How incentives are evolving in Web3 gaming

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Elympics
@elympics_aiJul 10, 2025

The Spaces featured a lively discussion on the evolving gaming landscape, focusing on different gaming models like play to earn, play and earn, and play to win. Key participants included industry experts like Stan from Olympics, John Smith, and Maha from Frankie's Dinner. These professionals shared insights on the challenges and opportunities within web 3 gaming, emphasizing the importance of enjoyable gaming experiences over financial incentives. Discussion also touched upon community building, asset ownership, and the role of web 3 in accelerating game development and in-game economies.

Twitter Space Discussion on Web 3 Gaming: Play to Earn, Play and Earn, and Play to Win

Introduction

The session hosted by Ice kicked off with the usual greetings and mic checks. Ice introduced the theme for the day focusing on gaming models, particularly Play to Earn, Play and Earn, and Play to Win, setting the stage for an insightful discussion.

Opening Remarks

Ice reminisced about the previous month's discussions and welcomed Stan, the man, to the stage. Stan shared updates on Olympics like the Cookie Dot fan snap campaign and discussed incentives and developments in web 3 gaming.

Panelists Introductions

  • John Smith shared his experience in game development, highlighting the shift towards a more open and social world, which has benefited smaller companies. He expressed his interest in making games fun and innovative.
  • Maha from Frankie's Dinner emphasized the change in gaming narratives over the last year and a half.
  • Sell from Vietnam shared his challenges with adjusting to local conditions but expressed excitement about web 3 gaming developments.
  • Joy (Joy House Account Representative) highlighted the mosquito challenges faced in ECC and Cannes but shared avid interest in the Play to Earn model analysis.

Discussion on Play to Earn

The discussion started with the Play to Earn era:

  • Stan's Take: Skepticism about Play to Earn’s sustainability motivated building something more enduring with Olympics.
  • John's Critique: Strongly opposed Play to Earn, citing it taints web 3 gaming's reputation among mainstream gamers who should be focused on fun.
  • Maha’s Perspective: Emphasized balancing financial incentives with game quality, suggesting “Play to Collect” as a viable model.
  • Joy’s Observation: Recalled Play to Earn’s economic model issues using Axie Infinity as a case study.

Transition to Play and Earn and Play to Win

  • Sell's Insight: Compared Play to Earn with web 2 gaming's nostalgic appeal, complicating web 3's value proposition.
  • Stan: Emphasized the need for differentiation between Play to Win and Play to Earn, underscoring the importance of fun and player engagement.
  • John: Advocated for web 3's potential to accelerate innovation and marketplace dynamics.
  • Joy: Felt optimistic about the future game economy due to technological advancements.

Encouraging Innovative Game Models

John stressed the importance of creating fun, innovative games rather than focusing solely on monetization. He emphasized smaller developers' potential to make a significant impact by prioritizing game enjoyment.

Closing Thoughts

  • Stan: Wrapped up by teasing future updates from Olympics and emphasizing the importance of a smooth gaming experience. Introduced the idea of an in-Telegram on-ramp feature, which aims to increase accessibility for users.
  • Ice: Thanked panelists and listeners, announced plans for further discussions, and urged attendees to follow Olympics for more updates.

Conclusion

The session concluded with a resounding consensus on the importance of fun and engaging gameplay in attracting and retaining players. The interplay between financial incentives and genuine player enthusiasm continues to shape the evolving landscape of web 3 games.