What’s really going on with blockchain in gaming? I’ve heard it all. “It’s just another crypto scam,” some say. Others call it “the future of player-owned economies.” And most developers I’ve met fall somewhere in betweencurious, skeptical, and honestly a little overwhelmed. So I started asking the real questions: Is blockchain genuinely useful in game development, or is this just another tech experiment that’ll quietly fade away?
The worry is valid. Blockchain isn’t a new concept anymore, but in gaming, it still feels like the Wild West. Players are unsure if they're being sold digital snake oil. Developers worry about backlash or building on unstable tech. But I’ve also seen real projectssome big, some indiethat are proving there’s a place for it when used properly.
Let’s clear one thing up right away. I’m not saying this technology is going to change everything. But I’ve worked with developers who are already using blockchain to build systems that didn’t exist before. The concept of blockchain-powered game development is no longer theoreticalit’s functioning in live environments, with actual players and real economies.
From a developer’s perspective, blockchain offers more than just hype. It creates infrastructure that changes how ownership, scarcity, and trust are handled in a virtual space.
These aren’t just technical gimmicks. When designed with intention, they shift the dynamic between player and publisher. The player becomes a participant in the economy, not just a consumer.
Despite these upsides, many developers I’ve worked with are cautious. And honestly, I get it. Blockchain introduces an entirely new layer of complexityand scrutiny.
Take Ubisoft Quartz as an example. They tried integrating NFTs into Ghost Recon Breakpoint, but the idea flopped. Why? The implementation felt pointless. It added no value to gameplay, and players saw it for what it was: a monetization gimmick.
Not every genre works well with blockchain mechanics. Based on what I’ve seen and built, certain game structures naturally support blockchain better than others.
| Game Type | Compatibility with Blockchain | Real Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Card Games | Very High | Gods Unchained, Splinterlands |
| Virtual Worlds/MMOs | High | The Sandbox, Decentraland |
| Real-Time Battle Arenas | Moderate | Thetan Arena, Cryowar |
| Idle/Simulation Games | Moderate | CryptoKitties, Farming Tales |
| First-Person Shooters | Low to Moderate | Shrapnel (in development) |
| Platformers/Puzzle Games | Low | Rarely integrated |
The common thread? In games where ownership, economy, or progression are core parts of gameplay, blockchain has a natural fit. When ownership is just an add-on, it feels artificial.
All this talk about systems and tokens is fine for studiosbut what do players actually get out of it?
A great example is Illuvium. It’s an open-world RPG with auto-battle mechanics and a decentralized asset model. Players can earn creatures (Illuvials) and sell or trade them freely. It’s not pay-to-winit’s play-to-own. That distinction matters.
Let’s be honestmany early blockchain games looked like thinly-veiled cash grabs. Tokenized systems can easily become predatory if not handled with care.
But here’s the difference: in good blockchain games, monetization is optional and economic participation is earned, not forced. That’s a huge shift from microtransaction-heavy models we’ve seen in traditional games.
| Aspect | Traditional Games | Blockchain Games |
|---|---|---|
| Item ownership | Controlled by publisher | Controlled by player wallet |
| Marketplace access | In-game only | Open/third-party exchanges |
| Asset resale | Often prohibited | Encouraged |
| Gameplay benefit from purchase | Often required | Optional or cosmetic |
| Interoperability | Very limited | Emerging possibilities |
The trick is avoiding “token for token’s sake.” Games like Axie Infinity have faced downturns because the economy was more exciting than the gameplay. Without strong mechanics and balancing, blockchain becomes a distractionnot a feature.
If your blockchain game is:
…it’s doomed to fail. And many already have.
In 2022 alone, over 70% of blockchain-based games either shut down or paused development. Funding dried up. Player counts vanished. Most lacked compelling gameplay loopsand relied too much on speculative value.
Projects that survive tend to follow a different path:
That order matters. If you reverse it, the game turns into a volatile financial product disguised as entertainment.
This is the part that’s changing quickly. When I first started experimenting with blockchain integrations, gas fees were ridiculous and onboarding users was a nightmare. Now?
We’re still not at plug-and-play simplicity, but it’s no longer prohibitively complex.
Here’s where I land, based on what I’ve seen:
We’ve seen fads before: motion controls, AR integrations, even loot boxes. Some faded. Some evolved. Blockchain will be the same. It won’t define every game, but it will become a tool used in games where it adds value.
If you’re building a game and thinking about adding blockchain, here’s what I’d recommend you ask:
If the answers are mostly “yes,” you’re in a good place to start testing.
So, is blockchain the future or a fad in game development? It depends on how you use it.
If you're chasing trends, it'll burn you. But if you're solving real design problemsespecially around ownership, trust, and in-game economiesit can be the foundation for a new kind of player experience.
Like any tool, its value comes from the way it’s used. And right now, the developers who treat it with care, not hype, are the ones building the next generation of gamesnot just chasing the last one.