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The gaming industry has always been a frontier for technological innovation, often being the first to adopt new ways to advance user experience. Web3 gaming—games powered by blockchain technology designed to increase player engagement and participation by giving them full ownership of their in-game assets, an active say in how game worlds evolve, and confidence that the game they are playing is censorship-resistant and can never be taken down stands at the forefront of another evolution. In this case, it is leveraging blockchain technology to create decentralized ecosystems, new game dynamics, and new business models for game companies. Despite the potential pathways this new technology could open up for the gaming sphere, there remains an inequity between the availability of educational resources and its aspiring developers.
Structural barriers
Compared to its web2 counterpart, web3 gaming remains a small but growing industry with still limited adoption. Traditional gaming has had decades to trial and error its way to best practices, proper educational programs, and a thriving developer community. In contrast, web3 is still in its infancy, struggling with rapidly evolving technology, regulatory uncertainty, knowledge gaps, and general widespread skepticism about the value of blockchain-based gaming. In 2024, the sector experienced a significant increase in daily active users, surging over 300% to reach 6.58 million. However, its market performance lagged, with a market cap growth of 60.54%, trailing behind sectors like memecoins and AI projects.
In contrast to the slow—but growing—adoption and development of web3, blockchain technology is undergoing rapid change. Standards for blockchain development are constantly shifting, making it challenging to create up-to-date educational materials. A curriculum designed today may be outdated within months as new chains, smart contract standards, and economic models emerge. This volatility discourages institutions from investing in structured learning programs.
Moreover, general skepticism surrounding cryptocurrency exacerbates the issue. Many still view blockchain primarily as a speculative tool rather than a technology with meaningful applications. Some parts of the gaming industry have faced backlash over monetization practices, and adding blockchain elements such as NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics. With these hurdles, many educational institutions remain hesitant to integrate web3 game development into their programs, leaving aspiring developers to navigate the complexities alone.
Nurturing existing talent
The traditional gaming industry offers a playbook that web3 gaming can follow. Unity and Unreal Engine have built robust communities by providing comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and certification programs. These structured educational pathways help new developers onboard efficiently, ensuring a steady talent pipeline.
In contrast, web3 gaming lacks a clear roadmap for skill development. Many developers rely on self-teaching resources like YouTube tutorials and Discord groups, leading to inconsistent knowledge levels across the industry. During its peak, Axie Infinity became one of the most recognized web3 games on the market, but developer education was largely informal. Community members learned how to engage with the ecosystem online rather than pursue formal courses or structured training programs, resulting in a fragmented knowledge base and inconsistent expertise.
However, by learning from traditional gaming, web3 can create similar pathways to nurture talent. Blockchain foundations, gaming studios, and industry leaders should collaborate to establish structured courses, certification programs, and mentorship initiatives.
The role of the community
Web3 gaming is unique in that its success is inherently tied to its community. Unlike web2 games, where publishers dictate updates and economies, web3 games rely on decentralized governance and community-driven development. This means the product has an inherent reliance on maintaining a thriving community.
A passionate player base drives engagement, user acquisition, and ecosystem sustainability. When users feel a sense of ownership, they are more likely to contribute, whether through in-game economies, content creation, or governance participation. Encouraging this engagement requires developers to foster a strong community culture, something that traditional gaming companies have excelled at for years.
Web3 development
While web2 and web3 games share core development principles, their economic models and technological foundations differ significantly. Traditional games typically follow pay-to-play or microtransaction models, while web3 introduces player ownership through NFTs and decentralized economies.
The quality of said design is particularly critical in web3 gaming. Poorly crafted economies can lead to unsustainable play-to-earn models, where early adopters benefit disproportionately, leaving later players with devalued assets. To combat this, web3 game developers can design incentives that reward long-term engagement rather than short-term speculation. STEPN, a move-to-earn platform built on the Solana blockchain, initially attracted users by rewarding physical activity with tokens. However, its economic model faced challenges due to token inflation and an unsustainable reward structure. Early adopters benefited significantly, while later participants experienced diminished returns as the value of in-game tokens declined. This imbalance led to a sharp decrease in user engagement and token value.
Another major distinction is the reliance on blockchain infrastructure. Most web3 games today only place assets on-chain while keeping game logic off-chain due to performance constraints. Only a handful of blockchains, including Starknet, can support fully on-chain gaming experiences to unlock a new way to develop games and imagine game worlds. Without the advances needed to handle real-time game mechanics, much of web3 gaming will continue to operate in a hybrid state.
Bridging the gap
Prioritizing educational opportunities is a must to bring web3 games to the mainstream. Blockchain foundations and gaming studios should invest in structured learning initiatives to bridge the knowledge gap in web3 gaming by sponsoring training programs focused on smart contract development, tokenomics, and the appropriate infrastructure while establishing standardized certification programs.
Creating open-source learning repositories with centralized hubs for documentation, tutorials, and code samples would provide accessible educational resources. Partnerships with universities can further integrate blockchain game development courses into academic curricula, fostering a steady talent pipeline. Lastly, encouraging cross-industry mentorship between experienced Web2 developers and Web3 newcomers would facilitate a smoother transition and knowledge transfer, strengthening the overall ecosystem.
While some initiatives are beginning to emerge, such as the Starknet Foundation’s online gaming webinar, there is still work to be done. Without a dedicated effort to train and onboard new developers, web3 gaming will not be able to realize its full potential or reach mass adoption, but with them, we can reach a new level for the game industry.
