What are Web2
game distribution platforms?
Web2 game
distribution platforms, also known as
traditional gaming platforms, act as online
game shops with community features that
connect gamers worldwide in a common
ecosystem. Players usually download a small
software client to access the platform, which
offers user-friendly interfaces with a
streamlined purchase process and detailed
information about each game title.
Currently,
there are three major traditional game
distribution platforms: Steam, Epic Games
Store and Microsoft Store. Built by Half-Life
maker Valve, Steam is the oldest of the three
and has the most extensive library.
Epic
Games Store came from the creators of Unreal
Engine, one of the best, real-time 3D-creation
tools. It’s known for its free games offered
in a cycle. Meanwhile, Microsoft Store is not
the first place to look for games. Its
subscription service, Game Pass, enables
access to hundreds of games with a
Netflix-style monthly subscription.
What do Web2 game
distribution platforms offer players and
developers?
Game distribution platforms
like Steam and Epic Store instill trust, as
they host reputable brands and millions of
people using their services. Customers aren’t
afraid to provide their payment information
and know they will be safe from scams when
buying games.
For newcomers, Web2
platforms make purchasing and installing a new
game incomparably easier than any manual
alternative. Also, games stay updated without
interacting with the developer site, thanks to
automated update processes. Players can browse
a massive library of games and start playing
them after a few clicks. The user review and
rating systems help other gamers navigate
through the game selection.
As for
developers, Web2 platforms provide direct
access to a global audience via development
kits, marketing assistance and distribution
infrastructure. By employing robust
anti-piracy measures, game distribution
platforms also ensure developers are
rightfully compensated for their hard work.
What are Web3
game distribution platforms, and how do they
differ from traditional platforms?
Web3
game distribution platforms aim to promote a
more player-centered and community-driven
gaming ecosystem than their Web2 counterparts
by giving users more power through
decentralization. Blockchain
technology lies at the heart of Web3
gaming. Players and stakeholders have a say in
decisions through governance mechanisms such
as decentralized
autonomous organizations (DAOs),
entities with no central leadership, where
decisions are made from the bottom up and
governed by a community that is organized
around a specific set of rules enforced on a
blockchain.
Web3
gaming usually involves smart contracts,
DAOs and in-game assets.
Nonfungible
tokens (NFTs) vitalize the ecosystem’s
economy and give value to in-game items by
providing true ownership. Crypto assets can be
used to purchase games and in-game items,
opening the space to a new sector. Web3
elements introduce new monetization options
like the play-to-earn
model, where players earn crypto and
NFTs by playing a game. These models help
developers raise capital and attract players,
but often lack
sustainability.
A recent example
is Ryu Games’s all-in-one solution Flame,
which combines a Web3 marketplace, a
multichain wallet and a game launcher in a
single platform. Kongregate and Lootrush are
also venturing into decentralized gaming. Some
developers are even putting their Web3 games
on Steam and Epic Games to reach the broader
audience of Web2 gamers.
What are the key
challenges Web3 game distribution platforms
face?
Currently, Web3 gaming requires a
more advanced understanding of underlying
technologies than traditional platforms — both
for players and developers. The process of
building and launching games on Web3 platforms
is more complex and expensive, posing a higher
entry barrier for developers.
Gamers
also need to understand concepts like crypto,
NFTs and marketplaces. Even after getting
familiar with the technology, the Web3 gaming
space simply doesn’t provide enough titles.
Steam achieved success by bundling the
platform with Half-Life 2, considered one of
the greatest PC games of all time. However,
Web3 gaming has yet to produce a game that
could compete with the legendary title.
Preconceptions
about the Web3 and crypto space are another
factor causing many people to steer away from
the ecosystem. News of scams and schemes on
these spaces spread like wildfire, while
incidents on traditional platforms are often
swept under the rug.
Developers
prioritize monetization over originality and
quality, which is insufficient
to attract mass audiences. The Web3
gaming market is still in its early
development stages, meaning this situation
could quickly change
with the right projects.
What would it
take to establish the Steam of Web3?
A
broad range of enjoyable games that cater to
both Web3 and non-Web3 players’ interests is a
crucial requirement for reproducing the
success of Steam in the Web3 space.
Transparency and security standards must
instill confidence in the users so they can
make purchases without worrying about the safety
of their funds.
Web3 platforms should
take a cue from the ease-of-use of platforms
like Epic Games Store and Steam, and start
thinking about how to present blockchain games
with simple and well-designed interfaces.
Emphasizing
community interaction and giving users a safe
space to share opinions and make friends both
go a long way. Extensive social features such
as DAO voting also help with player engagement
and retention.
QORPO, a Web3 game
development company with two game titles, Citizen Conflict and AneeMate,
offers all these features to gamers and
developers of both worlds. The company
recently merged all its fundamental products,
including a game launcher, an NFT marketplace
and a gaming asset management, under one roof
called QORPO WORLD.
What is the
future of Web3 game distribution platforms?
Web3
gaming platforms need to provide the means for
deeper interaction between their users. Home
to Web3
games from different genres, QORPO WORLD
provides overviews and community ratings with
reviews for games in its launcher to help
users pick their next game and start playing
right away.
The
Web3-friendly economic cycle of Qorpo World.
Source: QORPO
A
native crypto wallet and popular third-party
wallets streamline the process of trading,
collecting and leveling up in-game items.
Esports
arenas are a big part of traditional gaming
that fuel players’ competitive spirits and
benefit overall engagement. Introducing an
esports platform promotes tournament gaming
and opens the door to sponsorships.
Just
like Steam, QORPO has an integrated
marketplace, allowing users to access their
game assets through a simplified user
interface. Web3 is foreign ground to many, and
introducing its elements in a
beginner-friendly manner is key to convincing
newcomers to stay.
By adopting what
works for Web2 and leapfrogging the
shortcomings of traditional platforms, the
Web3 gaming space has the potential to present
a reliable alternative to established industry
players like Steam or Epic Games Store.
