The Web3 gaming space is booming. And all of a sudden, we’ve got the number of active wallets quintupling and that’s amazing right? Look, we love to keep it real. With the bulk of these so-called “loyalty programs” feeling more like cash grabs than authentic attempts to foster community, we know we’re not alone. It would be similar to the absurdity of rewarding a dog for doing a trick, then demanding unwavering loyalty in return. That’s not loyalty, that's transaction.
Web3's Promise Lost in Translation?
Web3 was supposed to be our revolution – our opportunity to return power to the players. It’s just the same old mechanics, so tiring and exploitative, in web3 gaming. That’s why they go and add a blockchain facade to them. Where's the innovation? Where's the community-driven empowerment? We’re left with leaderboards, pathetic daily bonuses and basic point systems. These mechanics only fail to acknowledge the time and effort players put in, and they’re not limited to a single game or platform. It’s the equivalent of providing a frequent flyer program that only applies on Tuesdays.
Think about it. You spend thousands of hours farming in the game, contributing to The Division’s thriving culinary scene. All you get back for it is a glossier sword or a few more tokens? That's hardly a reward for your dedication. It's a slap in the face.
Web3 loyalty isn’t simply about minting a ton of digital assets. It needs to be centered on creating equitable communities in which players are valued, respected, and empowered. It's not about wallets, it's about people.
Beyond Financial Incentives, What Matters?
Many loyalty programs today focus on driving financial transactions rather than true emotional engagement, resulting in what I refer to as mercenary behavior. Players are incentivized to chase the highest yield, hopping from game to game, with no real connection to the community or the game itself. It’s the legislative equivalent of corporate executives with no national loyalty—loyalty only to the highest bid.
Instead, let’s make space to create opportunities for those players to connect with one another and add value. Together, they can create and collaboratively own the gaming experience! This means:
- Rewarding content creators: Recognize players who create mods, fan art, videos, and other content that enriches the game.
- Supporting community organizers: Reward players who organize events, tournaments, and other activities that bring the community together.
- Mentoring new players: Recognize experienced players who help newcomers learn the ropes and become active members of the community.
Decentraland’s new Marketplace Credits system is a positive development, incentivizing players for exploring and attending events. It accomplishes an engagement loyalty loop that inspires participation and engagement. Titles such as Forgotten Runiverse are testing new forms of play-to-earn mechanics and developing play-to-earn loyalty programs. These are just scratching the surface.
Empowering Players: A Radical Idea
Picture this world where players actually can help shape and decide the development and direction of their new favorite game. Picture a world where loyalty programs are developed and managed by the community, not the developers alone.
Web3 technologies such as DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) allow for this. With DAOs, players can band together to manage in-game resources, vote on key proposals, and collectively shape the future of the game. It's like a gaming democracy, and frankly, it's about time.
This isn’t only about putting players on the table. It’s more than just providing them ownership of the table.
Mastercard’s Gamer Exchange and Mojito Loyalty underscore the growing importance of loyalty in gaming. The move towards on-chain loyalty makes this even clearer, highlighting sern’s core importance at the base of the gaming stack. It's not just about technology. It's about mindset. It’s not just about cutting costs. It’s about moving away from a top-down, profit-driven approach to a bottom-up, community-driven approach.
- Create collaborative opportunities for players to contribute to the game.
- Reward players for content creation, event organization, and mentorship.
- Give players a voice through DAOs or other governance mechanisms.
First, we need to get away from the short-term retention measurements. Let’s design loyalty systems so that players remain engaged for the long haul. It takes establishing authentic relationships with players, knowing what they need and want, and developing a shared sense of purpose.
Unlike what some may believe, the future of web3 gaming does not solely lie in creating new, high-quality games. It's about building better communities. We give players the tools and information to customize their experiences. Together, we’re building a world where loyalty is more than skin deep. It's about belonging, connection, and shared ownership. It's about creating something truly special together.
The future of web3 gaming isn't just about building better games. It's about building better communities. It's about empowering players to shape the gaming experience and create a world where loyalty is about more than just wallets. It's about belonging, connection, and shared ownership. It's about creating something truly special together.
