Delphi Digital recently published a report on Web3 mobile gaming titled “Opportunities in Web3 Mobile Gaming,” which lists three Web3 games that caught their attention: Ni No Kuni, IMVU, and NFL Rivals, and provides some suggestions for Web3 game developers. Compiled by LianGuai0xjs.
Global gaming revenue is expected to reach $212 billion by 2026, with over 50% coming from mobile games.
Why are we optimistic about blockchain mobile games?
1. Mobile devices are the dominant gaming platform globally.
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Consumers spend an average of 5 hours per day on mobile devices;
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In 2022, mobile game downloads reached 90 billion;
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Mobile game revenue is expected to reach $100 billion by 2026.
2. With over 1.5 million games available, operators are feeling the pressure to explore new profitable models and distribution formats.
A clear trend is the shift from relying solely on advertising revenue to in-app purchases.
This is where blockchain can provide assistance.
3. In the first half of 2022, blockchain mobile game downloads declined by 59%.
The biggest factor causing this phenomenon was the excessive focus on unsustainable play-to-earn mechanisms at that time.
When player incentives decline, so do downloads.
4. From 2021 to 2022, the average in-app revenue of the top-performing Web3 games decreased by 20%.
The number of monthly active users (MAU) divided by region also experienced a similar decline, except for India, where the number of MAUs grew by 130% from the first quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2022.
Ten Web3 Games, Three Worth Noting
Although limited in number, there are still some blockchain-driven games available on mobile platforms. To better understand where opportunities may exist, we selected ten games with varying degrees of success, representing a range of different types and target audiences.
5. To gain a more detailed understanding of the characteristics emphasized by the best-performing blockchain games across genres, we will briefly describe three games that caught our attention: Ni No Kuni, IMVU, and NFL Rivals.
6. Ni No Kuni:
Cross Worlds introduces a dual-token system, where players can earn NKT or NKA tokens through in-game quests and competitive games. These tokens are acquired off-chain and can then be minted on-chain and exchanged for the developer’s blockchain ecosystem token, MBX.
7. IMVU:
IMVU, which has been around for nearly 20 years, introduced blockchain functionality for the first time in 2021, introducing VCOIN as a trusted exchange medium. IMVU aims to connect the existing behaviors, preferences, and economics of the IMVU virtual goods economy to the blockchain.
8. NFL Rivals
NFL Rivals is a sports collectible game that allows players to upgrade and sell NFT player cards on the market for real-world money. This monetization model relies mainly on loot boxes and transaction fees as new sources of revenue.
Advice for Web3 Mobile Game Developers
9. As more and more Web2 traditional brands continue to deepen the integration of blockchain-based assets, internationally renowned publishers such as Zynga and Voodoo are also actively promoting blockchain initiatives.
10. The opportunities for blockchain integration are abundant:
Cosmetics, in-game assets, role-playing, games, real-time operations, single ecosystem interoperability, nanotransactions, hybrid casual
Blockchain integration can improve player experience and developer profits.
11. If possible, we recommend that teams avoid transferring users from the application to browser-based experiences when interacting with blockchain assets.
The more native the experience, the higher the chance of retaining players or converting players into blockchain users.
Games that already have NFT/tokens can consider introducing additional off-chain assets that users can purchase, serving as a bridge to blockchain-based assets.
Some games, including STEPN, have already implemented this approach to provide a more native experience.
12. There is still a lot of room for experimentation, and many of the models mentioned in this report have not been thoroughly tested. For experienced teams looking to try new monetization models, the safest choice would be to implement the minimum blockchain implementation.
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