Yoda Labs Monthly Recap

Game on for Web3 in June!

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Yoda Labs
June 29, 2023

As the journey of June comes to an end it has certainly been a jubilant month with jam-packed gaming news. Nike and their. Swoosh platform made headlines with their collaboration with Fortnite and EA Games. Yoda Labs released the most in-depth look at the Avalanche gaming ecosystem. We saw the first-ever Web3 Gaming Expo by 3XP, and some big announcements by Ava Labs and Champion Ascension were dropped. While the SEC continues to throw its weight around by naming prominent gaming tokens as securities. What was the juiciest news for you in June?

Also in our monthly round up:

  • Gods Unchained joins Fortnite on Epic Games Store

  • Minecraft has not officially banned NFTs,

  • Heroes of Mavia announces beta launch

  • Polygon has a new partner to launch Web3 mobile games quickly

  • Can embedded messaging drive hype and engagement

  • 22 yr old secures 10$M in seed round funding

  • Learning lessons from the past for better Web3 games

  • Metaverse projects accounted for 44% of Web3 investments

  • Bored Ape creators revealed their new game

  • Avalanche’s Shrapnel, one of the most anticipated Web3 games, opens its creator tool for the public

  • Animoca Brands highlights AI and blockchain as the future trend

The most in-depth research on the Avalanche Gaming Ecosystem

Why it might be the chain to rule gaming

Co-authored by BGA & DappRadar 

Web3 Gaming News 🎮

Should NFTs be banned in games?

Back in 2021, Microsoft reported 141 million monthly active players across devices for its popular game Minecraft. It caught the attention of the Web3 gaming industry with the announcement of a ban and exclusion of NFTs.

Mojang said specifically that it would ban the use of NFT assets in ways that “gate” or restrict access to certain content or features on fan-operated game servers. Whilst the game publisher allows players to charge for access to servers, such features must be available to everyone to purchase. With NFTs, there could be features limited to a small set of asset owners.

Citing that NFTs and blockchain technologies establish digital ownership through scarcity and exclusion, thus conflicting with Minecraft's values of creativity and inclusivity Mojang argued that NFTs divide the community into haves and have-nots, lacking inclusivity.

12 months is a long time in Web3, both technology and trends move at pace. Even though Mojang is currently sticking to its stance (but not updating its terms). The rise of Free Mint, Subscription, and Membership NFTs proves that Web3 tech can be incorporated into games without upsetting traditional gamers and or diving communities. In fact, superfans could have a closer relationship with gaming creators thus embracing inclusivity at a level that is currently not available.

Using embedded messaging to drive hype and engagement

Embedded messaging is a technique that is seen across media and entertainment. Whether that is REDRUM and its reference to “Murder” in the film Shining or Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (referring to LSD) in the famous Beatles song, subliminal messaging has been around for an age.

We’ve seen it in games too, Metal Gear Solid includes the words “Wake Up” and We are Watching You” when the code is decompiled. Whilst Silent Hill includes words and “Fear” and “Pain” within its environment.

Those that pick up on it are often more engaged as it creates a sense of excitement and anticipation as well as a potential uptick in sales and hype. The use of such techniques could also tease upcoming content, in-game events, or triggers for social interaction.

The IP surrounding Goblintown is no stranger to gaming presence. With its recent partnership with DeLabs and its presence found in Ruble Racing Stars, this NFT collection is getting into gaming without building a game. We’ve spoken about how eSports could onboard traditional gamers, as payouts, participation, and prizes are Web3 based. The use of product placement and subliminal messages is another way to entice gamers to dig into the rabbit hole of Web3 gaming.


As they say IYKYK.

The Future of Web3 Sport Sims

Has Web3 fantasy tennis game Fungiball just set a benchmark on how to execute sports sims on the blockchain? It certainly makes a compelling case. The game simulates professional tennis players and gamers can collect and exchange player skill cards to create a tennis champion to compete against others. Usual gaming mechanics are in play where Silver, Gold, and Platinum NFT scarcity leagues exist.

But here comes the twist. A gamer can compose a tennis player with real ATP/WTA statistics. This extra level of engagement entices players to defeat their opponents, develop the best player and add the resource cards like coaching, and sponsors, it takes personalized gameplay to a new level.

Standard features like leaderboard, tournaments, and career mode throughout the season still exist but Fungiball has managed to partner with over 80 top 1000 tennis players, including Zhizhen Zhang, Constant Lestienne, Jaume Munar, Dusan Lajovic, and Edouard Roger Vasselin.

With negotiating set to continue to bring on board more than 300 player associations the team behind the project is working closely with these athletes ensuring authenticity and a healthy tennis ecosystem. The revenue-sharing strategy supports player careers while gamers enjoy a truly engaging gaming experience. The team is certainly making a name for itself.

New games by chain by Big Blockchain Game List

3XP Web3 Gaming Expo

  • Web3 RPG 'Stella Fantasy' by Ring Games plans to release on Steam and mobile, aiming to increase accessibility and attract a larger user base.

  • Mino Games releases alpha version of Dimensional's first character. Players can now experience the unique gameplay and features offered by this Web3 RPG.

