“Web3 will be a fundamental element of all future games,” says OKX executive

OKX has introduced its launchpad for Web3 games, dubbed OKX GameSphere. Launchpads are important because they lower the entry requirements for game developers to navigate and integrate Web3 into their games, Jason Lau, OKX’s chief innovation officer, shared with crypto Briefing.

GameSphere offers a unified launchpad with game promotion and Wallet as a Service (WaaS) solutions. In particular, key features mentioned in the announcement include tools for developers to bring their ideas to life, simplified development and deployment processes, and APIs for in-game marketplaces that facilitate token swapping and nft trading.

Furthermore, OKX GameSphere should be seen as a consolidation of efforts to support the blockchain gaming industry, Lau added.

“We want to further encourage and accelerate the development and acceptance of Web3 games. By providing critical infrastructure, tools and support, developers can bring games to market quickly and easily. Finally, we also help games solve a key distribution problem, connecting their games to our user base and liquidity pools around the world.”

The platform supports the issuance of nft assets with features such as drops, flash sales, and whitelist minting. It also offers mandatory nft royalty services, allowing project teams to set their own transaction royalties.

GameSphere enhances the gaming experience by offering exclusive game pages, custom promotions, and collaborations for commercial competitions and gas-free events. The platform has already partnered with leading projects such as Lumiterra and Metacene.

Earlier this year, OKX partnered with Immutable to improve engagement with nfts and digital assets for over 50 million users. OKX also added support for Immutable’s zkEVM, the first chain designed specifically for gaming.

Why keep it Web3?

One of the catalysts for the growth of Web3 games is their widespread adoption. Therefore, releasing titles on native Web3 platforms could keep these games stuck to the same user base compared to releasing them on traditional platforms, such as Epic Games.

However, James Lau believes that Web3 will be a fundamental element of all future games, as the incorporation of asset ownership and a new economy will drive more engaging gameplay, higher retention, sustainable decentralized economies, and new business models for game developers. It is therefore only natural that dedicated launch platforms are now being created.

“By leveraging OKX GameSphere, developers can create games that offer a streamlined onboarding experience for players through Web3 features such as seamless wallet integrations, in-game asset management and trading, and more,” Lau explained.

He adds that these features remove the technical barriers associated with Web2 games, making it much more accessible for everyday users to participate in these new gaming experiences.

Additionally, native blockchain launchpads allow for seamless integration with the broader Web3 ecosystem, which Lau sees as a gateway for innovative features such as cross-game asset ownership and decentralized in-game economies.

“It can greatly improve overall player cohesion and engagement.”

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