Why Ethereum L1 Scaling Won’t Replace Gaming Layer 2s

Ethereum has achieved what many critics thought was out of attain. Transaction charges are actually just some cents, block capability is rising, and the bottom layer is sensible for each day use once more. In early 2026, Vitalik Buterin acknowledged this progress and stated the unique rollup-focused roadmap now not matches how the ecosystem actually works.

Some individuals noticed this as an indication that Layer 2s have gotten much less vital. Others thought it quietly supported an ‘L1-first’ future. Each views miss the extra advanced actuality.

Vitalik didn’t reject Layer 2s. As an alternative, he urged them to have a transparent function moderately than simply current by default. This distinction is very vital for blockchain gaming.

What Vitalik’s Critique of Layer 2s Actually Means

Vitalik’s argument centered on outcomes, not ideology. Many Layer 2s have been anticipated to mature into extremely decentralized, interoperable programs secured virtually completely by Ethereum. That progress slowed. Some groups selected quicker iteration, cleaner person expertise, or regulatory readability as a substitute of pushing decentralization to its limits.

In the meantime, Ethereum Layer 1 improved quicker than anticipated. Transaction prices fell considerably, and deliberate fuel restrict will increase will allow much more exercise. This variation challenges the outdated concept that L2s are primarily wanted to scale back congestion.

As an alternative of sticking to an outdated view, Vitalik described Layer 2s as a spectrum. Every chain has its personal ensures, efficiency, and trade-offs. Customers and builders now make decisions based mostly on what they want, moderately than assuming all Layer 2s are the identical.

Why Ethereum Layer 1 Nonetheless Falls Brief for Video games

Decrease charges alone don’t make a community good for gaming. On-chain video games create fixed modifications from motion, fight, crafting, buying and selling, and social options. Even small transaction prices add up quick when gamers take many actions every minute.

Throughput is a fair greater problem. Ethereum’s base layer can solely deal with a restricted variety of transactions per second. One standard multiplayer recreation can exceed this restrict throughout busy instances, like launches or stay occasions.

Latency is one other downside. Video games want fast suggestions. Delays of even just a few seconds can damage the expertise and annoy gamers. Shared blockspace additionally brings uncertainty that builders can’t absolutely handle.

Why Blockchain Gaming Wants Specialised Execution

Video games demand traits that monetary functions hardly ever require. Excessive, regular throughput is extra vital than dealing with occasional spikes. Predictable timing issues greater than common charges. Quick response instances matter greater than full decentralization at each degree.

Layer 1s concentrate on equity and shared entry. All apps compete for a similar blockspace beneath the identical guidelines. This setup retains the community secure however doesn’t work effectively for real-time interactive software program.

Video games don’t wish to compete with DeFi or NFTs for house. They should run individually, course of actions in parallel, and have efficiency ensures that shared environments can’t simply supply.

This hole is why gaming has moved to customized layers as a substitute of ready for enhancements to the bottom layer.

How Gaming-Targeted Layer 2s Tackle These Limits

Gaming Layer 2s give video games their very own blockspace. This implies gameplay doesn’t compete with different actions within the ecosystem. Builders get secure efficiency, and gamers have fewer interruptions throughout busy instances.

Many of those networks use customized sequencing or sharded execution. Actions can occur in parallel throughout matches, areas, or situations. This lowers latency and will increase throughput, whereas nonetheless preserving issues verifiable.

Price buildings are completely different too. Video games create 1000’s of small actions that might be too costly on a general-purpose chain. Pricing that understands the wants of video games retains these actions reasonably priced over time, with out relying on non permanent subsidies.

Networks like Base present this in motion. They assist fast-paced video games with a lot of transactions and regular person exercise.

Layer 3s and the Studio-Led Scaling Mannequin

As video games develop into extra advanced, some studios take specialization additional. Layer 3s, constructed on Layer 2 infrastructure, let builders absolutely management how their video games run whereas nonetheless counting on Ethereum for safety.

This setup is much like how large software program programs develop. Shared layers handle belief and settlement, whereas utility layers concentrate on efficiency and person expertise.

Main publishers have already tried this strategy. Atari and Nexon have each proven curiosity in utilizing multi-layer blockchain setups that preserve safety and execution separate.

Utilization Knowledge Helps Specialization

Layer 2 person numbers dropped in late 2025, whereas exercise on Ethereum Layer 1 went up. Some stated this meant L2s have been changing into much less vital, however the full story is extra advanced.

Many of the progress on Layer 1 got here from hypothesis and easy transfers made attainable by low charges. Gaming took a distinct path, with exercise centered on networks designed for quick, real-time interactions.

Tokenized in-game belongings saved growing in worth. Studios built-in quicker, and complete ecosystems grew round gaming-focused chains.

If Layer 2s weren’t wanted, builders wouldn’t preserve selecting them for his or her most demanding tasks.

The Future Is Layered, Not Aggressive

Ethereum’s position is now clearer. Layer 1 handles safety and settling worth. Layer 2s concentrate on execution and efficiency. Layer 3s are tailor-made for particular makes use of, like video games.

Vitalik’s feedback don’t weaken this setup. They assist it. Every layer does what it’s best at.

Blockchain gaming reveals the bounds of attempting to scale all the things the identical manner. It additionally proves why specialised Layer 2s are nonetheless important.

As Ethereum grows, Layer 2s don’t disappear. They develop into extra centered and much more vital for making blockchains locations the place individuals wish to play video games.