The world of Web3 gaming is evolving fast, and it’s not just about blockchain anymore. In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with Andreas Valentin from Constraint—a veteran in AAA gaming and blockchain strategy—to discuss where Web3 gaming is headed, the challenges it faces, and what founders need to get right.
Here’s what you missed:
🚀 Web3 Gaming Isn’t What You Think
The common vision for Web3 gaming has been a “Ready Player One”-style metaverse, where everything is tokenized, scarce, and player-owned. But according to Andreas, that future is still far off. Instead, Web3 gaming is building its foundation first—and it’s going to look a lot different than the metaverse hype cycle suggested.
🎮 Ownership Isn’t Enough—Interoperability Is Key
Most Web3 gaming discussions focus on sovereign ownership—the idea that players can truly own their in-game assets. But Andreas argues that without interoperability, ownership is useless or even harmful.
Take a game like League of Legends, which sells limited-edition skins. If those skins were tokenized, players could trade them freely, but Riot Games could already do this in Web2.
The real value in Web3 gaming comes when assets work across different games—when your rare skin can be used in another ecosystem. That’s true interoperability.
💡 The takeaway? Games shouldn’t just tokenize assets—they need to create real utility across platforms.
🔥 The Trading Card Game Advantage
Not all games need interoperability. Trading card games (TCGs) are best suited for Web3, says Andreas. Unlike other genres, TCGs have always relied on real-world asset ownership—players trade physical Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering cards. Web3 brings that back in digital form.
✅ Key benefits of blockchain in TCGs:
Players truly own and trade their cards.
Developers can earn royalties on every resale—a sustainable model.
No need for artificial “power creep” to force new sales.
🔮 Prediction: More successful Web3 games will start as traditional Web2 games with an optional Web3 layer—just like some emerging TCGs.
💰 Where Are Web2 Studios Going Wrong?
Big game studios looking to adopt Web3 are underestimating the complexity of blockchain technology. Andreas points out that many treat it as a simple plugin—but it’s an entirely new development stack.
❌ Common mistake: Studios assume they can just “add NFTs” to their game without considering how it affects game balance, economy, and player experience.
✅ Winning strategy: Web2 studios should focus on seamless, optional Web3 integrations, rather than forcing it into every aspect of their game.
📊 What’s Next for Web3 Gaming?
The next wave of successful Web3 games will:
✅ Prioritize interoperability over simple ownership.
✅ Avoid pay-to-win mechanics that destroy game balance.
✅ Use on-chain elements where they add real value—not just for the sake of it.
✅ Provide Web2-style experiences with optional Web3 perks.
💡 Final Thought: The Web3 gaming industry is still in its 1999 internet phase—the real innovations haven’t fully emerged yet.
The winners will be the ones who build great games first, and Web3 ecosystems second.
👉 If you're looking for vetted Web3 gaming experts to guide your project, Semoto connects you with the best in the industry. 🚀
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