Yoda Labs Monthly Recap

Game on for Web3 in April

Author

Yoda Labs
May 05, 2023

April was an awesome and good news intensive month for blockchain gaming, as we saw Web2 brands such as Brave Browser, Jack Daniels, and Square Enix making their mark. Web3 native brands and personalities remain heavily involved in game development and continue to push the envelope further. Yoda Labs has you covered!

Also in our monthly digest:

  • Microsft-Activision broken deal is good for Web3 studios

  • Dr. Disrespectā€™s Snapshot V event fills an Esports stadium

  • Yuga Labsā€™ Legends of Mara has players asking for more

  • PUBG creator launching a metaverse game with NFTs

  • China embraces the metaverse and builds out a district

  • Web2 giants to drop any Web3 terminology to drive mass adoption

  • Zilliqa is launching a Web3 gaming console

Yoda Labs exclusive research report featuring expert insights into the Immutable Gaming Ecosystem

Stay tuned for the next one very soon!

Co-authored by BGA & DappRadar

Web3 Gaming News šŸŽ®

Shockwaves uses AI NFTs to create distinctive, music-infused first-person shooter

In Serum City, Mutant Apes are the main characters, and MAYC is among a few NFT collections that will provide owners access to the game

No need for a crypto wallet to be involved in Web3 gaming

Actually, no need for crypto anything to be involved in Web3 gaming.
Tetro Tiles is the latest example of a team that is on a mission to convert traditional gamers. Actually, that may not be their mission at all - but raising awareness of Web3 gaming is being done via their reward mechanism.

Before getting to rewards a number of purposeful decisions have been made. Offering, multiple ways to log in such as Gmail, Twitter, or email accounts there is no onboarding friction. The game is available on Appleā€™s App Store and Google Play Store is perfectly accessible and the fact it is mobile-ready is perfect for cauls gamers. Add to the fact that the game had a name change from Bitcoin Blocks to Tetro Blocks - the game has a perfect product market fit.

So simple it doesnā€™t need a tutorial the game is fun and engaging. Satoshis, the smallest denominations of Bitcoin are offered as rewards. Players donā€™t need to cash them out and can continue racking up these in-game rewards. By why let that go to waste? Players that do want to cash out, can. For that, the Lightening network is used and a wallet is needed. Who said Web3 gaming needs to be called Web3 gaming? Soon itā€™ll just be called gaming and players wonā€™t even know.

Consumption in Web3 gaming - is that even possible?

One would not think that a real-life experience of eating and drinking could be replicated in the virtual world. But food and drink brands are dominating the headlines as they capitalize on the benefits of first mover advantage. Last week we reported Wrigley, Papa Johnā€™s, and Mcdonaldā€™s metaverse presence.

Now we see the prominent Whiskey brand Jack Daniels entering Web3. Whatā€™s more, they have done it with calculated precision. Knowing that mainstream metaverse adoption is still quite far away the company has adopted a more reserved approach by embracing AR and casual gameplay. Many believe AR will be the stepping stone into wider metaverse adoption and an equal amount of voices have expressed that casual games are the way forward for Web3 gaming adoption.

Additionally, they have chosen to feature Music NFTs. This is a stroke of genius. Not only is it slowly entering Web3, but it chooses to do so without the stigma of PFP-based NFTs. Music NFTs are also in their infancy so the brand is getting in on a scene that is yet to peak. Add to the fact that drink and music go hand in hand itā€™s a no-brainer, and it's a classy move whilst rewarding their loyal customers at the same time. Cheers to that JD.

Web3 Gaming TrendsĀ šŸš€

Firms are going out of their way to drop Web3 terminology

To the traditionalists, anything that mentions Crypto, NFTs, or Web3 is pre-judged as a scam. Granted the industry has taken a few knocks. Web2 industry veterans such as David Ayer of ā€œThe Fast and Furiousā€ and ā€œSuidice Squadā€ is making a stand.

At its heart, Lollipop is a Web3 video game that uses NFTs. However phrases such as ā€œdigital collectiblesā€ and ā€œinteractive media experienceā€ are preferred as it avoids the negative stigma. Throw in other phrases like ā€œepisodic streaming, gaming, and professional sportsā€œit is only Web3 technology that can combine all elements.

