Web3 gaming continues to grow in the Philippines and with it the desire to compete at the highest level.
YGG Play Summit just recently concluded their packed five-day event celebrating the latest and greatest leaders, influencers, and developers in Web3 gaming. The SMX Convention Center Aura at BGC was filled with Pinoy gamers eager to try the latest Web3 games and get a glimpse of intense Web3 esports.
Throughout the event YGG Play Summit hosted premier tournaments for four Web3 games. First was Anichess, a free-to-play chess game with a bit of special powers and magic added to the mix. Next was Arena of Faith, an esports-focused MOBA with an emphasis on personal customization. Then there’s Indus, a mobile battle royal made by Indian studio SuperGaming and one of the biggest mobile games in the market. Last but certainly not least was Parallel, an online Trading Card Game set in a dark sci-fi future Earth.
All four games were posting some serious prize money for their tournaments. Anichess, Arena of Faith, and Indus had USD 10,000 prize pools while Parallel had a whopping USD 100,000. For Indus and Parallel, these tournaments were also part of their wider esports circuit, meaning we can expect more from them in the future.
On Web3 Gaming
At this point, I feel that it’s necessary for me to clear up what Web3 and Web3 gaming are exactly. Simply put, it’s what a number of developers see as the future of the internet. By incorporating concepts such as blockchain technologies and token-based economics, Web3 will be a decentralized platform open to all. At least, that’s what many hope it’ll be.
Some of you may have already heard of the term “blockchain” and “tokens” before and likely in a negative light. If you’re familiar with Bitcoin and NFT’s, this is the underlying technology that Web3 is using. There’s been a lot of scandals and controversies surrounding these technologies and debates about their use rage on even today.
Now, what does this have to do with video games? On the outset, not much. The games that I saw at the YGG Play Summit looked like real video games. They’re made by passionate developers who’re looking to bring something unique and exciting to the video gaming industry. None of them looked like scams or pyramid schemes in disguise.
It’s when you dig a little more where the controversial face of Web3 shows up. When I hear about their plans for establishing economies and the concept of play-to-earn, whether it’s unique in-game items or tradable tokens, I begin to feel a bit wary.
Call me a traditionalist but I enjoy my video games as games and not online markets.
Brimming With Potential
My personal bias aside, I stand by what I said earlier. The YGG Play Summit showed to me that Web3 is filled with real, authentic, and dedicated gamers and developers. They believe in what they’re making and so do the players who’ve dedicated their time to play these games.
As I sat in the stands, watching the crowd get hyped with the plays happening on screen, seeing players excitedly talking and interacting with each other, I realized that this is no different than any esports tournament out there. It’s passionate players and fans gathering to see their game played at the highest level. And for some of these communities, the YGG Play Summit is their first time meeting each other face-to-face and enjoying the esports experience together.
There’s really no way of replicating a bunch of fans getting excited while watching the game that they love. Web3 gaming is uncharted territory but the potential is there for it to deliver exciting moments and unforgettable experiences. And at the end of the day, that’s what esports is all about.
Banner photo from Emfarsis.