Gaming and Blockchain: Hype and Reality

TL;DR

This paper examines the adoption of blockchain in gaming, analyzing its potential benefits and challenges, and evaluating existing projects to assess the future viability of blockchain-based gaming.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of blockchain gaming projects, comparing key metrics and discussing practical challenges and opportunities in the industry.

Findings

Blockchain can enhance gaming economies and player asset control.

High energy consumption and user adoption are significant barriers.

Mixed feedback and high transaction costs impact sustainability.

Abstract

This paper explores the adoption of blockchain technology in the gaming industry. While supporters affirm that distributed ledger technology has potential to revolutionize gaming economies and provide players with control over their virtual assets, there are practical challenges such as energy consumption and user adoption to be addressed, and detractors question whether blockchain integration is even necessary. This report characterises popular blockchain-based gaming projects like Enjin and Axie Infinity, then compares metrics such as transaction cost and player feedback to evaluate the longevity of blockchain-integrated gaming as a whole.