3XP roundup by Yoda Labs

The Web 3 Gaming Expo hosted by 3XP was an extraordinary event that left a lasting impression. The eSports Arena showcased thrilling games like Mega Weapon and Champions Ascension, captivating attendees with their skill and innovation. The exhibition area featured a diverse range of gaming projects, highlighting the creative and technological advancements in Web3 Gaming. Avalanche Gaming made a significant impact, supporting multiple titles and providing comfortable gaming chairs for visitors.

The Main Stage was a hub of knowledge, with industry titans sharing insights and shaping the future of gaming. Johnny Casamassina's talk “Champions Ascension: Changing the Game with Player Ownership“, drawing upon his extensive experience, resonated with the audience. The offsite events provided opportunities for attendees to connect on a personal level. The DeFi Kingdoms MeetUp and CaeserVerse Toga Party fostered inclusivity and camaraderie.

The grand finale took place at the iconic Faze Clan Headquarters. Attendees enjoyed basketball, beer pong, go-karting, and made lasting connections. The event created a sense of anticipation for the future. With plans for future expos already in motion, the excitement for 3xp 2024 and beyond was palpable.

All in all, the Web 3 Gaming Expo showcased the limitless potential of the Web3 gaming industry. Attendees left with cherished memories, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the evolution of whats in store.

Web3 Gaming Trends 🚀

Focussing on the success of the past

The Play-to-Earn model was one of the most popular trends in gaming in 2021. However, the bear market and a series of hacks have led to a decline in popularity. Take note of the Free-to-Play model (F2P). This has been the most successful model in gaming for many years. F2P games allow players to try the game for free before they decide to spend money. This can help to attract a wider audience and increase the chances of success. Additionally, F2P games can generate revenue through in-game purchases, which can help to fund the development and maintenance of the game.

Web3 games have the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry, but they need to learn from the successes and failures of Web2 games. Web3 games can succeed by focusing on gameplay. If a game is fun and enjoyable this will increase its appeal. Web3 games should also strive to be accessible to a wide range of players. This means that they should be available on a variety of devices and platforms - with Apple loosening their stance and games stores like Epic Games embracing Web3 the future is very bright.

3VERSE which operates in the ever-popular genre of multiplayer online battle arenas seems to have found the right balance. A F2P game that has fun and engaging gameplay keeps players coming back for more. Those that stay have the opportunity to earn, so time isn’t wasted and rewards can be exchanged for crypto. With a passionate community that is active on social media and is welcoming to new comers, this is the type of supportive environment that is necessary for a Web3 game to succeed, which has been an increasing trend in 2023.

Scaling to the heights of supporting millions of users through blockchain

It is no secret there is a consistent need for in-game personalization. One indicator of this ‘want‘ is the market for skins, which reached $50 billion in 2022. With many players owing tens, hundreds, or even thousands of in-game items Web2 gaming assets have always been a one-way street, where funds flow from gamers to developers and publishers.

Blockchain and true asset ownership puts players in control of their assets. Web3 disrupts by opening the in-game economy to players and letting them take their bespoke digital assets between games, turning gaming into an interoperable, immersive environment. But with games like Fortnite, League of Legends attracting million upon million of players, Ethereum like blockchains can only process 30 transactions per second. Way short of what is needed to accommodate the vast number of players.

This is where Zero Knowledge scaling technology is looking to address this scaling issue. ZkEVM technology offers global scale and security by bundling transactions for off-chain validation, reducing mainnet load, boosting throughput 600x, and lowering fees. This is vital for games with high-volume, low-cost transactions. These games will function like ecosystems, not isolated entities. Thus enabling assets, avatars, and profiles to move across platforms effortlessly, promoting user liquidity and access. Transactions will be streamlined to one or two clicks, removing the need for separate wallets. This enables unprecedented interoperability across all titles and services, revolutionizing traditional gaming.

AI and blockchain gaming made for each other?

Robby Yung, the boss of Animoca Brands, believes that AI and blockchain can work seamlessly together in the world of video games. He suggests that AI can make games feel more real and exciting, while blockchain can make gaming more safe and open. Specifically by keeping game data in a secure place that everyone can see. He also goes on to highlight how AI can help make games better, especially for players with disabilities by giving them helpful features..

With its current adoption rate, it’s becoming clearer that AI and blockchain are becoming more important in the future of gaming. As well as the points mentioned above, Yung feels that combining these two technologies can really change the gaming industry. AI can create more realistic characters and worlds, making games more immersive.

It is clear to see that AI and blockchain are two big technologies that will shape how games are made in the future. As these technologies keep getting better, we can expect games to become more creative and absorbing.

Web3 Funding News 💸

Exploring the Metaverse 🛸

  • Warner Music Group and The Sandbox collaborate on a music-themed metaverse through the Infinite Pulse Land Sale.

  • Metaverse projects accounted for 44% of Web3 investments in H1 2023, with The Sandbox, Decentraland, and Axie Infinity being the top three.

  • Swiss engineers are developing a VR suit called Meta Suit, allowing users to feel things in the metaverse through sensors and soft, human-like muscles, providing haptic feedback.

The full-body suit VR suit designed by Swiss engineers to help users feel the metaverse

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"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will”
-Yoda

See you same place same time next week!

❤❤❤

Yoda Labs teamMonth