Despite the NFT backlash, the ex-YouTube Gaming head believes that gamers will eventually embrace Web3.
Many crypto builders see video games as the killer app for Web3, citing perceived benefits like ownership of in-game items as NFTs, possible interoperability between games, and the potential to profit from rising token and NFT values. But by and large, gamers aren’t buying it.
Prominent NFT gaming efforts by firms like Ubisoft, Square Enix, and GSC Game World have faced backlash from outspoken video game fans. Critics point to shallow gameplay for early NFT games, crypto industry scams, and falling asset prices, plus a belief that game publishers will use NFTs to extract more cash from players.
Ryan Wyatt, President of Polygon Labs, transitioned into the crypto industry in early 2022 after a notable career in esports and video games, including as head of YouTube Gaming. On a recent episode of Decrypt’s gm podcast, Wyatt made the case for why gamers will help lead the charge for Web3 adoption.
“It’s a matter of time,” said Wyatt, who leads the business team at Polygon, an Ethereum sidechain network. “By the time we see mass adoption of Web3 games, really, out in a couple years, the friction that you see today I think will largely be gone. Not entirely, but gamers are the most savvy tech group—so they’ll be the earliest adopters.”
Gamers already understand digital ownership and the idea that virtual items can have value and personal meaning. Granted, in Web2 gaming models, there are limits to ownership: Fortnite sells an array of character “skins” and items, but they can’t be resold or used in other games. And if Epic Games eventually shuts Fortnite down, they’ll potentially be useless.
By contrast, an NFT representing a unique character or item could be freely sold or traded, and composability of blockchain assets means that they could be used in other games and metaverse worlds to some degree. But Wyatt said that there need to be stronger Web3 games to justify the attention and investment of players.
“You’ve just got to give them a reason to go play a game,” he said, but surmised that “it’s not there right now.”
Source : decrypt
