Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian predicts that 90% of video games will be blockchain ‘pay-to-earn’ within the next five years. This new infrastructure allows gamers to earn value based on their in game items and currency, which are built on the premise of cryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens.
Originally reported by Business Insider, Ohanian made the comments during the Where It Happens podcast. He stated that, “90% of people will not play a game unless they are being properly valued for that time.” The entrepreneur went on to add, “In five years, you will actually value your time properly.
“Instead of being harvested for advertisements, or being fleeced for dollars to buy stupid hammers you don’t actually own, you will be playing some on-chain equivalent game that will be just as fun, but you’ll actually earn value and you will be the harvester.“
Play-to-earn games have risen in popularity over the past year, in line with the use of cryptocurrency itself. Existing games like Axie Infinity and Sandbox use crypto as as ingame currency. However, mainstream publishers are also pushing to implement the technology. Ubisoft announced it will introduce blockchain gaming into its titles late last year. Square Enix which also stated its intention to adopt NFTs in its games at the start of this year.
The wider gaming community has been critical of blockchain tech. Many label NFTs and cryptocurrency as scams. Others are critical of the detrimental environmental effects both have on the wider world. Considering the general pushback to the technology, it’s hard to believe that gamers will be in any rush to accept blockchain gaming.
Elsewhere, a speed runner successfully beat Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice while blindfolded during this year’s Awesome Games Done Quick event.
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