms of ownership and trading of in-game assets. Players gain the ability not only to play but also to be active participants in the development of the gaming world, influencing its fate and even earning from their achievements. The future of the gaming industry is already here, and ahead of us lie even more exciting and innovative gaming experiences.
