The realm of crypto gaming is rapidly evolving, but according to Argus Labs founder and CEO Scott Sunarto, there is still a long way to go before it reaches its full potential. Sunarto recently spoke at the Blockworks Permissionless II conference in Austin, Texas, shedding light on the current state of crypto gaming and where it needs to go in the future.
The Current State of Crypto Gaming
Crypto gaming is currently in a stage of transition. Sunarto highlighted that the industry is still in its early stages, lacking a clear playbook for success. This uncertainty has led many developers to prioritize speed over long-term strategy, adopting a “ship fast” mentality. “We’re in a phase of crypto gaming where no one has truly figured out a clear playbook that justifies investing four years of development life cycle…and tens of millions of dollars,” Sunarto stated.
However, this rush to market has its drawbacks. Sunarto pointed out that many developers are simply repurposing existing Web2 games, adding NFTs, and marketing them as crypto games. This “skeuomorphic” approach, as he called it, makes it difficult to compete with well-established Web2 games. “If you present this to gamers, they’ll think, ‘Okay, you don’t have the intellectual property that these large Web2 game publishers have – and now, you’re just offering gameplay that is essentially identical,'” he explained.
The Need for a Fresh Approach
Sunarto believes that the future of crypto gaming lies in innovation and unique game mechanics that fully leverage the potential of blockchain technology. He expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with developers who are exploring inventive ways to use crypto to enhance gameplay beyond incorporating collectibles.
According to Sunarto, the key is to focus on what sets crypto gaming apart. While asset ownership is an important aspect of crypto games, Sunarto argued that ownership alone is insufficient to make a game stand out. “Ownership means nothing if you don’t have true interoperability and composability,” he said.
He further highlighted the potential of blockchain in gaming, distinguishing between owning assets on platforms like Steam and owning them on the blockchain. On the blockchain, players can freely use their game assets across different protocols without any restrictions. This level of freedom and interoperability is what makes crypto gaming unique.
Preparing for the Next Billion Gamers
The future of crypto gaming looks promising, but developers must be ready to meet the expectations of a new generation of gamers. Sunarto emphasized that the “next billion gamers” have high standards and are seeking more than just another game with NFTs. “If we want to claim that crypto is going to improve gaming,” Sunarto stated, “then we need to do more than just provide more NFTs.”
To truly capture the attention of this new wave of gamers, developers need to think outside the box and explore the unique possibilities that blockchain technology offers. By focusing on emergent behaviors stemming from asset ownership and the broader design space that blockchain enables, developers can create truly distinctive gaming experiences.
In conclusion, Sunarto’s insights serve as a call to action for the crypto gaming industry. As the market becomes saturated with low-effort clones, there is a pressing need for innovation and a fresh approach. By fully harnessing the potential of blockchain technology and focusing on what makes crypto gaming unique, developers can pave the way for a new era of gaming that appeals to the next billion gamers.