In a groundbreaking move, the Chief Gaming Officer of Magic Eden, Tyler Bruin, has declared that the company will be terminating the use of the term “Web3 gaming”, in an effort to be more inclusive in its approach to gaming. This move has been met with a great deal of praise, as it signposts a more equal and diverse future for developers of the gaming industry. Bruin has said that “Web3 gaming” only focuses on blockchain-based games, and excludes a great many games that may not use blockchain technology but are still necessary to the industry.
1. Magic Eden’s Chief Gaming Officer Calls for the End of “Web3 Gaming” Terminology
Magic Eden’s Chief Gaming Officer Paul Day recently spoke out against the use of terms such as “Web3 Gaming” or “Web 3.0 Gaming”. He argues that these terminologies do not accurately reflect the current state of the gaming industry.
First, he claims that the gaming industry is more complicated than a linear expression of technology evolution. Day stated, “This phrase is reductive and does not capture the dynamism of this vibrant and constantly changing industry.”
Second, Day takes issue with the way Web3 Gaming is used to describe the use of blockchain technology in gaming. He believes that the term fails to account for the fact that there are many successful examples of blockchain-powered games that lie outside this label. For example, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have been embedded in some existing games that are not necessarily “Web3”.
Finally, Day argues that the focus on using blockchain-based solutions has taken away some of the emphasis on other important facets of gaming, such as storytelling, user experience and engagement. In his words:
- “The gaming industry is evolving too rapidly for us to rely on labels and definitions from decades ago. Rather than focusing on the technology, we must focus on the user experience and other elements that make a game successful.”
Day calls for the gaming industry to adopt a more sophisticated approach to its terminology which better reflects the rapidly changing nature of the industry. He believes this will help set the gaming industry up for success in the future.
2. What the Transition Away from Web3 Gaming Terminology Could Mean for the Future of the Gaming Industry
With the rapid growth of the gaming industry, ordinary gamers are becoming acquainted with terms like “web3 gaming”. And while this type of gaming has been around since the late 1990s, the rise of mobile gaming and its introduction to the world has given web3 gaming a new platform and relevance.
But what does the transition away from web3 gaming terminology mean for the future of the gaming industry? It could drastically change what gaming looks and feels like in the coming years.
- New Form of Competition: As more gamers transition away from old-school web3 gaming and into the new mobile platform games, they will enter a world of competition with different rules, levels, and mechanics. It will open up new ways to compete with one another and discover unique ways to interact with the games.
- Accessibility for All: With the larger reach of the web3 gaming platform, now there are more players that can join in on the action. This means more opportunities for developers to take advantage of, as well as more resources to create their games.
- Better Performance: The introduction of mobile gaming can also mean more optimized gaming experiences for those that have slower internet connections or older devices. It will give a better gaming experience that is more tailor-made to their specific device, resulting in fewer lags or drops in performance.
All of these advancements in the gaming industry can pave the way for new and innovative experiences. A greater emphasis on accessibility, performance, and competition will change the way the gaming industry develops and improve the overall gaming experience.
3. Exploring the Benefits of Altering the Nomenclature Surrounding Gaming
For years, the stigma surrounding video games has been used to associate it with a sedentary lifestyle and sometimes antisocial behavior. But we now know that gaming can have a positive impact on our lives and can even be used to create community-building activities.
An important way to pivot this stigma is to challenge the way we talk about gaming. Altering the nomenclature of gaming and esports can have a powerful effect on how society views the gaming community.
For example, the term gamer can have both positive and negative connotations, but when we look at the gaming industry from a different perspective by replacing this term with terms such as player or athlete, it can help to create a more inclusive and friendly environment.
Moreover, by embracing the terminology of sports and mainstream entertainment when describing gaming, we can help to create a more positive image. Here are some other benefits of altering the nomenclature surrounding gaming:
- It can help to remove stigmas that are associated with gaming
- It can help to create more inclusive cultures within the gaming industry
- It can help to educate the public on the potential benefits of gaming
- It can attract new people to the industry
- It can help to create a more positive public opinion of gaming
By embracing the terminology of sports and mainstream entertainment when describing gaming, we can help to create a more positive culture surrounding the gaming industry and reduce the stigmas that are associated with it. This approach can ultimately help to create an environment in which gaming can be seen as a positive activity, rather than a negative one.
4. Developing More Appropriate Terminology to Better Reflect Current Trends
The language used to define certain trends can significantly impact our understanding of them, so these should be updated to accurately reflect their nature. For instance, many terminologies which are currently in use are outdated and have been overtaken by new terms that better reflect their modern reality. In this section, we’ll look at some of the most common places where replacing the language of the past with more appropriate terminology can help illustrate current trends more effectively.
Updating Technical Terms to Keep Up
The words used to describe technical advancements should also evolve with the industry, so as to not be interpreted as out-of-date or inaccurate. Phrases such as “many hands make light work”, which were once commonly used to describe how collaborative projects could easily be completed, can now be replaced with more precise terms such as “group effort” or “teamwork”. Making these small changes to the language can help ensure that the audience is effectively informed about the modern situation.
Accurately Capturing the Nature of Concepts
Updated language can also be useful for more accurately and concisely conveying the nature of a concept. For example, the phrase “information superhighway”, which was popular during the Nineties to describe the increasing popularity of the internet, can now be replaced with more exact terms such as “internet usage” or “online activity”. These are more precise descriptions of what we understand as the internet, and help to better depict its actual capabilities.
Adopting Fresh Terms and Phrases
It’s also important to note that new and original language can be used to describe current phenomena, as long as it accurately portrays the situation. Phrases such as “rise of the robots” to describe the growing number of automated systems, or “big data revolution”, are just some of the terms which have been created to accurately reflect specific trends. These words can help to effectively communicate the nature of a phenomenon to both peers in a field or to a wider audience.
5. How Could This Change Impact Gaming Companies Going Forward?
Consolidation of Players
The gaming industry is going through a period of consolidation as larger companies acquire smaller ones or consolidate their services with third parties. This potentially paves the way for the emergence of a “Big Three” in gaming: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, which would drastically change the nature of the industry as a whole.
Smaller companies could make it difficult to compete against the sheer size and scale of the Big Three, as the established companies have been honing their technologies, user interfaces, and game catalogs for many years. This could pose a major challenge for independent developers and publishers to get their games out to the market.
Shifting Focus on Upstream Revenue Sources
The shift towards consolidation of players would also mean that the focus would be more geared towards upstream revenue sources like subscriptions. This could force gaming companies to be more creative in their monetization models, as they would need to secure long-term relationships with their customers. This could even push companies to look towards emerging markets like esports or virtual reality to try to capitalize on new and exciting experiences.
More Technology Integration
With larger companies at the helm, there could be a chance to see more integration between different gaming technologies. Companies like Sony and Microsoft already have console and PC gaming products, but they could push the boundaries of that integration even further. An example of this could be the potential use of technology from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in the upcoming Project Scorpio.
Changes in Retail
The consolidation of players could also mean changes for retailers as well as gaming companies. With the Big Three at the helm, the focus could be more on direct digital downloads rather than physical discs, which could mean fewer stores offering physical copies of games. This would also mean that companies would need to find new ways to promote their games, as digital sales aren’t necessarily guaranteed as they are in physical stores. Although “Web3 gaming” continues to have a lasting foothold in the gaming industry, it appears that the world may soon bid farewell to the term. As Magic Eden’s Chief Gaming Officer advocates for a shift away from the phrase, the industry must evaluate whether it is time for a new label. One thing is certain, the way people enjoy and experience gaming is transforming, and if the industry is to stay relevant, the language we use to describe it must catch up.