I've seen the future promised. An America where the digital space is not only a place of play or culture, but of significant, impactful economic opportunity. A future powered by Web3 gaming. We're told it's the great equalizer, a chance for anyone, anywhere, to earn a living doing what they love: playing games. But hold on to this utopian vision for just a moment. Are we really making things fair across the board? Is it really changing the way the game is played? Or are we just building a better mousetrap of the same old rigged game?

Digital Sweatshops Or Real Opportunity?

Friends of mine who work at non-profits in Southeast Asia have told me some pretty jaw dropping stories. Young people in the Philippines and Vietnam are currently making three times their local job salary by playing Axie Infinity! It's nothing short of life-changing for them. Their kids are fed and clothed, with a future now worth investing in. Play-to-Earn (P2E) comes with an extremely seductive proposition. This is particularly crucial for individuals in developing countries, where conventional economic prospects are frequently limited.

P2E models tend to demand an up front investment in NFTs. These digital in-game assets supercharge your play to earn experience! Those NFTs? They can be expensive. We're talking hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars. How many families struggling to get by on a few dollars a day can swallow that kind of up front cost? It is similar to asking someone to purchase a private taxi in order to become a cab driver.

Now, all of a sudden, that beautiful, open, open-and-democratic playing field starts to resemble a little bit more like a gated community. In this sort of community, it is the people who have capital that already exists that receive the benefits. In the meantime, the rest of us fight over the crumbs. What began as a potential economic revolution risks becoming a digital serfdom, where players are essentially working for wealthy NFT holders. Like modern-day sharecroppers, but with digital avatars.

Beyond Tech Bros: Building Inclusive Games

The tech world knows it has a diversity problem. Unfortunately, Web3 gaming already appears to be inheriting a lot of those same problems. Consider the casts, the plots, the video-game development studios. How many of them reflect the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the growing global gaming community? Not enough. It’s not only a representation issue, but it’s an accessibility one.

Let's be honest, Web3 can be intimidating. Blockchain, smart contracts, NFTs… the terminology is intimidating enough to intimidate the layperson. The only way to realize Web3 gaming’s full potential is to make it more user-friendly and easier to comprehend. So join us to help improve the episode and make things more inclusive for everyone! Imagine you’re designing for your grandma, not a crypto bro.

We need to push for projects that prioritize user experience, that offer educational resources, and that actively seek out diverse voices and perspectives. Perhaps it entails scholarship programs, to lower what is often a barrier to entry. Maybe it means simpler, more intuitive interfaces. Perhaps it means working to ensure that they’re proactively attracting developers from the communities often left behind.

Regulation: Friend Or Foe?

The lawless Wild West nature of Web3 is as much its biggest appeal as it is its biggest threat. On the one hand, this is a boon because of the way it lets technology move quickly, experiment, and innovate. In the process, it develops a perfect environment for scams, fraud, and exploitation. Remember the Squid Game token rug pull? How many lives were ruined when Americans lost their life savings trying to get a quick buck in a totally unregulated carnival funhouse environment.

Some argue that regulation stifles innovation. I make the case that it is indeed needed to protect our most vulnerable populations. We need clear rules of the road to ensure that bad actors are not allowed to prey on unsuspecting players. This isn't about killing the dream of Web3 gaming; it's about ensuring that that dream is accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy and the tech-savvy.

Think of it like this: we have regulations in traditional finance to protect investors from fraud and manipulation. Why should Web3 be any different? We need similar safeguards in place to protect players from scams, ensure fair play, and prevent the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.

  • Support Web3 gaming projects that prioritize inclusivity and social impact.
  • Advocate for policies that promote equitable access to Web3 technologies.
  • Educate themselves and others about the risks and opportunities of Web3 gaming.
  • Demand greater transparency and accountability from Web3 gaming developers and platforms.

It’s high time we stop accepting the bare minimum from the Web3 gaming space. Startup and innovation killer It’s time to start holding developers and platforms accountable. That’s why now is the time to advocate for policies that create equity, inclusion and equal access. We need to work together so that Web3 gaming delivers on its potential to level the playing field. Let’s not make it a rich person’s game. The success of Web3 gaming — and maybe the future of work altogether — rests on that bridge being built.