TL;DR
The cryptocurrency market has been booming recently, and blockchain technology is looking to make a comeback at GDC 2024, the world's largest game developer conference.
In particular, with the participation of major Web3 companies such as Avalanche, Arbitrum, and Oasys, the discussion around Web3 gaming is expected to be livelier than ever.
Web3 games that include AAA projects such as Nexon's MapleStory Universe and Wemade's Night Crows are setting a new direction for the overall industry.
Introduction
Game Developer Conference (GDC) 2024, the world's largest gaming conference, is set to kick off this week. The conference brings together game developers from around the world to learn about the latest trends in the game industry and share their perspectives to help shape its future. The more you learn from GDC, the more you can be prepared for what’s to come in gaming. In this report, we'll give you a rundown of the top Web3 games to watch out for before you head to GDC 2024.
Web3 games making a comeback
With the recent resurgence of the cryptocurrency market, blockchain technology is expected to be in the spotlight again at GDC 2024. Last year, Nexon, Wemade, and Com2uS introduced their blockchain games, drawing attention to the Web3 game market. This year, Nexon and Wemade are planning to introduce their blockchain games 'MapleStory Universe' and 'Night Crows', respectively, and Wemade is expected to participate as the main sponsor for the third consecutive year.
In addition to the participation of various game companies, the keynote session at GDC 2024 will also feature a number of Web3-related companies such as Animoca Brands and The Sandbox. This will be an important opportunity to further explore the applicability and impact of blockchain technology in the gaming industry.
Active mainnet participation
More mainnets are participating in this year’s conference, including Avalanche, Arbitrum, and Oasys. These mainnets have set up their own booths and are working to find gaming partners, demonstrating their strong commitment to contribute to the innovation and growth of the gaming industry powered by blockchain technology.
The participation of Avalanche and Oasys is particularly noteworthy. Avalanche's influence in the Web3 gaming space is growing, with the recent release of the Avalanche-based FPS game Shrapnel and the announcement of a collaboration with MapleStory Universe. Oasys has also been active, with recent partnerships with Kakao Games' Metabora, Com2uS' XPLA, and Ubisoft. In addition, Gala Games will host a $1 million hackathon at the conference, which will bring more hype to Web3 game development.
Notable Web3 game companies attending GDC 2024
Nexon Universe, MapleStory Universe
Presented by Nexon Universe, MapleStory Universe is a Web3 game based on the MapleStory IP, which has more than 180 million global users. The game features a highly-anticipated community-centered C2E (Create to Earn) ecosystem that encourages user-driven content production in-game.
The company aims to launch the game this year and has recently released several sneak peeks of 'MapleStory N'. Stay tuned as they plan to reveal details about their partnership with Avalanche at this GDC.
Wemade, Night Crows
WeMade's Night Crows is a Web3 MMORPG game that launched globally in March of this year. The game has been released in 180 countries around the world to a warm reception, reaching 200,000 concurrent users within two days of launch. WeMade is solidifying its role as a leader in the Web3 gaming industry, so it's worth paying attention to the Web3 gaming ecosystem they're envisioning.
Other gaming conferences
GDC 2024 has an especially high level of interest in blockchain technology, even when compared to gaming conferences in other regions. In last year's G-STAR 2023 gaming conference in South Korea, only 4% of nearly 300 participating companies were related to blockchain technology. This low participation rate can be attributed to the strict regulatory environment of the Korean game market. Currently, Web3 games are restricted from operating in South Korea, especially as the Korean Game Rating and Administration Committee continues to refuse to classify blockchain-based games.
On the other hand, game conferences held in Japan and China last year showed a bigger focus on Web3 games. In Korea, it was difficult to see Web3 game companies other than Wemade. On the other hand, at the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2023 in Japan, there was a higher participation of Web3 projects, such as Oasis and Double Tokyo Jump along with a joint booth of large game companies Gumi and Crooz Blockchain Lab.
In China, contrary to concerns of no Web3 game activity due to the strict regulations, there was a conference on Web3 technology at China Joy 2023, the country's largest gaming conference.
Conclusion
Many P2E games have failed to reach success, but the Web3 gaming market is still buzzing with creative and disruptive attempts. GDC 2024 will further illustrate these efforts. With the advancement of blockchain infrastructure technology and lessons learned from past trials and errors, the possibility of AAA-quality Web3 games growing every day.
With the revitalization of the cryptocurrency market and a noticeable increase in GameFi users, the expectations for Web3 gaming are even higher this year. Take a look at the GDC 2024 conference to see what the future holds.
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Disclaimer
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