The new generation of games is based on Web3 technology, offering seemingly endless possibilities even for demanding players looking to update their rig. Web3 games focus on play-to-earn mechanics by using cryptocurrencies and NFTs, which can be traded without third-party intervention. Players are rewarded for completing tasks, outperforming opponents in a battle, or leveling up. Web3 gaming relies on decentralized platforms such as Ethereum and Polygon that ensure verifiable ownership and provide better control over in-game assets. Alongside the increased transparency and security the blockchain provides, Web3 gaming contributes to the industry’s financial strength.
The number of people engaging in Web3 games is continually increasing, which is a testament to the surging popularity of Web3 gaming worldwide. While other industries, such as entertainment, have the potential to onboard countless users to Web3, gaming is the one that supports mass adoption. Ethereum and Polygon are being picked out of other blockchains for Web3 gaming. So, the question now is: Is it better to use Ethereum or Polygon? Does the popularity of Web3 impact the current Ethereum price?
A Quick Overview of Web3 Gaming
Web3 games are commonly referred to as play-to-earn games, crypto games, blockchain games, or NFT games. They leverage blockchain technology to allow for the decentralization of in-game assets and currencies so players can earn, trade, and use these rewards outside of the games. The in-game assets are overseen and exchanged on decentralized marketplaces using smart contracts, which enable the automatic enforcement of the game rules, fairness in reward management, and the prevention of fraud and cheating. Web3 games are different from free-to-play games that exist within a self-contained ecosystem that prevents players from trading in-game assets for real-world value.
Web3 gaming platforms use cryptocurrency wallets to accommodate players’ collectibles or in-game assets (virtual land or characters). The creation of the wallet, the handling of the seed phrase, and the subsequent funding of the account are the responsibility of the player. Attention must be paid to the fact that the use of cryptocurrencies is optional because game tokens and collectibles can be paid for using a credit or a debit card. Web3 gaming creates an economy where players are rewarded for their skills, using their assets in various contexts and settings. The gaming ecosystem rejoices over experiences tailored to players’ unique preferences, meaning the games are often designed with the player in mind.
What Is the Best Blockchain Network to Build Web3 Games?
Technically, any blockchain with smart contract capabilities can be used to develop Web3 games. Practically, some blockchain networks are more efficient than others, presenting themselves as particularly viable solutions from a decentralization, authority-free operation. Ethereum and Polygon are two of the best blockchains for Web3 game development. If you’re curious to know which platform is the future for the rise of Web3 gaming, keep on reading.
Ethereum
Ethereum is a group of interconnected computers that follow a strict set of rules as regards exchanging information between peers. The network acts as the basis for communities, applications, organizations, and digital assets that anyone can use. The novelty of Ethereum lies in the fact that you don’t have to trust a novel authority that could change or restrict your access. Ethereum offers a simple and flexible API that enables developers to build games at an unmatched speed and scale. The ecosystem has the largest active developer community, so numerous open-source tools and frameworks are available.
As mentioned previously, smart contracts monitor and govern various game processes. Smart contracts on Ethereum are written primarily in Solidity and Viper and designed to integrate with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, which creates an abstraction layer between the executing code and the executing machine. Ethereum has been disapproved of due to its high gas fees, especially when the network is overloaded. If there’s too much demand, it’s hard, if not impossible, to outbid other users’ transactions. At any rate, many Web3 games are based on Ethereum, such as CryptoKitties, Alien Worlds, and Sorare.
Polygon
Polygon is a Layer 2 scaling solution that is meant to help Ethereum address its scalability issues. Ethereum has been mainly focused on decentralization to the detriment of scalability, so transactions tend to be expensive and slow. Polygon helps reduce the complexities of transactions on the blockchain network by acting as an add-on layer to Ethereum. After rebranding, Polygon retained its MATIC cryptocurrency, which can be used by participants who interact within the network. As we all know, the Ethereum blockchain is home to economic activity like games, NFT markets, and the DeFi ecosystem.
Polygon is a game-changer for Web3 gaming due to its flexibility and low gas fees. It makes available a zero-knowledge scaling solution that integrates smart contracts and developer tools, pairing transaction rollups with zero-knowledge proof cryptography. Simply put, Polygon is comparable to Ethereum. Polygon originally concentrated on building DeFi applications but has expanded to the gaming landscape, a necessary step to onboard millions of users. Polygon enables faster and cheaper transactions, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise it’s the blockchain of choice for numerous Web3 games. Examples of Web3 games based on Polygon are Planet IX, Zed Run, and Crazy Defense Heroes.
Concluding Thoughts
The future of Web3 gaming is exciting and promising, transforming the way we play, interact, and monetize virtual experiences. It’s doubtful that Web3 games will substitute traditional games because they cater to the needs of different audiences. Web3 games and regular games can co-exist, but it’s believed that many gamers will move to Web3 in the upcoming years. As an ever-increasing number of game developers embrace the potential of blockchain technology, we can look forward to a gaming ecosystem that fosters a stronger sense of community ownership.
Most likely, Web3 gaming will create a market segment of its own rather than altering the established rules in the gaming industry. Web3 adoption by major brands has shifted to Ethereum and Polygon due to their technological merits. With the rise of virtual reality and the metaverse, Web3 games will become more interactive and immersive. The ability to move assets between blockchains without much difficulty will become critical, so we can expect platforms to communicate and interact with each other.