x.com/DimensionalsRPG” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Dimensional, a roguelike deck-building game developed by x.com/MinoGamesInc” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Mino Games, has officially transitioned to a purely web2 model, marking a significant shift from its initial integration with blockchain technology and nfts.
After releasing a non-blockchain version on Steam in March 2024, Mino Games explained the challenges that led to this decision, emphasizing that the project ultimately turned out to be a substantial financial loss.
This change has sparked a number of reactions within the gaming community, highlighting broader implications for the web3 gaming industry.
Source: DimensionalsWhat led to this decision?
According to Sash MacKinnon, CEO of Mino Games, Dimensionals' journey into the Web3 space began with the release of its Genesis Stone collection in March 2023 as a free-to-play currency.
The goal was to raise awareness of the upcoming game and attract regular players by offering free Hero nfts. However, the mint was plagued with problems from the start. The whitelist giveaway was overwhelmed by bots and the project suffered multiple DDoS attacks.
Additionally, a shift in the nft market landscape — with platforms like OpenSea and Blur making royalties optional — led to a sudden collapse in the revenue stream Mino Games had been counting on. “The revenue we had started to generate from royalties immediately dropped to zero,” MacKinnon noted.
As the bear market loomed, the web3 side of the business became increasingly challenging. The initially supportive community became frustrated when the value of their nfts plummeted, with some members even beginning to scam others within the community. Despite these setbacks, Mino Games forged ahead and launched a second mint and a closed alpha test. However, the conversion rate of their audience to active games was woefully low, and market conditions deteriorated further.
Faced with these realities, Mino Games consulted with investors and advisors and ultimately decided that continuing in the web3 space was unsustainable. “We had picked the wrong horse,” MacKinnon admitted, acknowledging that the timing and strategy had failed. The company completely changed its focus and set about turning Dimensionals into a web2 game, targeting a broader audience and releasing the game on Steam.
Source: DimensionalsHow did the community react to this change?
The abandonment of Web3 generated mixed reactions, with many in the Web3 community expressing frustration and disappointment, particularly those who had invested in the game's nfts.
MacKinnon acknowledged that communicating this change of stance, which was initially done through public meetings on Discord, only exacerbated tensions. In retrospect, he acknowledged that a more transparent and public explanation was needed sooner.
Even after the transition to web2, the game's previous association with web3 continued to cause problems. During an early streaming playtest in March 2024, the game received positive feedback from players, but the reaction from larger streamers was unexpectedly hostile.
Many streamers refused to participate in the game due to its ties to Web3, fearing a negative reaction from their audience. “It became clear… that the average gamer’s perspective on Web3 is not just apprehension, it’s a complete and utter rejection of the technology,” MacKinnon observed. This negative perception made it clear that any association with Web3 could be detrimental to the game’s success in the mainstream market.
Source: DimensionalsWhat does this mean for web3?
The problems Mino Games is facing, such as the collapse of the nft market and difficulties in managing bot activity, are not unique to Dimensionals, but are part of broader concerns within the industry.
The move also highlights the significant differences in audience motivation between Web2 and Web3 players, with the latter focusing more on trading and profit than the game itself. While the decision to abandon Web3 features in Dimensionals can be seen as a setback, it also provides valuable lessons for other developers in the sector.
Dimensionals’ experience illustrates the importance of timing, market conditions, and community management in the success of web3 games. Furthermore, this also raises questions about how web3 games can evolve to bridge the gap between their current niche and the broader gaming audience.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,’https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js?v=next’);
