Blockchain Games Headlines: Pixelverse, Ragnarok, Telegram, BGA 24′ Report

Pixelverse Partners with Memecoins for New Web3 Gaming Experience

Pixelverse, a popular Web3 gaming platform on Telegram, has announced a partnership with leading memecoins on the Base blockchain to integrate their characters into new gaming experiences. The collaboration comes after Pixelverse received a grant from Gate.io’s $50 million Meme Fund.

The partnership centers around an upcoming game called MemeBattle, a tactical deck-building game featuring memecoin characters like Brett, Toshi, Keyboard Cat and others from the Base ecosystem. Players will be able to form squads, battle opponents, and climb leaderboards to earn rewards.

Pixelverse co-founder Kori Leon explained that Base was chosen for its scalability, speed and cost efficiency. The platform aims to make memecoins more engaging while introducing their communities to Web3 gaming.

Since launching in 2023, Pixelverse has grown rapidly on Telegram, reaching over 75 million registered users and 5 million daily active players. MemeBattle represents its evolution from simple clicker games to a more robust Web3 gaming ecosystem.

Ragnarok Comes Onchain via Ronin Network

In a major development for blockchain gaming, Zentry is bringing the classic MMORPG Ragnarok Online to the Ronin network as Ragnarok Landverse. This Onchain version aims to preserve the beloved gameplay while offering new opportunities for players to earn and own digital assets.

Ragnarok Online, launched in 2002, has amassed over 100 million players globally and generated more than $2 billion in lifetime revenue. The game is especially popular in Southeast Asia and helped kickstart the MMORPG boom of the early 2000s alongside titles like World of Warcraft.

Jarindr Thitadilaka, CEO of Zentry, stated:

“Our partnership with Sky Mavis goes beyond launching Ragnarok Landverse on Ronin. Together, we’re paving the way for future Biggest gaming IPs to transition into Web3.”

The game will leverage Ronin’s infrastructure, which supports over 4.7 million monthly active users across other Web3 titles like Axie Infinity. Players can pre-register for Ragnarok Landverse now, with the full launch expected in Q1 2025.

BGA Report Reveals Shift in Onchain Gaming

The Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) has released its 2024 State of the Industry Report, revealing interesting trends in the backgrounds of Web3 gaming professionals. Over half of respondents (52.5%) reported having gaming expertise, the highest proportion since the survey began in 2021. In contrast, blockchain or cryptocurrency specialists now account for just 10.8% of the field, down from 21.7% in 2023.

This shift suggests a growing focus on creating engaging gameplay experiences rather than purely blockchain-driven mechanics. The report also found that digital asset ownership remains the top perceived benefit of blockchain integration in games for the fourth consecutive year.

Sebastien Borget, President of the BGA, commented:

“In 2024, we’ve seen real progress in making blockchain games more accessible, and now, industry professionals say that onboarding is less of a barrier than it was last year. Another major shift according to the findings of our survey is that more professionals are coming into web3 with a background in traditional gaming, rather than crypto, and that is influencing the types of games being developed, particularly those that prioritize fun and engaging experiences over complexity.”

However, challenges remain. Onboarding and poor user experience are still cited as the biggest hurdles by 53.9% of respondents, though this has improved from 79.5% in 2023. The industry also continues to battle misconceptions, with 66.3% of respondents saying they encounter accusations that blockchain games are scams or Ponzi schemes.

Telegram’s Gaming Success Could Drive Onchain Gaming Growth in 2025

Telegram’s thriving gaming ecosystem could be the key to driving onchain gaming growth in 2025. The messaging platform’s “tap-to-earn” and clicker games have leveraged its massive user base of over 950 million to achieve rapid success.

According to the Q3 2024 Telegram Games Report, top games like Hamster Kombat and Catizan attracted hundreds of thousands of active users within weeks of launch. This success is attributed to Telegram’s “mini-app” approach, which allows for seamless integration of games directly into the platform.

The article argues that Onchain gaming could learn from Telegram’s model to overcome challenges like user retention and onboarding friction. Some key strategies suggested include:

1. Setting up daily challenges and streaks to promote habit formation
2. Utilizing personalization and player segmentation to tailor experiences
3. Building community-driven economies that foster organic interactions
4. Merging with traditional gaming models for richer user experiences

Worth noting: 29 out of 40 of the world’s largest video game companies are now investing in blockchain gaming, including Microsoft, Tencent, Sony, and Nintendo. This trend is expected to accelerate in 2025 and beyond.

Industry Concerns: Are Blockchain Games Actually Fun?

Despite the growing adoption of Web3 gaming, concerns persist about the overall enjoyment factor of these games. According to the Blockchain Game Alliance’s 2024 State of the Industry Report, there’s a noticeable divide between players motivated by financial incentives and those seeking engaging gameplay.

The report found that 42.4% of respondents cited earning rewards as the main draw for Web3 games. However, 46.2% identified a lack of fun as a primary misconception about the sector. This dichotomy highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing play-to-earn (P2E) mechanics with compelling gameplay.

Industry professionals acknowledge that many popular Web3 titles, particularly on mobile platforms, still lack the depth and sophistication of traditional games. The sustainability of the P2E model remains a point of contention, though Telegram’s success with simple “tap-to-earn” games suggests there’s still significant appetite for reward-driven experiences.

Encouragingly, the report notes some progress in addressing these concerns. The percentage of respondents citing poor user experience as the main challenge for Web3 gaming has dropped from 79.5% in 2023 to 53.9% in 2024. This improvement reflects the industry’s efforts to develop more accessible free-to-play titles and implement gasless transactions.

However, 33.2% of respondents still believe that Web3 games lack rich gameplay options, indicating there’s still work to be done in creating experiences that can compete with traditional gaming on both fun and reward fronts.

As the Web3 gaming sector continues to evolve, balancing financial incentives with engaging gameplay remains a critical challenge. The industry’s ability to address these concerns will likely play a significant role in determining its long-term success and mainstream adoption.

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