Perhaps this is unfair to those that are 24/7 Web3 natives. If changing the phrases leads to wider adoption then this could be a pill that we have to swallow. Ask any Web3 person if they like the term digital collectible and they will rebuke it, look at you funny, and walk away. But no one in Web3 can come up with a better term. So for now we may have to stick with this trend.
Thatā€™s of course until Apple comes up with a name - and in turn, claims that they invented the blockchain, NFTs, and Web3 gaming.

  • NFTs are now being used in the iGaming industry for deposits, rewards, granting access to casinos and loyalty programs where players could own a slot machine and benefit as business owners

  • Brycent becomes the first Web3 gamer to officially partner with Ledger a bullish moment for both parties as renowned companies are beginning to take Web3 games seriously

  • Gaming is expected to drive mainstream adoption of web3, as NFT projects aim to integrate with gaming projects due to the high usage of digital assets and skins by gamers.

Web3 Funding NewsĀ šŸ’ø

Exploring the Metaverse šŸ›ø

LaMelo Ball and The Sandbox join forces to create 'Meloverse

Celebrities and athletes still the best way to draw attention

This tried and tested approach still seems to work for a number of different reasons. Celebrities and athletes have big fan bases and impacts. Fans are more interested in projects they encourage. The fame and influence bring in media coverage.

In doing so, celebrities and athletes receive extensive media coverage, which can assist promote a project. This is a perfect recipe to increase a project's exposure on news, social media, and blogs. Both celebrities and sportsmen instantly raise awareness for a topic by creating viral moments and tapping into that fan base.

In addition, there is an emotional connection. Fans typically feel strongly about their favorite celebrities or athletes. Fans may be more loyal to a project sponsored by someone they like. In doing so a celebrity or athlete's endorsement can boost a project's credibility, especially if they're an expert or have relevant experience. The partnership can lend credibility to the idea.

Collaboration with a famous person can boost a project's brand. Many Web3 have used such techniques with a view to give a project prestige, exclusivity, and originality.

The evolving space of Avatars

Customization seems to be the theme of late. After all, owning digital assets is one of Web3's greatest strengths. Companies like Line Next and its AlphaCrewz Avatars are pushing the boundaries of utility.

We know many people believe NFTs are too scammy and don't bring enough value to be adopted by the public. This makes it difficult for Web3 companies, especially in the gaming industry, to reach those people.

If youā€™re old enough to remember Nintendo Wii you surely remember the introduction of the Mii avatar. For the first time, you could create a digital representation of yourself. And then use that creation within a game - it was magical madness that just made gaming fun.

With new use cases arising such as introducing customizable NFT avatars into a messaging app (used by 200 million people no doubt), this could be the initial way to onboard millions of users. With the company planning to launch a metaverse, it could easily become the metaverse of metaverses. Such an approach could be used for Web3 gaming. However for this to succeed true interoperability standards need to be agreed upon. We are still early.

Increasing presence from various Governments in the metaverse

Governments are showing an interest in the metaverse and itā€™s easy to see why. Not only is it an emerging technology but it also has the potential to impact various aspects of society. As the metaverse allows users to interact with each other and digital content in real-time, this creates a new form of social experience.

Governments are recognizing that it may have implications for areas such as education, entertainment, commerce, and even governance. For example, the metaverse could be used to provide new forms of online education, facilitate virtual conferences and events, or even offer new opportunities for remote work and collaboration.

Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for the metaverse to be used for illegal or harmful activities, such as cybercrime or exploitation. Governments may be interested in getting involved to help regulate and monitor the metaverse to ensure that it is a safe and ethical space for users.

Weā€™ve seen the Dubai police department, South Korea, and now the UK setting up shop within the metaverse - we surely see this trend continuing.

Upcoming Free Gaming Mints āš’ļø

Cubic Crate Season I
With Cubi, users can get rewarded for their participation in the Sui and Cubic ecosystems - Mint your Cubi for free

Kingdom Story
Kingdom Story: Heroes War is a Strategy Development NFT RPG. Players can collect over 300 Generals from the Three Kingdoms, minting them into NFTs.

Last Remains
Stealth zombie survival battleground, by EarnAlliance- Be one of three survivors to make it out alive!

Arcadians: Reloaded
Arcadians: Reloaded NFTs are inspired by classic arcade games. Each Arcadian is custom-made by the minter from a pool of traits. Players will forge their own Arcadians through a mint game, where gameplay determines attributes based on your score. The higher you score, the more traits you can customize.

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ā€œA challenge lifelong it is, not to bend fear into anger.ā€
-Yoda

See you same place same time next week!

ā¤ā¤ā¤

Yoda Labs team