Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views and opinions of the crypto.news editorial.
TON, Immutable, Ronin: the rise of gaming chains is one of the biggest web3 stories this year. The Open Network, the “Telegram”official web3 infrastructure”, is a good example of this success by enabling in-app onboarding and new levels of engagement and reward. TON simply makes it easier for builders to build and for players to play, as evidenced by year-defining titles like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and BANANA. After starting the year with just over 4 million on-chain accounts, TON will end the year with further of 120M.
Answering “why” this happens is a three-part story. For developers, game chains provide a foundation that bridges the gap between web2 and web3, offering better tools, smoother onboarding, and more efficient scaling. For gamers, they benefit from connected ecosystems where their assets, achievements, and identities are more malleable on the backend. Meanwhile, for the industry, we get even closer to ai-enhanced experiences and cross-game economies.
The explosive growth of gaming chains isn't just about better technology, it's about enabling the connected gaming experiences that will define web3 over the next year and beyond.
Build without barriers
Gaming chains seriously expanded in 2024. In the third quarterIn addition to the huge success of TON, Immutable's ecosystem reached around 200 titles and Sky Mavis' Ronin grew around 40% in game count. Much of this success is due to the way chains help developers close technical gaps. Similar to how Unreal Engine transforms game development with specialized tools, game chains create purpose-built environments where developers can focus on creativity and build without compromises.
Native gaming tools handle high-performance player actions and complex smart contracts, while ensuring low latency for real-time experiences. This goes a long way toward helping developers feel at home and using something familiar to traditional infrastructure. With fewer technical headaches, they can focus on what they do best.
Furthermore, the relationship is synergistic. For their part, game chains can support developers from the ground up. Reductions in gas fees are possible for gaming partners, for example, in addition to specialized technical and tokenomic support for games moving from web2. Game chain creators can also incubate and invest in select games, drive adoption and generate buzz, thus fostering ecosystem growth. This virtuous cycle helps developers succeed while creating more engaging player experiences.
Games throughout the universe
There's also a lot for players to like in this evolution of the game chain. For starters, one of its biggest weaknesses is onboarding. Things like wallets introduce technical knowledge, which is not always an easy barrier to overcome. Here again, gaming chains offer a solution by seamlessly introducing players to the ecosystem and invisibly integrating the blockchain.
Telegram made a splash in gaming this year because it does both extremely well. Most users in most parts of the world (depending on regulation) enjoy automatic wallet connectivity on their Telegram profiles, allowing them to jump straight into mini-games without even needing to know crypto concepts. The result is big games, hyped airdrops, and hundreds of millions of players.
Game chains also solve a key challenge: blockchain games often exist in isolation. With a shared infrastructure, players more easily maintain a single identity across multiple titles. Ronin Name Service is a good example, as players create a unique callsign across the ecosystem and Ronin games, wallets, and dApps. Solutions like this help deliver value and utility to the player, creating genuine digital ownership across the gaming universe without sacrificing gameplay.
Unlocking new gaming possibilities
Once game chains unlock and unify data from isolated games, the possibilities expand dramatically. Cross-game economies, long promised by nfts, have finally become a reality. Whether trading assets or sharing currencies, experiences deepen when spread across titles. As a result, players' digital footprints gain value across entire ecosystems rather than individual games.
This unlocked data brings other knock-on effects, such as richer player experiences. Imagine that rewards are tailored based on cross-game achievements or reputation systems that reflect your entire gaming identity. Gaming chains create the shared infrastructure that makes player data portable and meaningful.
ai then powers these connected experiences. Chain-specific tools can customize missions based on behavior, generate dynamic content that matches player preferences, and empower ai companions that learn from interactions. This makes games specific to each player and, in turn, improves acquisition and retention. United's data on the backend also gives game creators a better view of what players want and the ability to develop in that direction. Clearly, when game data flows freely, all sides of the gaming equation win.
Gaming chains are here to stay
This decisive year for gaming chains is just the beginning. The digital age is defined by data as the “new oil,” and gaming networks unlock this asset to foster innovation, engagement, and smarter decisions. It's a value proposition that increasingly resonates with all stakeholders: developers get purpose-built infrastructure, gamers enjoy personalized experiences, and the industry unlocks new data-driven possibilities.
As we approach the year 2025, gaming networks are redefining the way we build, play, and connect. Expect this momentum to continue.
