With Avalanche-based battle royale game Off the Grid achieving huge success in the mainstream market, a new wave of blockchain games may be on the rise.
As the first web3 game to rank high on the Epic Games Store, the game’s initial launch appealed to a traditional gaming audience who may now be more open to blockchain integration.
Off the Grid captures people’s attention through engaging gameplay rather than through promotion of crypto-based assets or NFTs – a significant shift from the approach adopted by many web3 games.
Source: Off GridTake a games-first approach
Industry experts say Off the Grid’s popularity may be attributed to a focus on gameplay rather than crypto elements.
“To achieve widespread adoption, you need to focus on gamers and what brings value to them,” said Hans Andersson, chief commercial officer at Moonray Studios.
During its early access phase, Off the Grid gained popularity on social media with its emphasis on unique battle royale mechanics, with video clips being shared widely and going viral. Unlike previous web3 games that have been criticized for prioritizing token distribution or NFT sales, Gunzilla has delayed the introduction of any cryptographic components.
This approach means players are initially unaware of the blockchain integration, allowing them to focus solely on gameplay.
Source: Off GridProgressive blockchain integration
Behind the scenes, Gunzilla runs on the Avalanche blockchain, and eventual plans for the game include integrating the item market and token economy on the GUNZ network. However, this integration is being rolled out gradually, with the blockchain aspect remaining low-key in the initial version of the game.
Gunzilla’s decision reflects a broader trend in web3 development that emphasizes the full game experience before introducing tokenized elements.
While Off the Grid has earned a positive reception from traditional gamers, challenges remain. While the game’s Early Access release was promising, player feedback highlighted performance issues, especially on PC, as well as some undeveloped gameplay elements.
However, the “early access” mode provides developers with a certain degree of freedom and can solve these problems through continuous updates.
Why is this important for blockchain gaming?
Off the Grid could set a precedent for other blockchain-based games seeking mainstream appeal.
“Thousands of web3 games have been released, but very few teams can actually deliver,” said Nicolas Pouard, vice president of Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Lab and head of blockchain initiatives.
Industry observers believe Off the Grid’s progressive approach to blockchain elements could signal a viable path forward that could help bridge the gap between traditional and Web3 gamers.
The game’s appearance on major platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X could also impact the industry. While these platforms have yet to fully embrace cryptographic elements, Off the Grid’s availability on such systems demonstrates the potential influence of web3 games within the traditional gaming ecosystem.
