Solana Wants to Lead the Crypto Gaming Charge—Here’s How

Whereas naysayers proceed to name NFTs and the related blockchain video games a money seize, the Solana Basis intends to flip the script and alter the narrative, making a public push final week with its PlayGG occasion in San Diego.

“The reception and the joy from each the attendees and our developer group has been superb,” Solana Video games Normal Supervisor Johnny Lee informed Decrypt on the occasion, which spotlighted a wide range of video games constructing on Solana.

Lee mentioned the Solana Basis hoped the free two-day occasion would entice buyers, the media, and native San Diego households to expertise blockchain gaming in a manner that didn’t emphasize crypto or NFTs. The occasion included video games like Star Atlas, Aurory, and Alchemy: Battle for Ankhos, and featured skilled players from the G2 Esports staff.

“By definition, we’re a Web3-related occasion, however we do not consider this as a Web3 occasion,” Lee mentioned. “We name it PlayGG: play good video games.”

Realizing that “NFT” is commonly a unclean phrase amongst members of the gaming group, many builders are distancing themselves from the time period, as an alternative calling them digital collectibles. Lots of the video games introduced at PlayGG, not like blockchain video games of the previous (like play-to-earn video games), didn’t push NFTs or token rewards.

Lots of the video games, actually, don’t require any type of cost or cryptocurrency to play. Lee mentioned that the purpose for titles supported by the Solana Video games initiative shouldn’t be merely to be higher than different blockchain video games, however to face tall even when in comparison with conventional (or “Web2”) titles.

At the moment, the two-day PlayGG occasion kicks off in San Diego on the Julep Venue!

Streamers, @G2esports expertise, builders, and players have gathered to have a good time, join, and play 50+ video games constructed on Solana 🎮

Study extra: https://t.co/XxVvsGdtKT pic.twitter.com/zrSk5rVawF

— Solana (@solana) July 18, 2023

“We’ve got at all times believed and targeted on [the idea] that Web3 video games must compete with all video games, not competing solely with different blockchain video games,” Lee mentioned. “I feel it was vital to point out good video games as quickly as attainable—that we’re utilizing blockchain expertise to supply distinctive and high quality participant experiences.”

To verify Solana Gaming solely helps video games which have promise, Lee mentioned recreation builders need to current a construct of the sport first and let his staff play them. Over 50 such video games have been current on the PlayGG occasion.

“When recreation builders would method us for any modicum of economic assist, we required a play take a look at,” he mentioned, “and we introduced it publicly within the business.”

One of many important complaints that many gaming followers had of earlier “metaverse” and blockchain video games was the low high quality and excessive value of entry. Lee mentioned that Solana Video games is keen to spend the capital and time it takes to make sure that high quality video games are launched on the Solana community.

“We have been ready to take a short-term enterprise hit to correctly construct the long-term worth of our video games ecosystem,” Lee mentioned.

Whereas Lee is optimistic about the way forward for gaming on Solana, he acknowledged that the blockchain has had points previously. Nonetheless, he mentioned the community is stronger now than ever earlier than, and claimed that it’ll don’t have any drawback supporting video games and transactions. He additionally pointed to optimism across the upcoming Firedancer validator consumer, which can additional assist stabilize the community.

“Whereas the title ‘Firedancer’ is cool, the work it is doing is much more so,” Lee mentioned. “Its testnet has surpassed our expectations with its efficiency enhancements.”

Whereas most of the video games at SolanaPlayGG have been nonetheless in improvement, Lee is assured that they may match up nicely towards comparable video games from the normal recreation business when they’re prepared for public launch.

“We are able to confidently say now that the far majority of our video games have the potential to compete with different mainstream video games in comparable genres,” Lee mentioned. “We’re very excited for this subsequent stage of Web3 video games.”